What You'll Do

  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
  • Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
  • 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 need for changes.
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.

Essential Skills

Negotiation 4.25/5
Reading Comprehension 4.12/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Writing 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Active Learning 3.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.75/5
Persuasion 3.75/5
Management of Financial Resources 3.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Integrity, Attention to Detail, Analytical Thinking, Cooperation, Dependability

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Near Vision 3.88/5
Speech Recognition 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Accounting software Adobe Acrobat Apple AppleWorks Assured Software JPP Choice Job Cost Construction Management Software ProEst Corel QuattroPro Cost accounting software Cost estimating software CPR International GeneralCOST Estimator CPR Visual Estimator Database reporting software Database software Dexter + Cheney Spectrum Construction Software FileMaker Pro Financial analysis software Galorath SEER-SEM Google Ads Google Docs IBM Cognos Impromptu

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 4.85/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.8/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.4/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Buyer Contract Administrator (Contract Admin) Contract Analyst Contract Specialist Contractor Buyer Equipment, Supplies, and Tools Purchasing Agent Fuel Agent Fuel Buyer General Purchasing Agent Log Buyer Lumber Buyer Media Buyer Ore Buyer Price Analyst Print Buyer Procurement Agent Procurement Analyst Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin) Procurement and Contracting Buyer Procurement Engineer Procurement Official Procurement Specialist Pulpwood Buyer Pulpwood Contractor Purchaser Purchasing Administrator (Purchasing Admin) Purchasing Agent Purchasing and Contracts Coordinator Purchasing Coordinator Purchasing Specialist Railroad Purchasing Agent Replenishment Buyer Sourcing Specialist Subcontract Administrator (Subcontract Admin) Subcontract Associate Timber Buyer Tools, Supplies, and Equipment Purchasing Agent