Purchasing Agents
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
13-1023.00
Median wages
$50,720
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
- Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
- Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
- Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
- Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
- Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
- Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
- Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
- Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
- Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
- Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
- Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
- Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
- Accounting software — Choice Job Cost; Cost accounting software; CPR International GeneralCOST Estimator; Intuit QuickBooks
- Analytical or scientific software — Construction Management Software ProEst; QSM SLIM; Resources Calculations Incorporated SoftCost; WinEstimator WinEst
- Data base reporting software — SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports; Software AG
- Data base user interface and query software — Assured Software JPP; FileMaker Pro ; Microsoft Access ; Xactware Xactimate
- Electronic mail software — IBM Notes ; Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Infor ERP SyteLine; NetSuite ERP ; Oracle PeopleSoft ; SAP
- Enterprise system management software — IBM Power Systems software
- Financial analysis software — Cost estimation software; IBM Costimater; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials ; Softstar Costar COCOMO II
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Microsoft Visio
- Internet browser software — Web browser software
- Inventory management software — Inventory management systems
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Project management software — Dexter + Cheney Spectrum Construction Software; Galorath SEER-SEM; Microsoft Project ; Microsoft SharePoint
- Sales and marketing software — Google AdWords
- Spreadsheet software — Apple AppleWorks; Corel QuattroPro; IBM Lotus 1-2-3; Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
- 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.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking — 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 implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Management of Financial Resources — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Management of Material Resources — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
- Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
- Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
