What are the tasks and responsibilities of purchasing directors?
Strategic purchasing directors are in charge of their company’s entire purchasing process. They determine which goods, commodities or services the company needs, obtain the best offers, order the required goods and organise the delivery process. Operational purchasing directors, by contrast, are responsible for monitoring the deliveries and managing the stocks.
Purchasing directors must have strong negotiation skills, leadership qualities and economic competence. An essential part of their tasks is to keep the purchase costs as low as possible for the company while at the same time buying products and services of the best possible quality. To be able to compare offers and select suitable suppliers, purchasing directors need to have good computer skills.
- Obtaining and comparing offers
- Specification analyses
- Analysis and evaluation of purchasing key figures
- Conducting negotiations on conditions and contracts