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The differences between directors of strategic sourcing and directors of purchasing can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of strategic sourcing and a director of purchasing. Additionally, a director of strategic sourcing has an average salary of $109,521, which is higher than the $106,945 average annual salary of a director of purchasing.
The top three skills for a director of strategic sourcing include strategic sourcing, supply chain and supplier performance. The most important skills for a director of purchasing are supply chain, purchase orders, and product development.
| Director Of Strategic Sourcing | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Yearly salary | $109,521 | $106,945 |
| Hourly rate | $52.65 | $51.42 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 21,887 | 17,847 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A director of strategic sourcing is responsible for evaluating the production and manufacturing processes and developing initiatives to improve business operations and purchasing techniques. Directors of strategic sourcing negotiate contracts with trusted suppliers and vendors for high-quality resources and cost-efficient materials. They also conduct data and statistical analysis with the current market trends to identify supply opportunities and sourcing costs. A director of strategic sourcing handles the budget allocation for vendor assessments, requiring them to be highly-organizational and ensure the timely distribution of materials.
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Directors of strategic sourcing and directors of purchasing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Strategic Sourcing | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average salary | $109,521 | $106,945 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $174,000 | Between $68,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a director of strategic sourcing and a director of purchasing in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Strategic Sourcing | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between directors of strategic sourcing' and directors of purchasing' demographics:
| Director Of Strategic Sourcing | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |