Daily tasks/Routine activities

1. Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.

2. Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.

3. Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.

4. Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.

5. