Purchasing manager job description templates: small business, standard, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, and senior. With FLSA and salary guidance.
6 free templates: small business, standard, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, and senior, with the FLSA exempt-status and salary guidance generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
Hiring a purchasing manager comes with two questions the generic templates ignore. First, purchasing manager, purchasing agent, and purchasing director are three different levels of the same function, and naming the wrong one brings in the wrong applicants. Second, the role is almost always salaried-exempt, and small employers often second-guess that, so the posting should get the classification right from the start. Settle those, and the rest is a fairly standard operations job description.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the small businesses that make this hire, often a manufacturer, distributor, or builder bringing on its first dedicated purchasing person without an HR department. The six templates below cover the role by level and industry: a small-business first-hire version, standard, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, and a senior director version, each handling the FLSA status honestly. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
Six free purchasing manager job description templates: Small Business / First Hire, Standard, Manufacturing, Construction, Wholesale, and Senior / Director. A purchasing manager owns sourcing, suppliers, contracts, and spend, distinct from the agent who executes purchases. The role is almost always exempt under the administrative exemption, with a federal median wage of $139,510. Download all six as a DOCX, fill in the brackets, and post.
What Does a Purchasing Manager Do?
A purchasing manager owns the procurement function: sourcing materials, goods, and services, selecting and managing suppliers, negotiating contracts and pricing, controlling spend, and making sure the right items arrive at the right time and cost. The role sits in the BLS occupation of purchasing managers (SOC 11-3061), distinct from the buyers and purchasing agents who execute purchases under the manager's direction.
For the employer writing the posting, two things matter up front. First, the role exists at three levels, agent, manager, and director, that get confused, and naming the right one is the first job of the posting. Second, in a small business the purchasing manager is often the entire function, doing both the strategy and the actual buying, while in a large firm the manager supervises a team of buyers. The industry shifts the emphasis too: materials planning in manufacturing, inventory buying in distribution, project materials in construction. The templates below are split along exactly those lines.
Purchasing Manager vs Purchasing Agent vs Purchasing Director
These three titles describe different levels of the same function, and hiring the wrong one is a costly mismatch. Here is how they differ.
Purchasing Agent / Buyer
Purchasing Manager
Purchasing Director
Core job
Executes purchases and orders
Owns the purchasing function
Leads procurement company-wide
Scope
Follows established sourcing
Sets strategy, negotiates contracts
Sets policy, owns the budget
Manages people?
No
Sometimes (buyers)
Yes (the team)
Median wage (BLS)
About $75,650
About $139,510
Above manager level
The agent executes, the manager owns the function, and the director leads it company-wide. In a small business the purchasing manager often does all of it. Decide which level your workload genuinely needs, because the experience, the pay, and the candidate pool differ.
Purchasing Manager Duties and Responsibilities
Purchasing manager duties cluster into four areas: sourcing and suppliers, orders and procurement, cost and spend control, and strategy and team. The O*NET profile for purchasing managers catalogs the underlying work activities the role draws from. A strong posting picks the responsibilities from each area that match your industry and the role's level rather than listing every possible task.
Sourcing & suppliers
Source materials, goods, and services
Select, evaluate, and manage suppliers
Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms
Orders & procurement
Create and manage purchase orders
Oversee approvals and procurement workflow
Track deliveries and resolve supply issues
Cost & spend control
Control spend against budget
Drive cost savings and value
Manage inventory levels and carrying costs
Strategy & team
Develop sourcing and purchasing strategy
Ensure compliance with purchasing policy
Supervise buyers or agents, where applicable
The industry shifts the weight: manufacturing leans on materials planning, distribution on inventory buying, construction on project materials, and a senior role adds team leadership and company-wide strategy. For a structured way to scope the role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by level first, then by industry. The core structure is the same across all six, but the scope, the experience bar, and the industry detail differ enough that the matched version reads more credibly to the candidates who have done the job. Use this guide to choose, then adjust.
