Purchasing and Contracting Managers

Background

The military buys billions of dollars worth of equipment, supplies, and services from private industry each year. The services must make sure their purchases meet military specifications and are made at a fair price. Purchasing and contracting managers negotiate, write, and monitor contracts for purchasing equipment, materials, and services.

What They Do

Purchasing and contracting managers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Prepare bid invitations or requests for proposals for contracts with civilian firms
• Prepare formal contracts, specifying all terms and conditions
• Review bids or proposals and award contracts
• Review requests for supplies and services to make sure they are complete and accurate
• Review work to make sure that it meets the requirements of contracts

Physical Demands

No information available.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to develop detailed plans
• Interest in negotiating
• Interest in work requiring accuracy and attention to detail

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

Helpful fields of study include:

• Business administration
• Management
• Public administration

Work Environment

Purchasing and contracting managers work in offices.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for officers.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of three to ten weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Purchasing and accounting procedures
• Supply and financial management
• Use of computers in contract administration

Further training occurs through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian purchasing and contracting managers work for a wide variety of employers, including engineering, manufacturing, and construction firms. They perform duties similar to those performed by military purchasing and contract managers. They may also be called procurement services managers, purchasing directors, contracts administrators, or material control managers.

Related Civilian Careers

• General and Operations Managers
• Purchasing Managers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 4,000 purchasing and contracting managers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new contracting managers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After training, purchasing and contracting managers work with and advise commanders on contract proposals. With experience, they may advance to senior management and command positions.