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Purchasing manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Timothy Edwards,

Jaunelle Celaire

One of the most important hard skills a purchasing manager can possess is monitoring supplier performance because this skill helps to direct and make decisions for procurement. It's also important for purchasing managers to have the hard skill of great cost reduction strategies, and strategic sourcing.

When it comes to soft skills, purchasing managers should have strong customer service skills above all else. Purchasing managers need to ensure that orders are accurate, so great attention to detail is also crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical purchasing manager skills. We ranked the top skills for purchasing managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.1% of purchasing manager resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a purchasing manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 purchasing manager skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how purchasing managers use supply chain:

Reported to Global Vice President of Procurement leading commercial negotiations, supplier selection, supplier development and supply chain management projects.
Collaborated closely with supply chain to determine logistic strategy and MRP ordering parameters to optimize inventory turns and logistic expenses.

2. Strategic Sourcing

Here's how purchasing managers use strategic sourcing:

Lead the collaborative strategic sourcing efforts for electrical power generation products and services required by several public utilities for their operations.
Provide leadership in strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management for a buying team responsible for academic and research related commodities.

3. Project Management

Here's how purchasing managers use project management:

Conceptualized and established new project management department to deliver more focused support to customers including scheduling, delivery, and deployment.
Full responsibility of project management of the Aftermarket warranty recover, regional distribution centers in Florida, California and North Carolina.

4. Supplier Performance

Supplier performance refers to practices aimed at optimizing a supplier's performance and capabilities.

Here's how purchasing managers use supplier performance:

Established and managed key supplier performance goals and objectives; communicated periodic results vs. plan and managed top-level continuous improvement initiatives.
Developed methods and led negotiating efforts with suppliers resulting in savings exceeding $1.5million per year while simultaneously improving supplier performance.

5. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how purchasing managers use continuous improvement:

Developed a high performing supply base and strategic partnerships focused on continuous improvement, delivery of innovation, and supply continuity.
Maintain Supplier Relationships- Ensure suppliers assigned to the region have appropriate business plans supporting cost, technology and continuous improvement requirements.

6. Purchase Orders

Here's how purchasing managers use purchase orders:

Negotiated contracts and purchase orders with international vendors to keep manufacturing plants in Mexico and Japan fully operational at all times.
Developed purchase order request system implemented by upper management in order to assure accurate and timely purchasing of necessary materials.

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7. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how purchasing managers use logistics:

Generated several informational tools that facilitated inventory and sourcing; able to utilize efficient systems to streamline logistics for independent departments.
Managed Amazon China distribution program; successfully set up and managed Amazon China logistics, warehousing and inventory replenishment program.

8. Supplier Management

Here's how purchasing managers use supplier management:

Worked across multiple departments to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements through improved supplier management and procurement processes.
Negotiated new contracts and created supplier management processes for specific high-spend target categories in food and food-related consumables.

9. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how purchasing managers use customer service:

Engaged and established internal policy and procedures for materials/purchasing/customer service/customs/production control & logistics/warehousing.
Possess customer service skills to interact professionally, courteously and productively to build long-term relationships with stakeholders and business partners.

10. Cost Reduction

Here's how purchasing managers use cost reduction:

Change Management: Implemented new integrated processes and developed change processes with individual suppliers for inventory management and cost reduction strategies.
Achieved improvements in vendor performance, including cost reductions, delivery performance, incoming quality and new product introduction performance.

11. Supplier Relationships

Here's how purchasing managers use supplier relationships:

Established and maintained supplier relationships and tracked and evaluated vendor performance based on quality, delivery and adherence to contract terms.
Managed supplier relationships; negotiated contracts, including creation of documentation process and support for engineering document transfers / change notices.

12. RFP

RFP stands for request for proposal and is a document that contains details about a project or bids from contractors who are responsible for completing the project.

Here's how purchasing managers use rfp:

Involved with new project development including conceptual design, construction decisions, RFP, equipment standards/specifications, equipment schedule and installation.
Managed several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.