Small Business / First Hire
First dedicated purchasing hire
For an owner whose purchasing has outgrown doing it on the side: a solo-contributor role owning procurement end to end and building the process. The hero version for an SMB.
Standard Purchasing Manager
General, any industry
The universal baseline: sourcing strategy, supplier management, contract negotiation, spend control, and optional team supervision, framework-agnostic.
Manufacturing
Plants and production
The manufacturing version: raw materials and components sourced against production schedules, MRP/ERP planning, lead times, and material-cost control.
Construction / Homebuilding
Builders and contractors
The construction version: building materials, subcontractor and supplier agreements, purchase orders against project budgets, and job-site delivery.
Wholesale / Distribution
Distributors and wholesalers
The distribution version: demand forecasting, inventory buying to target turns and fill rates, margin management, and replenishment.
Senior / Purchasing Director
Function and team leadership
The leadership version: company-wide procurement strategy, the largest contracts, and a purchasing team, qualifying under both the administrative and executive exemptions.
Match the Template to the Level and Industry
Making your first dedicated purchasing hire? Small Business / First Hire, the solo-contributor version. A general role at an established company? Standard. Buying materials for production? Manufacturing. Buying for job sites? Construction. Buying inventory to resell? Wholesale / Distribution. Leading the function and a team? Senior / Director. Whichever you pick, the role is almost always exempt; note the basis from the actual duties.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and role overview, key responsibilities, qualifications, compensation with the FLSA classification note, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Small business, standard, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, and senior director versions. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Purchasing Manager (Small Business / First Hire)
For an owner whose purchasing has outgrown doing it on the side: a solo-contributor role owning procurement end to end and building the process. The hero version for a small business.
Purchasing Manager Job Description (Small Business / First Hire)
PURCHASING MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION (SMALL BUSINESS / FIRST HIRE)
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Founder / COO / CFO / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: [Typically exempt under the administrative exemption; confirm against the duties test]
Compensation: $______ [salary]
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Two or three sentences: your business, what you make or sell, and why
this first purchasing hire matters now. A first purchasing manager owns
the whole function, so be honest about scope and growth.]
ROLE OVERVIEW
[Company Name] is hiring our first dedicated Purchasing Manager to own
procurement end to end. As the purchasing function has outgrown the
founder and office manager handling it on the side, you will take over
sourcing, vendor relationships, purchase orders, and spend control, and
build the simple, repeatable processes a growing company needs. This is a
hands-on, build-it role with direct access to the owner.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own purchasing end to end: sourcing, ordering, and receiving
•Select and manage suppliers and negotiate pricing and terms
•Create and manage purchase orders and track deliveries
•Control spend against budget and find cost savings
•Build simple, repeatable purchasing processes and records
•Manage vendor contracts and renewals
•Coordinate with operations, finance, and the founder
•Maintain accurate purchasing and inventory records
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[3+] years of purchasing, procurement, or buying experience
•Negotiation and supplier-management skills
•Ability to build process from scratch and work independently
•Comfort with purchasing or ERP software, or willingness to set one up
•Strong organization and attention to detail
•[Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, if required]
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Experience as an early or sole purchasing hire
•Industry experience in [your sector]
COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION
Compensation: $______ [salary]
[A purchasing manager with authority to bind the company on significant
purchases typically meets the FLSA administrative exemption; confirm
against the duties test. See the FLSA section. This is general
information, not legal advice.]
Benefits: __ (health, PTO, 401(k), ______)
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Purchasing Manager (Standard)
The universal baseline: sourcing strategy, supplier management, contract negotiation, spend control, and optional team supervision, framework-agnostic for any industry.
Purchasing Manager Job Description (Standard)
PURCHASING MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Director of Operations / COO / VP Supply Chain]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: [Typically exempt; confirm against the duties test]
Compensation: $______ [salary]
ROLE OVERVIEW
[Company Name] is hiring a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement: develop
Template 6: Senior Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Director
The leadership version: company-wide procurement strategy, the largest contracts, and a purchasing team, qualifying under both the administrative and executive exemptions.
