Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
What you’d do
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
- Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
Skills that matter
- Negotiation
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Writing
How to get there
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Also called
- Buyer
- Procurement Official
- Procurement Specialist
- Purchasing Agent
- Contract Administrator (Contract Admin)
- Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin)
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