We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Materials Manager Jobs?

By C. Webb
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,836
Share

A materials manager is responsible for all aspects of purchased materials. This can include working with buyers and vendors to ensure materials are available. It can also mean overseeing surplus material disposal, analyzing delivery systems, and managing a purchasing budget. Within the duties of a materials manager, several fields require his or her skill sets.

Material managers must be flexible and have the ability to multitask. They are responsible for generating reports, supervising purchasing agents, developing company purchase guidelines, and resolving differences between vendors and suppliers. Other duties within the scope of materials manager jobs depend on what field they are in.

Government-based materials manager jobs mean that managers are typically involved in a bidding system. Many regional governments mandate the use of a bidding process on any materials or purchases that cost more than a preset amount of money. Bidding rules are specified and companies submit bids to sell materials to the government agency in question. The materials manager usually signs off on on the awarded materials bid. He or she is also responsible for ensuring that received bids comply with the bid parameters.

Private sector materials managers do not usually use a bidding process. Instead, the materials manager focuses attention on locating the best price for materials and buying them at that price. Negotiation of price and shipping are typically part of the expected duties of materials manager jobs in the private sector.

The primary difference in different materials manager jobs has to do with the industry the manager works in. A materials manager in the health field will spend the day supervising the purchase of medical supplies. For the manufacturing-based materials manager, making sure that all needed parts and packaging are on the floor and available to the assemblers as needed is the bottom line.

Duties of a materials manager also depend on the size of the company. In some cases, the materials manager runs a one-person department. He or she is responsible for all buying, shipping, and returns. Larger companies typically provide a staff for the materials manager to supervise. Most materials manager jobs require a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-materials-manager-jobs.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.