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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

• 10-key calculators
• Personal computers
• Desktop computers

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