Job Role Description

Finance > Purchasing/Buyer

Salary National Average

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49820.0000 56590.0000 65170.0000

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Candidate Supply: 11,737 Job Openings: 1,364

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Short Description:

Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
  • Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
  • Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
  • Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine the need for changes.
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of items purchased, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
  • Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Read Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Speak: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Active Learning: Understanding the new information for current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Management of Financial Resources: Determine how to spend budgets to complete the work and account for these expenditures.
  • Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the audience's needs.
  • Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Job Zones

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. 
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, teachers, chemists, environmental engineers, criminal investigators, and special agents.
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: (7.0 to < 8.0)

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