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The differences between senior sourcing managers 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 senior sourcing manager and a director of purchasing. Additionally, a senior sourcing manager has an average salary of $113,406, which is higher than the $106,945 average annual salary of a director of purchasing.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing manager include strategic sourcing, project management and category strategies. The most important skills for a director of purchasing are supply chain, purchase orders, and product development.
| Senior Sourcing Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Yearly salary | $113,406 | $106,945 |
| Hourly rate | $54.52 | $51.42 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 12,200 | 17,847 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior sourcing manager is an individual who manages a team that is responsible for identifying necessary products and services that support the daily operations of an organization. Senior sourcing managers are required to manage the overall sourcing strategy of the organization and conduct research to understand its operations needs and requirements. They must build relationships with vendors and key suppliers so that they can negotiate on pricing and control costs. Senior sourcing managers must also propose a yearly budget that depends on the organization's sourcing needs.
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.
Senior sourcing managers and directors of purchasing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average salary | $113,406 | $106,945 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $168,000 | Between $68,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing manager and a director of purchasing in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior sourcing managers' and directors of purchasing' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.0% 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% |