You oversee, plan, direct and control the activities of a purchasing department as a purchasing manager. You love when your strategies for sourcing and negotiating new supplier relationships result in the advancement of your company and its profitability. In the energy industry, purchasing managers deal with budgets in the millions or even billions of dollars.
Purchasing managers also develop and implement the business’s purchasing policies. This involves examining the existing procedures and identifying opportunities to streamline purchasing activities. They establish vendor networks to meet distribution needs, and optimize lead time, pricing, quality, safety performance and on-time delivery. They work closely with other departments such as finance and engineering.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Pipelines
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $53,000 to $125,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
- Sub-sector Engineering, design and procurement, Modular fabrication
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A purchasing manager in oil and natural gas may need to complete some minor upskilling to successfully transition to the engineering, design and procurement and modular fabrication life cycle phases of industrial construction and maintenance in energy. The foundational skills are easily transferable but a worker may need to learn about working with different suppliers and contractor organizations and gain experience with major capital projects and a construction background in order to transition.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (engineering, design and procurement | modular fabrication)
- Transition to a similar level (engineering, design and procurement | modular fabrication)
- Urban location (engineering, design and procurement | modular fabrication)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a purchasing manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the LNG facility operation sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a purchasing manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the petrochemicals and refining sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
- Sub-sector Geothermal, Solar, Wind
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A purchasing manager making a career change to the geothermal sub-sector of renewables may need to complete some minor upskilling including gaining knowledge of the renewables sector. Oil and natural gas experience will likely increase the likelihood of transferability. A worker may find they need to complete more significant upskilling to transition to the solar or wind sub-sectors of renewables and may need to gain familiarity with the sector and its expanded customer base prior to transitioning.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste or optimize customer service
- Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers to understand key aspects of their competitive position and financial strength
- Selecting transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
- Assessing appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move or store materials
- Appraising vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in renewables may include:
- Strong understanding of renewable energy project development and organization aptitudes. (geothermal | solar | wind)
Education
- A post-secondary diploma or degree in business administration, commerce or economics is typically required, along with several years of experience as a Purchasing Agent or Officer.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic control
- Aerial lift training
Licensing
- The designation Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or registration in the educational program of Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required
Additional Requirements
- Purchasing managers responsible for purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related degree or diploma
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Less formal organizational structure (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Transition to a similar level (solar | wind)
- Urban location (geothermal | solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and communication helps you direct the efforts of your team while liaising with those in a diverse mix of other business functions including finance, legal, engineering, marketing and operations.
- Management of material resources
- Collaborative
- Judgment and decision making
- Negotiation
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Persuasion
- Administration and management
- Management of financial resources
- Transportation
The renewables sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
Geothermal
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Solar
- Transferability: Reboot
- Skills upgrade: Major
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Wind
- Transferability: Reboot
- Skills upgrade: Major
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
Workers will find that the ease of a career change from oil and natural gas into renewables may vary by sub-sector. There could be differences in the need to upskill, gain knowledge and experience, expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
