Purchasing Managers

(NOC 0113)

in All Management

Purchasing managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a purchasing department and develop and implement the purchasing policies of a business or institution. They work throughout the public and private sectors.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$34.62

Minimum

$45.13

Median

$69.71

Maximum

Annual Pay

$22,185

Minimum

$78,098

Median

$137,046

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Purchasing managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a purchasing department and develop and implement the purchasing policies of a business or institution. They work throughout the public and private sectors.

Job duties

Purchasing managers:

  • Manage the purchasing activities of an organization.
  • Develop purchasing policies and procedures and control purchasing department budget.
  • Identify vendors of materials, equipment or supplies.
  • Evaluate cost and quality of goods or services.
  • Negotiate purchase contracts.
  • Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials.
  • Review and process claims against suppliers.
  • Interview, hire and oversee training of staff.

Sample job titles

  • contract manager
  • material manager
  • procurement director
  • procurement manager
  • purchasing contract manager
  • purchasing director
  • supply chain logistics manager
  • supply chief

Skills

  • You need to be organized and able to meet deadlines. You must be analytical, flexible, attentive to detail, and able to make decisions. You need good written and oral communication skills, and you must be able to establish effective working relationships with a variety of people.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in business administration, commerce or economics.
  • Purchasing managers responsible for units purchasing specialized materials or business services may need a related degree or diploma. For example, a bachelor's degree or college diploma in engineering may be necessary for purchasing managers that purchase industrial products.
  • The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of the Supply Chain Management Association may be required.
  • Several years of experience as a purchasing agent or officer are required.

Other considerations

  • Movement to senior management positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

455

employed in 2016

94.4%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

33.3%
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66.7%
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48.2

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
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59.5%
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48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

62.2%

Halifax

$76,241 median annual income
14.4%

North Shore

$80,836 median annual income
8.9%

Southern

$53,762 median annual income
7.8%

Annapolis Valley

$79,374 median annual income
6.7%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

24.7%

Manufacturing

16.1%

Public administration

11.8%

Wholesale trade

7.5%

Professional, scientific and technical services

6.5%

Retail trade

What is the age of Employment?

32.0%

45-54

26.0%

35-44

25.0%

55-64

8.0%

25-34

4.0%

15-24

4.0%

65+

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

28.6%

College Diploma

$79,264 median annual income
26.4%

Bachelor

$84,174 median annual income
18.7%

High school

$62,913 median annual income
8.8%

Master

$92,777 median annual income
7.7%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Economics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. They include courses in economic theory, microeconomics and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Suppy Chain Management Professional

Professional Designation: Professional designation exists and shows that the holder has met the standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.

Regulating body:
Supply Chain Canada - Nova Scotia Institute
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS
Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS

Additional resources