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Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products - 13-1023.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Buyer
  • Procurement Official
  • Procurement Specialist
  • Purchasing Administrator
  • Purchasing Agent

SOC Occupation Groups

13-0000 Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1000 Business Operations Specialists
13-1020 Buyers and Purchasing Agents
13-1023.00 Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
  • Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
  • Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
  • 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.
  • Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
  • Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
  • Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
  • Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
  • Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
  • Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
  • Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
  • Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Analyze business or financial data.
  • Analyze market conditions or trends.
  • Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
  • Confer with personnel to coordinate business operations.
  • Develop business relationships.
  • Develop technical specifications for systems or equipment.
  • Establish organizational guidelines or policies.
  • Estimate demand for products or services.
  • Evaluate applicable laws and regulations to determine impact on organizational activities.
  • Execute sales or other financial transactions.
  • Maintain data in information systems or databases.
  • Monitor inventories of products or materials.
  • Monitor organizational processes.
  • Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers.
  • Obtain information about goods or services.
  • Pay charges, fees, or taxes.
  • Purchase products or services.
  • Supervise employees.
  • Train personnel to enhance job skills.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Acquisition (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Core Member (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, ABM (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Bomber (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, C2ISREW (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Fighter (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, RPA (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Special Operations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Tanker (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Manager, Trainer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Project Management (Coast Guard - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Acquisition Specialist (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Acquisition Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Acquisition Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Administrative Contracting Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Advanced Contingency Contract Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Aircraft Production Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Automated Logistical Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Contract and Industrial Management (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contract Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Contracting (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Craftsman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Manager (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) (Army - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Professional (DAWAI) Certified (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting Superintendent (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Contracting, ABM (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Airlift (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Bomber (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, C2ISREW (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Fighter (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, RPA (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Special Operations (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Tanker (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Contracting, Trainer (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Distribution Management Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Finance and Supply Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Intermediate Contingency Contract Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Plans Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Logistics Specialist (Submarine) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Manager, Designated Project Functional Element (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Marine Acquisition Officer - Aviation (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Marine Acquisition Officer - Ground (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Marine Acquisition Officer Candidate (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Marine Corps Community Services Marine (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Materiel Leader (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Naval Plant Representative (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Operational Contract Support (OCS) Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Operational Contract Support Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Postal Clerk (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Procurement Contracting Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Procurement Management Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Program Manager, Weapons Systems (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Property Accounting Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Requirements Manager (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Requirements Manager (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Reserve Independent Duty Ashore Logistics Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Senior Materiel Leader - Lower Echelon (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Senior Materiel Leader-Upper Echelon (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Ship Project Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Space Acquisition Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Staff Material Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Storekeeper (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Supply Systems Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Unit Supply Specialist (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Purchasing Agent
  • Subcontract Administrator
  • Subcontract Administrator Assoc.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Contract Specialist
  • Manager, Contracts
  • Outside Property Agent
  • Procurement Engineer
  • Purchasing Agent