Purchaser

Any company that needs to buy merchandise, raw materials, goods or services also needs a buyer. Because if there’s one type of person in the world who truly understands the art of negotiation and stock management, it’s them!

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The right purchasing strategy can make or break any company

Purchasing affects and involves all company departments, from marketing (including data and market research) to communications (vital advertising space) and logistics (hotel rates and air travel), all the way through to final production (including raw materials). Buyers need to be able to negotiate hard to get the very best prices, highest quality materials and exact quantities all within very tight deadlines. From one year to the next, purchasing strategies will rarely be the same, due to ever-changing partnerships and chosen suppliers.

Managing approved suppliers on a daily basis

Day in, day out, buyers need to work very closely with their company’s suppliers. To build sustainable partnerships, they often need to meet up with them in person, setting up contracts, attending trade shows and the like, all part of the negotiation dance. Their work also involves negotiating calls for tender. As part of the process, they’ll need to select suppliers based on established criteria and convince their own internal customers (the various departments within their company) that the chosen supplier is the best candidate for the job.

A very international career...

Overseeing a global portfolio of orders, deliveries and deadlines, as well as calls for tender, buyers are often expected to travel - often internationally - to meet with various suppliers and stakeholders.

Fun fact

Stock management largely depends on the sector you work in. It’s probably not the end of the world if a supermarket runs out of cauliflowers at the end of the day... but an Apple Store without iPhones? No way! So imagine the chaos when casual dining chain Nando’s ran out of chicken around New Year’s in 2016... the media certainly had a lot of fun with that one!

Skills

Hard skills

  • Sales argumentation
  • Participate in governmental tenders
  • Supply chain management
  • Customs law
  • Internal auditing
  • Commercial law
  • Use office systems
  • International import export regulations
  • Export control principles

Soft skills

  • Negotiation
  • Vision and Ideation
  • Formulation of opportunities

Required skills

Alongside excellent listening and analytical skills, buyers need to be solid negotiators through and through, as well as determined, perseverant and convincing individuals. Knowledge of foreign languages is always a plus when dealing with overseas suppliers.

Typical educational background

5 years of higher education in business studies, masters in purchasing or logistics.

3 years of advanced vocational studies in business or design

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