Global supply manager vs purchasing manager

The differences between global supply managers and purchasing managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a global supply manager and a purchasing manager. Additionally, a global supply manager has an average salary of $108,232, which is higher than the $98,118 average annual salary of a purchasing manager.

The top three skills for a global supply manager include supply chain, cost reduction and supplier relationships. The most important skills for a purchasing manager are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and project management.

Global supply manager vs purchasing manager overview

	Global Supply Manager	Purchasing Manager
Yearly salary	$108,232	$98,118
Hourly rate	$52.03	$47.17
Growth rate	17%	-6%
Number of jobs	46,402	30,430
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a global supply manager do?

A Global Supply Manager is responsible for supervising production supplies' adequacy to meet distribution requirements according to the supply chain processes. Global Supply Managers coordinate with senior management to improve sourcing strategies and adhere to customer demands. They also conduct data and statistical analysis and evaluate the current market trends to identify business opportunities to generate more revenue resources for the business. A Global Supply Chain Manager must have excellent leadership and analytical skills, especially in developing cost-reduction techniques without compromising high-quality deliverables.

What does a purchasing manager do?

A purchasing manager is responsible for organizing and managing products to order or sell. Purchasing managers review product specifications, negotiate pricing details with the vendors, evaluate and choose the best suppliers, and assist purchasing agents. Purchase managers are also responsible for resolving order processing issues and analyzing current market trends to determine which products to purchase. A purchasing manager must have excellent decision-making and strategical skills to examine effects, inspect defective items, and create an in-depth analysis of customers' needs to improve their performance and sales.

Global supply manager vs purchasing manager salary

Global supply managers and purchasing managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Global Supply Manager	Purchasing Manager
Average salary	$108,232	$98,118
Salary range	Between $80,000 And $144,000	Between $70,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City	Sparks, NV	Richmond, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Maine
Best paying company	Meta	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between global supply manager and purchasing manager education

There are a few differences between a global supply manager and a purchasing manager in terms of educational background:

	Global Supply Manager	Purchasing Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Global supply manager vs purchasing manager demographics

Here are the differences between global supply managers' and purchasing managers' demographics:

	Global Supply Manager	Purchasing Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8%	Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	10%	11%

Differences between global supply manager and purchasing manager duties and responsibilities

Global supply manager example responsibilities.

Manage strategy development, process re-engineering, logistics management, and information technology support for the supply chain enterprise.
Conduct global supplier business reviews, scorecard meetings, and RFQ process.
Clean SOX opinion in first year.
Conduct RFQ's and negotiate rates and contracts for logistics services.
Manage hedging of key commodities to reduce volatility in their prices and generate cost savings for manufacturing centers
Analyze partner capabilities for enrollment into EDI testing environment.

Purchasing manager example responsibilities.

Manage payroll and accounts payable.
Lead major purchasing projects for automotive OEM vehicles.
Used RFI, RFP, RFQ techniques to identify, select, and engage with suppliers to ensure competitive market advantage.
Establish an integrate MRO supply program which eliminate specific company manage buying, inventory control and warehousing functions.
Manage all procurement activities to support manufacturing operations including raw materials, tooling, components and MRO services.
Manage several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.

Global supply manager vs purchasing manager skills

Common global supply manager skills

Supply Chain, 19%
Cost Reduction, 9%
Supplier Relationships, 7%
Strategic Sourcing, 7%
NDA, 6%
Delivery Performance, 5%

Common purchasing manager skills

Supply Chain, 15%
Strategic Sourcing, 7%
Project Management, 5%
Supplier Performance, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%

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Global Supply Manager
Global Supply Manager vs Purchasing Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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