Senior Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Director Job Description
SENIOR PURCHASING MANAGER / PURCHASING DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION
FLSA status: [Exempt under administrative and executive exemptions; confirm against the duties test]
Compensation: $______ [salary]
ROLE OVERVIEW
[Company Name] is hiring a Senior Purchasing Manager (or Purchasing
Director) to lead the procurement function and the team. You will set
sourcing strategy, manage the largest supplier relationships and contracts,
lead and develop the purchasing team, control company-wide spend, and align
procurement with company goals. This is a leadership role over the function.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Set and own company-wide procurement strategy
•Lead, develop, and manage the purchasing team
•Manage the largest and most strategic supplier relationships
•Negotiate high-value contracts and enterprise agreements
•Own the procurement budget and company-wide spend
•Establish purchasing policy, controls, and KPIs
•Drive cost savings and supplier-risk management
•Report to executive leadership on procurement performance
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[8+] years of purchasing or procurement experience
•[3+] years leading a purchasing or procurement team
•Proven strategic-sourcing and contract-negotiation record
•Strong leadership and cross-functional skills
•[Bachelor's degree; master's or certification a plus]
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Certification (CPSM, CPSD, APICS/ASCM)
•Experience scaling a procurement function
COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION
Compensation: $______ [salary]
[A purchasing director who manages the function and supervises two or more
employees meets both the administrative and executive exemptions; confirm
against the duties test. See the FLSA section. This is general
information, not legal advice.]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Is a Purchasing Manager Exempt from Overtime?
A purchasing manager is almost always exempt from overtime, and the dependable basis is the FLSA administrative exemption. The reason the answer is clear: the role's primary duty is exactly the kind of judgment-driven business operations work the exemption is written for.
The administrative exemption applies when the primary duty is office work directly related to management or general business operations, requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance. Federal regulation is directly on point: purchasing agents with authority to bind the company on significant purchases generally meet the administrative duties test, so a purchasing manager with that authority comfortably qualifies. Here is how the common cases shake out.
A purchasing manager with binding purchase authority
Exempt (administrative)
A purchasing manager whose primary duty is office work directly related to business operations, exercising discretion and independent judgment on significant matters, meets the administrative exemption. Federal regulation states directly that purchasing agents with authority to bind the company on significant purchases generally meet the administrative duties test. This is the near-universal basis, and it does not require any subordinates.
A purchasing manager supervising two or more employees
Exempt (executive too)
A purchasing manager whose primary duty is managing the function and who customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more full-time employees, with authority or particular weight in hiring decisions, also meets the executive exemption. A manager supervising a team of buyers can qualify on both bases.
A solo purchasing manager with no reports
Still exempt (administrative)
A small-business purchasing manager who is the entire function with no direct reports does not meet the executive exemption, but still meets the administrative exemption through the binding purchase authority and independent judgment the role exercises. No subordinates are required.
Below the salary floor
Non-exempt
An exempt employee must be paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year). A purchasing manager paid below the floor is non-exempt regardless of duties, though at typical market salaries the role clears the floor easily. Some states set a higher floor, so check yours.
The administrative exemption is the reliable basis because it requires no subordinates, which fits the solo small-business purchasing manager; the executive exemption applies additionally when the manager supervises two or more employees. The federal salary floor is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), which the role clears easily, so classification turns on the duties test. Some states set a higher floor. This is general information, not legal advice.
Purchasing Manager Requirements and Skills to Include
Purchasing manager requirements scale to the level and industry: experience, negotiation, and supplier management are the core, with certification and a degree as common preferences. The SHRM job description tools describe a good job description as a plain-language summary of a position's tasks, duties, and responsibilities, and for this role plain language means stating the real experience bar rather than inflating it. The difference shows in how the bullets are written.
