Purchasing Manager Resume Examples

Purchasing managers strategize the buying of products or materials that make up a company’s inventory. They make contracts with vendors and ensure the proper quality and delivery of these products. A vital, high-stakes role for many businesses, especially chains with massive inventories, purchasing managers are well-paid for this important work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they made a median salary of $121,110 in 2019.

Our purchasing manager resume example can help you more easily land an interview for this role by showing exactly what employers want to see on a resume. Below, learn more about how our experts help you write better resumes.

OUR RECOMMENDED EXAMPLE

Purchasing Manager Resume Example Customize This Resume

Resume Success Stories

What is a Purchasing Manager?

A purchasing manager has a broader set of responsibilities compared to the buyers or purchasing agents who typically work for them. This job requires planning and executing purchasing strategies, overseeing the daily activity of purchasing and inventory teams, developing relationships with vendors and suppliers, conducting budget analysis and more.

To become a purchasing manager, most job seekers need to have earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, business or supply management. They will likely also need enough years of experience as a buyer, purchasing agent or in a similar role to qualify for this managerial position.

What Makes This a Great
Purchasing Manager Resume Example?

A well-written resume will always increase your chances of landing an interview. Our examples, written by a team of certified resume writers, can help you craft a resume that grabs a hiring manager’s attention.

Here are some advantages of referring to our purchasing manager resume example as a guide:

  • Expert-level writing: Hiring managers often use applicant tracking systems to scan resumes for specific keywords pulled directly from a job description. Our purchasing manager resume example uses terms like “supplier evaluation” and “contract negotiation” to show you how to appeal to both an ATS and industry recruiters. For extra help, you can also use our Resume Builder.
  • Appropriate resume format: Since it’s written for a job seeker with only mid-level experience, the example above uses a combination resume format to emphasize skills and work history equally. Earlier in their career, they might have used the skills-focused functional format. Eventually, they should opt for a chronological format once they’ve accrued enough experience.
  • The right resume template: This example uses one of our versatile Modern resume templates, which are solid choices for most purchasing manager applicants. It’s best to pick a design that suits the style of the employer you want to work for, which is why our builder offers a wide variety of templates to choose from.

3 Purchasing Manager Professional Summary Examples

Since it’s the highest-positioned section on the page, the professional summary is usually the first part of a resume a recruiter reads. Use our Resume Builder to customize your summary or use our purchasing manager resume example for inspiration in writing your own.

Here are a few examples you can also use to kickstart your writing:

  1. Target-driven purchasing manager with over seven years of experience in product strategy and retail procurement. Key strengths include forecasting price and demand, monitoring vendor contracts and resolving procurement issues. Surpassed department’s saving goals by 65% through streamlining inventory management processes.
  2. Highly motivated and enthusiastic purchasing manager with a decade in purchase strategy, labour management and inventory management. Led a team of 10 buyers and purchasing agents, monitored supplier contracts, ensured seamless availability of goods and implemented new process for immediate return of defective goods.
  3. Detail-oriented purchasing manager with over 22 years of valuable industry experience in strategic planning, sourcing and supplier selection, budgeting and forecasting. Key achievements include leading purchasing teams of over 15 employees, managing budgets over $100 million, maintaining 5% annual cost reduction of purchased materials.

3 Purchasing Manager Work Experience Examples

Using hard data to quantify your achievements can quickly impress new employers. Customize pre-written content with your own impressive metrics by using our Resume Builder, or study our resume examples to write your own.

Here are a few more work experience examples our builder might recommend:

  1. Took over negotiation of new vendor contracts, resulting in annual savings of $30,000
  2. Monitored and achieved on-time product delivery with 97% success rate
  3. Supervised, reviewed and negotiated nearly 1,000 annual company contracts

Top Skills for Your Purchasing Manager Resume

Your resume is incomplete without a list of skills that align with the job you want. Our Resume Builder offers recommendations for these kinds of industry-relevant skills, as does our library of resume examples.

Below are lists of soft and hard skills you might also include on a purchasing manager’s resume:

Hard Skills

  • Managing large-scale budgets
  • Vendor sourcing and negotiation
  • Inventory management software
  • Performing market research

Soft Skills

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Relationship management
  • Strategic and analytical thinking
  • Strong leadership skills

Building Your Purchasing Manager Resume with Our Builder:

Select a Resume Template

Choose Pre-Written Phrases

Download, Print and Apply

Purchasing Manager FAQs

What are the educational qualifications and training required to be a purchasing manager?

To become a purchasing manager, you’ll probably need a bachelor’s degree in finance, business or supply management. You can gain an edge over other job seekers by having a masters in business administration (MBA) too. Along with buyer or purchasing agent experience, you can earn additional certifications by, for example, becoming a Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) or Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).

What are a purchasing manager’s duties?

A purchasing manager oversees a purchasing department’s activities, develops sourcing and pricing strategies, and ensures deliveries meet certain quality standards. A purchasing manager trains and leads teams of buyers and purchasing agents, establishes relationships with suppliers, negotiates purchasing contracts, reviews purchase orders and reduces or eliminates risk wherever they can.

What is the work environment like for a purchasing manager?

A purchasing manager usually works full-time in an office. The job may require traveling to meet vendors and negotiate contracts. Depending on the industry, seasonal demands may require purchasing managers to work additional hours. Keep in mind that this extra workload, along with potential vendor disagreements, delivery delays and more might result in extra stress as well.