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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.
Emstrey is a dispersed hamlet on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, in the English county of Shropshire. The hamlet is located south-east of the town, on the B4380 road to Atcham.
At the west end of the hamlet, on London Road, is the Emstrey Crematorium and Cemetery, now run by Dignity plc.[1] The crematorium, originally built and owned by Shrewsbury Borough Council, was opened in 1958, the first such facility in Shropshire.
There is a large traffic island, Emstrey Roundabout, where the A5 Shrewsbury by-pass crosses with London Road (the A5064) into Shrewsbury, the Emstrey Bank road (the B4380) to Atcham and Ironbridge, and the former Shrewsbury bypass (also the B4380) towards Meole Brace.
Shrewsbury Business Park is located off Thieves Lane (the B4380). It contains a number of modern business units, predominantly professional firms such as lawyers and accountants.
