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.
Work Activities
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Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
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Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
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Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
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Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
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Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
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Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
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Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
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Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
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Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
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Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
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Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
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Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
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Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
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Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
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Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
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Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
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Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
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Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
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Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
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Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
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Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Currently Employed
18,580
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Yearly Projected Openings
1,710
- Education
Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience
No work experience
- Training
1 to 12 months on-the-job training
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Looking for technical training programs?
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Conventional:
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
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Integrity
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Attention to Detail
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Dependability
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Stress Tolerance
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Analytical Thinking
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Initiative
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Personal computers
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Notebook computers
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Laser fax machine
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Desktop computers
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Desktop calculator
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Project management software
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Financial analysis software
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Enterprise resource planning ERP software
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Data base user interface and query software
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Accounting software
