Purchasing Manager and Director

As a purchasing manager or director, you decide where your company buys from and what it pays. You manage relationships with suppliers, hunt for better deals, and make sure the goods and services arrive on time and are what was ordered. Your choices affect what the company spends and how well it runs.

Your work means talking to lots of different people - suppliers, finance teams, and managers who need things for their departments. You have to be sharp at spotting good deals, know the market, and think ahead about what the company might need. You also check supplier quality, manage budgets, and sometimes travel to visit key suppliers.