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Purchasing Agents and Officers (1225)

Job titles

  • advertising buyer
  • business services purchasing officer
  • buyer - manufacturing and processing
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Nature of work

Purchasing agents and officers purchase general and specialized equipment, materials and business services for use or for further processing by their establishment. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.

Fields of interest

  • Crunching numbers
  • Working in an office
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Purchasing agents and officers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Purchase general and specialized equipment, materials or business services for use or for further processing by their establishment
  • - Assess requirements of an establishment and develop specifications for equipment, materials and supplies to be purchased
  • - Invite tenders, consult with suppliers and review quotations
  • - Determine or negotiate contract terms and conditions, award supplier contracts or recommend contract awards
  • - Establish delivery schedules, monitor progress and contact clients and suppliers to resolve problems
  • - May hire, train or supervise purchasing clerks.
  • * Purchasing agents and officers may specialize in the purchase of particular materials or business services such as furniture or office equipment.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Purchasing Agents and Officers (1225)

Employment requirements

  • * A bachelor's degree or college diploma in business administration, commerce or economics is usually required.
  • * Purchasing agents and officers purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related university degree or college diploma. For example, a bachelor's degree or college diploma in engineering may be required for purchasers of industrial products.
  • * A certificate in purchasing from the Purchasing Management Association of Canada may be required.
  • * Previous experience as a purchasing clerk or as an administrative clerk may be required.

Skill type

  • Business, finance and administration

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere