Purchaser

Purchaser article illustration

Description

Purchasers select and purchase stock, materials, services or goods. They organise tender procedures and select suppliers.

Purchasers typically do the following duties:

  • Evaluate suppliers on the basis of the price, quality, and speed of delivery of their products and services
  • Interview vendors and visit suppliersโ€™ plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices
  • Attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other information to determine reasonable prices
  • Negotiate contracts on behalf of their organization
  • Work out agreements with suppliers, such as when products will be delivered
  • Meet with staff and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action
  • Evaluate and monitor contracts to be sure that vendors and suppliers comply with the terms and conditions of the contract and to determine the need for changes
  • Maintain and review records of items bought, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to purchaser:

supply manager
purchasing office clerk
procurement and supply manager
buyer
purchasing agent
procurement manager
buying agent
purchasing assistant
assistant purchaser
purchasing and supply manager
procurer
senior purchaser
buying manager
purchasing office administrator
procurement and supply officer
trainee purchaser
supply agent
purchasing and supply office clerk
purchasing officer
procurement and supply agent
purchasing office worker
graduate purchaser
purchasing and supply office worker
purchasing and supply agent
procurement agent
purchasing and supply office administrator
senior buyer
purchasing and supply officer
purchasing and supply assistant
procurement officer
purchasing manager
supply officer

Working conditions

Purchasers work in various settings, including manufacturing and service industries, wholesale and retail trade establishments, and government agencies. They typically work regular hours, although they may occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines.

Purchasers in manufacturing industries may be exposed to noise and fumes from the production process. In addition, because they often work with computers, they may be susceptible to eye strain, back problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Minimum qualifications

Educational requirements for purchasers usually vary with the size of the organization. Although a high school diploma may be enough at some organizations, many businesses require applicants to have a bachelorโ€™s degree. A degree in business, finance, or supply management is sufficient for many positions. A degree in agriculture, agriculture production, or animal science may be beneficial for positions as a purchaser of farm products.

Experience requirements for a purchaser can vary from employer to employer. An entry-level purchaser position may not require as much work experience as a senior-level one. It may also be beneficial to accept on-the-job training as a form of work experience.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Purchaser is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Purchaser career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to purchaser.

purchase planner
ICT buyer
wholesale merchant in agricultural machinery and equipment
wholesale merchant in agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feeds
wholesale merchant in beverages

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of purchaser. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of purchaser with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

ICT vendor relationship manager
purchasing manager
import export manager in china and other glassware
import export manager in computers, computer peripheral equipment and software
import export manager in electrical household appliances

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of purchaser.

  • Embargo regulations: The national, international and foreign sanctions and embargo regulations, e.g. Council Regulation (EU) No 961/2010.
  • Export control principles: The restrictions a country imposes on its exported products and goods.
  • International import export regulations: Know the principles that govern the import and export of products and equipment, trade restrictions, health and safety measures, licenses, etc.
  • Supply chain management: The flow of goods in the supply chain, movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of purchaser.

  • Identify suppliers: Determine potential suppliers for further negotiation. Take into consideration aspects such as product quality, sustainability, local sourcing, seasonality and coverage of the area. Evaluate the likelihood of obtaining beneficial contracts and agreements with them.
  • Maintain relationship with customers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
  • Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
  • Track price trends: Monitor the direction and momentum of the product prices on a long-term basis, identify and predict the movement of prices as well as identify the recurring trends.
  • Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
  • Manage tender processes: Organise the process of writing and designing proposals or bids for tenders.
  • Coordinate purchasing activities: Coordinate and manage procurement and renting processes including purchasing, renting, planning, tracking and reporting in a cost efficient way on an organisational level.
  • Issue purchase orders: Produce and review the documents needed to authorise shipment of a product from the supplier at a specified price and within specific terms.
  • Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
  • Assess supplier risks: Evaluate supplier performance in order to assess which suppliers do or may not perform adequately, stick to the agreed contracts, meet the standard requirements and desired quality at all times or who may pose future risks.
  • Apply procurement: Undertake ordering of services, equipment, goods or ingredients, compare costs and check the quality to ensure optimal payoff for the organisation.
  • Ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations: Implement and monitor company activities in compliance with legal contracting and purchasing legislations.
  • Compare contractors’ bids: Compare proposals to award a contract in order to execute specified jobs within a prescribed frame of time.
  • Manage purchasing cycle: Oversee complete purchasing cycle, including generating requisitions, PO creation, PO follow-up, goods reception, and final payment actions.
  • Have computer literacy: Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of purchaser. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Analyse logistic changes: Assess the financial impact of possible logistics changes such as shipping modes, product mixes or volumes, carriers and means of product transportation.
  • Conduct performance measurement: Gather, assess and interpret data concerning the performance of a system, component, group of people or organisation.
  • Negotiate sales contracts: Come to an agreement between commercial partners with a focus on terms and conditions, specifications, delivery time, price etc.
  • Analyse consumer buying trends: Analyse buying habits or currently prevalent customer behaviour.
  • Analyse logistic needs: Analysing the logistic needs of all the different departments on the organisational level.
  • Analyse supply chain strategies: Examine an organisation’s planning details of production, their expected output units, quality, quantity, cost, time available and labour requirements. Provide suggestions in order to improve products, service quality and reduce costs.
  • Report accounts of the professional activity: Recount events and facts which happened in professional contexts in a trustworthy manner.
  • Identify new business opportunities: Pursue potential customers or products in order to generate additional sales and ensure growth.

ISCO group and title

3323 – Buyers


References
  1. Purchaser – ESCO
  2. Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. Purchaser Job Description | Indeed.com
  4. Purchaser Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – Climb the Ladder
  5. Featured image: Image by THAM YUAN YUAN from Pixabay
Last updated on February 7, 2023

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