Weak requirement
Strong requirement
Purchasing experience required
3+ years of purchasing or procurement experience (scale to the level)
Good negotiator
Proven record negotiating supplier contracts, pricing, and terms
Knows software
Experience with purchasing, ERP, or procurement software
Degree required
Bachelor's in business or supply chain, or equivalent experience
Certification a plus
CPSM or APICS/ASCM certification preferred
Keep the requirements at the real bar for your level and keep every line job-related and neutral: the EEOC rules on job advertisements prohibit postings that express preferences based on protected characteristics. Treat a degree and certification as preferred rather than required unless the role genuinely needs them, since strong purchasing managers often come up through experience.
Purchasing Manager Pay
Purchasing manager pay spans a wide band, and the national median is not the right benchmark for a small business, so anchor to your industry, region, and the role's level.
Median $139,510, but the SMB Range Runs Lower (BLS, May 2024)
The federal median annual wage for purchasing managers was $139,510 as of May 2024; the lowest 10 percent earned under $85,500 and the highest 10 percent over $219,140, with about 58,700 openings projected per year across purchasing managers, buyers, and agents (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The median is enterprise-weighted; the 10th-percentile figure is the better SMB proxy.
The national median is pulled upward by large enterprises and high-cost metros, so a small-business first purchasing hire typically sits well below it, often in the $50,000 to $95,000 range depending on industry, region, and scope, while an experienced manager at a larger firm sits above it. Salary aggregators that capture more small-employer data report averages in the mid-$80,000s, closer to the BLS 10th percentile. Benchmark against your actual industry, region, and level rather than the national median, and disclose a range where your state requires it.
Hiring a Purchasing Manager for a Small Business
A large enterprise hires purchasing managers through a supply-chain organization and an HR department. A small manufacturer, distributor, or builder making its first dedicated purchasing hire has the owner, COO, or CFO doing it personally, with no HR team and a function that has outgrown being handled on the side. The same classification and paperwork rules apply anyway. Here is how to approach the posting and the hire for that reality.
Purchasing manager, purchasing agent, and purchasing director are not the same hire
These titles describe different levels of the same function, and naming the wrong one attracts the wrong candidates. A purchasing agent or buyer executes purchases: places orders, processes requisitions, and follows established sourcing, usually at a lower pay band. A purchasing manager owns the function: sets sourcing strategy, negotiates significant contracts, controls spend, and may supervise buyers. A purchasing director leads procurement company-wide and manages the purchasing team and budget. In a small business the purchasing manager is often the entire function, doing both the strategy and the actual buying. Decide which level your workload actually needs, because the experience, the pay, and the candidate pool differ. Name it precisely so you attract a manager when you need a manager, not an agent, and not a director.
The purchasing manager is almost always exempt, and the basis is the administrative exemption
Classification is where small employers second-guess this role, and the answer is reassuringly clear. A genuine purchasing manager is almost always exempt: federal regulation states that purchasing agents with authority to bind the company on significant purchases generally meet the administrative exemption, and a manager with that authority comfortably satisfies it. The administrative exemption is the reliable basis because it does not require any subordinates, which matters for the small-business purchasing manager who is a solo contributor. When the manager supervises two or more employees, the executive exemption applies as well. At any normal market salary the role clears the $684-per-week salary floor easily, so classification turns on the duties test, which a real purchasing manager meets. Some states set a higher salary floor, so confirm yours. This is general information, not legal advice.
A small manufacturer, distributor, or builder is making this hire without an HR department
The purchasing manager hire that fits a 5-to-50-person business is the small manufacturer, wholesale distributor, construction firm, or healthcare practice where materials are a large share of spend and the founder or CFO has been handling buying on the side. A dedicated purchasing role typically emerges around 15 to 20 employees, when the volume of vendors and orders starts taking real time. At that size the owner or COO does the hiring personally, with no HR team, while managing vendor contracts, an exempt salaried offer, and onboarding. That is exactly what FirstHR is built for. Send the offer letter and collect a signature with e-signature, store vendor and supplier contracts alongside the signed offer in document management, run a repeatable onboarding workflow with a 30-60-90 plan, and keep the org chart current as the team grows. To be clear on scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform; it does not run payroll or procurement, so pair it with those systems. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same details become the offer and a vendor-aware onboarding. Because the role is salaried-exempt and contract-heavy, the onboarding starts with a clear offer and gets the new manager into your supplier and system context fast.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, salary, reporting line, and start date in writing. An offer letter template makes this fast for an exempt salaried role.
