Description
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
- • Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
- • Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- • Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
- • Control purchasing department budgets.
- • Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
- • Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- • Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
- • Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- • Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials.
- • Resolve vendor or contractor grievances and claims against suppliers.
- • Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
- • Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
- • Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- • Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- • Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
- • Administer online purchasing systems.
- • Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.
- • Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
Related specializations
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
