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Purchasing Officer

​What is a purchasing officer?

A purchasing officer is responsible for sourcing and buying goods or materials that are later resold or used as part of a business's daily operations. When they work for retail businesses, procurement officers primarily source products that the business then sells to make aprofit. In contrast, when they work for businesses that make their own products, procurement officers source materials that the business later uses in the manufacturing process.Depending on the size of the organisation, procurement officers may specialise in a particular type of product or a certain aspect of the buying process. Here are some of a procurement officer's primary duties:Related:What does a purchasing manager do?

Sourcing products

The first aspect of purchasing involves sourcing products. Procurement officers liaise with sales, marketing, product development,manufacturingand warehouse departments to establish their purchasing needs. Then, they research and evaluate vendors to find the most suitable products and prices. Sometimes, this research involves visiting potential vendors' offices or warehouses.

Negotiating purchasing terms

After sourcing suitable inventory, procurement officers negotiate with vendors to achieve the best possible prices and terms. It's usually possible to negotiate price breaks and bulk discounts, but factors like dispatch times and return policies also play a key role in these negotiations. Once procurement officers agree on suitable terms with avendor, they can then prepare a contract and formally make purchases.Related:How to write a purchaser cover letter (With examples)

Receiving products

Procurement officers are also responsible for tracking orders and monitoring deliveries to ensure that their employer receives products correctly. They check the quality of the materials or goods and communicate with the vendor if problems occur. Moreover, they update stock databases after receiving the goods and coordinate with warehouse staff to ensure that these goods are correctly stored.

Monitoring stock and costs

Many procurement officers monitor stock levels so they can easily and quickly make future orders. Sometimes, they prepare reports to help them understand the stock's movement in and out of the business to optimise order size and frequency. Additionally, they may perform routine cost analyses to help the business calculate profit margins and make improvements.

​Derby (About this soundlisten) DAR-bee) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, of which it was traditionally the county town. Derby gained city status in 1977, and by the 2011 census its population was 248,700.

Derby was settled by Romans – who established the town of Derventio – Saxons and Vikings, who made Derby one of the Five Boroughs of the Danelaw. Initially a market town, Derby grew rapidly in the industrial era. Home to Lombe's Mill, an early British factory, Derby has a claim to be one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. It contains the southern part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. With the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, Derby became a centre of the British rail industry.

Derby is a centre for advanced transport manufacturing, being home to the world's second largest aero-engine manufacturer: Rolls-Royce. Bombardier Transportation are based at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works and were for many years the UK's only train manufacturers. Toyota Manufacturing UK's automobile headquarters is southwest of the city at Burnaston. To the east lies Nottingham, separated by the M1 motorway.