Buyer

Responsible for purchasing supplies, equipment, and materials for a business. Interact with suppliers, resolve quality issues, and compare and evaluate potential purchases.

• Purchase goods that an organization will either use or sell and develop a purchasing system.
• Review plans, specifications, and related documents to determine product requirements.
• Coordinate with suppliers, engineers, and others to procure needed materials and services.
• Identify suppliers using online directories, trade publications, industry events, and other means.
• Source quality goods at competitive prices that will be useful to an organization.
• Screen potential suppliers; assess their quality assurance practices, prices, capacity, and more.
• Negotiate prices, delivery times, terms, and other conditions with suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Take inventory of current items and perform analyses on competitors and what they’re selling.
• Conduct market research, forecast future trends, and predict the needs of consumers.