13. Supplier Selection

Here's how purchasing managers use supplier selection:

Managed supplier selection process focusing on collaborative strategies to improve Quality, Logistics, Technology, Total Cost and Sustainability.
Managed a global sourcing organization responsible for; product cost estimates, supplier selections, material management and contract administration.

14. Commodities

Here's how purchasing managers use commodities:

Implement procurement strategies for sourcing fabricated and machined commodities through supplier rationalization, selection and qualification for new and existing suppliers.
Developed and implemented sourcing strategies for computer hardware commodities and semiconductor commodities relating to circuit board manufacturing supporting global manufacturing.

15. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how purchasing managers use product development:

Utilized problem-solving, analysis and evaluative skills to make recommendations to management while coordinating new product development from start to finish.
Supported commercialization managers and product engineering organizations with supplier qualification, new product development and value optimization of product design.

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What skills help Purchasing Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on purchasing manager resumes?

Dr. Timothy Edwards

Professor, Interim Director, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Writing and research skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills. Technical skills such as web design, graphic design, audio and video production skills. Employers are interested in potential employees knowledge, intelligence and skills.

What purchasing manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jaunelle Celaire

Chair, Professor of Voice, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.

What type of skills will young purchasing managers need?

Terry McKee

IT & Procurement Director, Knoxville Community Development Corporation

The core skill required is a commitment to lifelong learning since public procurement requires the practitioner to constantly learn new ideas and techniques. Other necessary skills include problem solving, project management, communication, time management, writing, and patience, and flexibility. I did not list software skills (Word, Excel, Google, for example) because I think they are requisite for virtually all professional jobs now. Ethical standards are also requisite for public procurement and while not really a skill, are a core requirement. Finally, let me mention that increasingly public agencies offer internship opportunities and, if possible, take advantage of those in order to learn about public procurement in real life settings.

What technical skills for a purchasing manager stand out to employers?

Keith Hassell

Executive Director of Career & Professional Development, Sacred Heart University

Employers are increasingly looking for applied skillsets and additional certifications to set a candidate apart. Sacred Heart University has recently launched a remote work certification, which houses three modules - focusing on the remote worker, the remote team and the remote leader, providing the tools and resources to comfortably leverage and utilize virtual platforms at various organizations. Additional specialized training, certifications and more are great selling tools pending on the specific area of interest. Certifications are common in areas such as project management, sales, IT/network/software, Google application and more. The candidate needs to think, "What can I do that is beyond my coursework to show I am passionate about my field? How do I make myself stand out?" Certifications is an attainable way to do this.
In addition, soft skills continue to be equally important in today's job market. NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers) identified seven core competencies that employers seek from entry level candidates which include critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology, leadership, professionalism/work ethic, career management and global/intercultural fluency.

What hard/technical skills are most important for purchasing managers?

Bruce Heiman Ph.D.

Professor of International Business, San Francisco State University

-Analytical skills (ability to gather data, clean it, analyze it, write-up results and present on what the meaning of the analysis suggests for action (the last one is most important--"what does it really mean?"

-Some experience and skills with coding in any language (at the moment, Python or C++ are preferred, though Ruby on Rails is also good)

-Deep spreadsheet skills (pivot tables and macros, as examples).

-Relational database skills, including programming (e.g., MySQL)

-Data mining

-AI/Machine Learning experience

Do you want to know more?

List of purchasing manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a purchasing manager resume and required skills for a purchasing manager to have include:

Supply Chain
Strategic Sourcing
Project Management
Supplier Performance
Continuous Improvement
Purchase Orders
Logistics
Supplier Management
Customer Service
Cost Reduction
Supplier Relationships
RFP
Supplier Selection
Commodities
Product Development
Global Sourcing

RFQ
Strong Analytical
Vendor Relations
Excellent Interpersonal
Contract Negotiations
Market Trends
ERP
Contract Terms
Process Improvement
MRO
Sigma
HR
Procurement Process
On-Time Delivery
Strong Negotiation
RFI

R
Spend Analysis
MRP
Direct Reports
Inventory Control
Payment Terms
Cost Analysis
Vendor Performance
Inventory Management
Supplier Contracts
Strategic Suppliers
KPI
Product Quality
Supplier Sourcing
ISO

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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