Where a purchasing manager can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a purchasing manager already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Purchasing managers are in charge of buying goods, equipment and services for their company, and try to ensure the most competitive prices. They are also responsible for negotiating contracts, reviewing the quality of products and analysing suppliers, and for the use and resale of goods and services.
Also known as tender manager, purchasing and supply office administrator, purchasing administrator, purchasing coordinator, supply manager, procurement and supply manager, equipment purchasing CE project manager, purchasing office administrator, recycling equipment purchasing manager, purchasing analyst, equipment purchasing manager, buying manager.
Managers 53 skills on file 12 career moves 2 above 60% overlap Closest: forecast manager, 66%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
- supply chain manager 53% covered · difficulty 59.4
- purchaser 48% covered · difficulty 55.5
- ICT vendor relationship manager 46% covered · difficulty 56.7
- ICT buyer 42% covered · difficulty 59.9
- purchase planner 38% covered · difficulty 65.8
- procurement support officer 32% covered · difficulty 65.7
- hardware and paint shop manager 32% covered · difficulty 70.2
- contract manager 32% covered · difficulty 70.4
- shop supervisor 31% covered · difficulty 63.7
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A purchasing manager needs 25 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- estimate costs of required supplies information skills
- analyse logistic changes information skills
- coordinate purchasing activities communication, collaboration and creativity
- supply chain principles business, administration and law
- supplier management business, administration and law
- manage inventory management skills
- analyse supply chain strategies information skills
- analyse supply chain trends information skills
- strive for company growth management skills
- assess supplier risks information skills
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a purchasing manager does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- forecast manager 58% covered · difficulty 50.8
- resource manager 56% covered · difficulty 52.8
- purchaser 40% covered · difficulty 66
- ICT vendor relationship manager 34% covered · difficulty 71.4
- ICT buyer 28% covered · difficulty 76
- procurement department manager 23% covered · difficulty 79.3
- public procurement specialist 21% covered · difficulty 81.3
- standalone public buyer 21% covered · difficulty 81.4
- supply chain assistant 18% covered · difficulty 83.3
Look up another occupation
Purchasing manager is filed under Managers, ISCO major group 1. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a purchasing manager’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.