Document the classification
Record the exempt basis, administrative or executive, from the actual duties, since a purchasing manager is almost always exempt.
Complete the paperwork
Form I-9 with documents verified, the W-4 and state tax forms, and state new hire reporting, captured once and stored.
Onboard with vendor context
Orient the new manager to your suppliers, contracts, purchasing system, and approval limits with a structured 30-60-90 plan.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the core terms, an onboarding template gives the new manager a structured start, and the new hire paperwork guide covers the I-9, tax forms, and state reporting. FirstHR connects the offer, signatures, vendor-contract storage, onboarding workflow, and 30-60-90 plan in one place so a small business can run the full process without an HR department. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a payroll or procurement system, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Purchasing manager, purchasing agent, and purchasing director are three levels of the same function; name the one your workload needs, since experience, pay, and candidate pool differ.
Use the template that matches the level and industry: small business first hire, standard, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, or senior director.
The role is almost always exempt under the administrative exemption (binding purchase authority), and executive too when supervising two or more employees.
The federal median wage is $139,510, but it is enterprise-weighted; a small-business first hire often sits in the $50,000 to $95,000 range, closer to the BLS 10th percentile.
In a small business the purchasing manager is often the whole function, owning both strategy and the actual buying, and reporting to the founder or CFO.
Onboard with vendor and system context: the offer, the classification basis, the supplier contracts, and a 30-60-90 plan to take over procurement smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a purchasing manager do?
A purchasing manager owns the procurement function: sourcing the materials, goods, and services a company needs, selecting and managing suppliers, negotiating contracts and pricing, controlling spend, and ensuring the right items arrive at the right time and cost. Day to day that means developing sourcing strategy, evaluating and managing suppliers, negotiating terms, overseeing purchase orders and the procurement workflow, managing budgets and driving cost savings, monitoring inventory and supplier performance, and ensuring compliance with purchasing policy. In larger organizations the manager supervises buyers and purchasing agents; in a small business the purchasing manager is often the entire function, handling both the strategy and the actual buying. The role sits in the BLS occupation of purchasing managers (SOC 11-3061), distinct from the buyers and purchasing agents who execute purchases under the manager's direction. The emphasis shifts by industry: materials planning in manufacturing, inventory buying in distribution, project materials in construction.
What is the difference between a purchasing manager, a purchasing agent, and a purchasing director?
These three describe different levels of the same function. A purchasing agent or buyer executes purchases: placing orders, processing requisitions, and following established sourcing, typically at a lower pay band, and the BLS groups buyers and purchasing agents together with a median wage around $75,650. A purchasing manager owns the function: setting sourcing strategy, negotiating significant contracts, controlling spend, and often supervising buyers, with a BLS median of $139,510. A purchasing director leads procurement company-wide, owns the budget, and manages the purchasing team and strategy at the executive level. In a small business the lines blur and the purchasing manager often does everything from strategy to placing orders. For hiring, decide which level your workload genuinely requires, because the experience, the pay, and the candidate pool differ significantly. Naming an agent role a manager role, or vice versa, attracts the wrong applicants.
Is a purchasing manager exempt or non-exempt from overtime?
A purchasing manager is almost always exempt from overtime, most reliably under the FLSA administrative exemption. The role's primary duty, sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and spend strategy, is office work directly related to business operations that requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment on significant matters. Federal regulation is directly on point: purchasing agents with authority to bind the company on significant purchases generally meet the administrative duties test, and a purchasing manager with that authority comfortably qualifies. The administrative exemption is the dependable basis because it requires no subordinates, which fits the small-business purchasing manager who is a solo contributor. When the manager supervises two or more full-time employees, the executive exemption applies as well. The exempt employee must also earn a salary of at least $684 per week, which the role clears easily at any normal market salary, so classification turns on the duties test. Some states set a higher salary floor. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a purchasing manager make?
