Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

• 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.
• Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
• Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
• Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
• Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
• Maintain and review computerized or manual records of items purchased, 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.
• Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
• Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
• 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.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• 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.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products.