Purchasing managers typically do the following:

• Coordinate the activities of buyers and purchasing agents engaged in buying materials, equipment, or supplies for the organization
• Supervise, hire, and train staff
• Evaluate potential suppliers on the basis of price, quality, and speed of delivery
• Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices
• Attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers
• Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other information to determine reasonable prices
• Negotiate contracts on behalf of their organization
• Work out agreements with suppliers, such as when products will be delivered
• Meet with staff and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action
• Ensure that vendors and suppliers comply with the terms and conditions of the contract and, if they don't, determine the need for changes

Purchasing managers plan and coordinate the work of buyers and purchasing agents and hire and train new staff.

Purchasing managers, sometimes known as contract managers, are also responsible for developing their organization's procurement policies and procedures. These policies help ensure that procurement professionals are meeting ethical standards to avoid potential conflicts of interest or inappropriate supplier and customer relations.

Besides establishing procurement standards, purchasing managers set guidelines on how often their department will get price quotes for items, how many bids to accept, and which vendors to consider.

In addition to carrying out their managerial and administrative responsibilities, purchasing managers buy goods and services for their organization or institution. Like buyers and purchasing agents, purchasing managers negotiate contracts and consider price, quality, availability, reliability, and technical support when identifying and choosing suppliers and merchandise. Their negotiations and contracts are typically more complex than those carried out by buyers and purchasing agents.

Purchasing managers must study their organization's sales records and inventory levels of current stock, identify foreign and domestic suppliers, and keep up to date with changes affecting both the supply of, and demand for, products and materials.

Purchasing managers use many resources to find out all they can about potential suppliers. They attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and to make contacts with suppliers.

Before signing a contract and placing an order, purchasing managers must make certain that the supplier can deliver the desired goods or services on time, in the correct quantities, and without sacrificing quality. Purchasing managers monitor the terms of the contracts in order to ensure that the supplier is complying with its terms and conditions and resolve any supplier-related issues that arise.