Will “Purchasing Agent” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job 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.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 11-3061.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 117,720.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 56.00
• Currently, there are 71,750 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Purchasing Managers”.

Also Known As…

• Purchasing Managers
• Purchasing Supervisor
• Purchasing Manager
• Purchasing Director
• Procurement Officer
• Procurement Manager
• Materials Manager
• Director of Strategic Sourcing
• Director of Purchasing
• Director of Materials
• Commodity Manager
• Supply Chain Manager
• Subcontract Administrator
• Strategic Sourcing Manager
• Sourcing Specialist
• Sourcing Manager
• Purchasing Officer
• Purchasing Coordinator
• Purchasing Analyst
• Property and Supply Officer
• Procurement Services Manager
• Procurement Agent
• Merchandising Manager
• Merchandise Planner
• Merchandise Manager
• Merchandise Executive
• Merchandise Director
• Materials Coordinator
• Material Manager
• Livestock, Grain, Cotton and Other Farm Products Purchasing Director
• Leasing Manager
• Import Coordinator
• General Merchandise Manager
• Division Merchandise Manager (DMM)
• Demand Planner
• Contracts Specialist
• Contracting Officer
• Contracting Manager
• Contract Manager
• Contract Coordinator
• Contract Administrator
• Commissary Superintendent
• Circuit Walker
• Circuit Rider
• Buyer

Tasks for “Purchasing Agent”

• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
• Control purchasing department budgets.
• Maintain records of goods ordered and received.
• Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
• Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials.
• Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
• Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
• Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
• Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
• Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
• Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.
• Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
• Administer online purchasing systems.
• Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.

Related Technology & Tools

• Personal computers
• 10-key calculators
• Desktop computers

• IBM Lotus Notes
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Word
• Oracle DBMS
• Point of sale POS software
• Bottomline Technologies Bottomline Sprinter Purchasing Manager
• Microsoft Access
• Oracle PeopleSoft
• SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
• Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
• Purchasing software
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Inventory management software
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Automated purchase order software
• Infor Lawson Supply Chain Management
• Database software
• Ariba Spend Management Suite
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise Financial Management Solutions
• PurchasingNet eProcurement
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Materials requirement planning MRP software
• Corel Paradox
• Epicor Vantage ERP
• SAP
• Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Portfolio Project Management
• Bowen & Groves M1 ERP
• Scheduling software