In a manufacturing company purchasing officers are usually accountable to the Materials Manager. However, the hierarchical structure can vary from company to company.
Officer's work involves organizing the requirements of materials and services, choosing the suppliers, settling the contracts, and arranging for the deliveries. The whole work is performed keeping in mind that the quality is similar to the requirements; it is delivered at the right place and at the right time and his aim is to get lowest possible rates for the company. All this work should be done in compliance with the law and acknowledged ethical standards, evading all the conflicts amid the interest of the organization and the buyer.
An added specialty entails assuring that the dealer sends the required products timely and of good quality. One needs to be in touch with the dealers constantly for providing a solution to any troubles that might spark off. An officer can also suggest an amendment in the contract if they are apt.
Purchasing officers also have to assemble and examine the information that is required so that the purchasing decisions are fine. For instance, the market prices, the development of new products, and the expenditures in developing a product have to be closely watched. They also have to examine the kind of products and services that their company requires.
They also can recruit, coach and supervise the purchasing clerks. They sometimes also concentrate in a particular products and services and are paid an annual wage.
The money that the organization receives by the sale of the products is rolled back to the purchase department for procuring the products and services that are required to run the organization. The expenditure thus is a very critical aspect as the future of the whole organization depends on the purchasing of goods and services.
An officer has to be a high school graduate and a bachelor's in business management or purchasing. There are certain companies that nowadays require professional certification too. Therefore, this will be an added star in your resume.
Excellent communication skills and a pleasing appearance are considered as an added advantage, since a purchasing officer will have to deal with the suppliers on a regular basis. An ability to negotiate is also very important. If the candidate has a professional certification, it is an added advantage.
It will be a valuable for your career if you have on-hand experience of working with a purchasing officer. If you don't have any prior experience or training, the organizations also provide on the job training.
After graduation, an internship will provide you with a better understanding of the work environment and it will also be the star of your portfolio. There are many organizations that look for a purchasing officer with experience and if one has a good portfolio he can also land a job at a famous organization.
Purchasing as a career has tremendous scope as each manufacturing unit requires them. People who love finding solutions to problems would be good for this job. There is no dearth of a good job for a qualified and confident candidate.
The salary for an officer really depends on his qualifications, his job profile, and the organization that he is involved with. The median salary range for a purchasing officer is $37,000 to $120,000. There might be a difference in the salary of the private and public sector.
A purchasing officer must easily be able to create a good relationship with the dealers and other salesmen. He should have a strong personality and good negotiating skills. He should be a careful observer. There must be creativity in his solutions to the problems and he must provide new ways for it. A good purchasing officer is the one who can go the extra mile to get quality service for his company.
