Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
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.
Also called: Buyer · Contract Administrator (Contract Admin) · Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin) · Procurement and Contracting Buyer · Procurement Official · Procurement Specialist
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
- Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Visio
- Oracle Database
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Apple AppleWorks
- Assured Software JPP
- Choice Job Cost
- Construction Management Software ProEst
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Economics and Accounting