The federal median annual wage for purchasing managers was $139,510 as of May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning under $85,500 and the highest 10 percent over $219,140, per BLS data. That median is pulled upward by large enterprises and high-cost metros, so it is not the right benchmark for a small business. For SMB hiring, the 10th-percentile figure under $85,500 and private salary aggregators reporting averages in the mid-$80,000s are better proxies, and real small-business postings often range from roughly $50,000 to $95,000 depending on industry, region, and scope. A first purchasing hire at a small manufacturer or distributor will sit well below the national median, while an experienced manager at a larger firm sits above it. For a posting, benchmark against your actual industry, region, and the seniority of the role rather than the national median, and disclose a range where your state requires it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do small businesses hire purchasing managers?
Yes, and small businesses are a genuine segment for this role, though they hire it later than other positions. A dedicated purchasing role typically emerges around 15 to 20 employees, when the volume of vendors, orders, and planning starts taking real time away from the founder, CFO, or office manager who had been handling buying on the side. The small businesses that hire purchasing managers are those where materials and cost of goods are a large share of spend: small manufacturers buying raw materials and components, wholesale distributors managing inventory, construction firms and homebuilders buying project materials, and healthcare practices managing supplies. In these companies the purchasing manager is often the entire function, owning both strategy and the actual buying, and reports directly to the founder, COO, or CFO. This owner-run, no-HR-department buyer is exactly the small-business scenario the first-hire template on this page is built for. The national median salary reflects larger enterprises, not this segment.
What should a purchasing manager job description include?
A strong purchasing manager posting names the level and industry up front, since a first-hire small-business role, a manufacturing role, and a senior director role differ substantially. Include a company summary that makes the scope concrete, a role overview that clarifies whether the manager owns the whole function or leads a team, and responsibilities grouped into sourcing and suppliers, orders and procurement, cost and spend control, and strategy and team. State the required experience and any certification, and the reporting line. Address the FLSA status, noting the role is typically exempt under the administrative exemption, and the executive exemption when supervising two or more employees. Include the salary or a range where your state requires it, benchmarked to your industry and region rather than the national median. For a small business, be honest that the role owns purchasing end to end. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
What qualifications does a purchasing manager need?
Most purchasing manager roles require several years of purchasing, procurement, or buying experience, strong negotiation and supplier-management skills, and comfort with purchasing or ERP software, with the exact bar scaling to the level and industry. A first-hire small-business role might require three or more years and the ability to build process from scratch; a senior or director role expects eight or more years plus team leadership. A bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or a related field is commonly preferred but often substitutable with equivalent experience. Professional certifications add value: the CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) from ISM and the CPIM or CSCP from APICS/ASCM are the recognized credentials. Industry-specific knowledge matters too: materials planning and MRP for manufacturing, inventory and demand forecasting for distribution, takeoffs and project budgets for construction. Write the requirements at the real bar for your level, keep them job-related, and treat certification as preferred rather than required unless the role genuinely needs it.
What happens after I hire a purchasing manager?
Send the offer, document the classification, complete the paperwork, and onboard the manager with vendor and system context. Start by confirming the role, salary, reporting line, and start date in writing and getting the offer signed; because the role is salaried-exempt, the offer is straightforward. Record the exempt basis, administrative or executive, from the actual duties. Complete Form I-9 with documents verified, the W-4 and state tax forms, and state new hire reporting. Then onboard deliberately: orient the new manager to your suppliers and contracts, your purchasing or ERP system, your approval limits and purchasing policy, and the budgets they will own, ideally through a structured 30-60-90 day plan so they can take over procurement without disrupting supply. For a small business without an HR department, a repeatable onboarding process keeps the offer, the classification basis, and the vendor contracts organized. FirstHR handles the offer and signatures with e-signature, runs the onboarding workflow and 30-60-90 plan, and stores the signed offer and vendor contracts in document management. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
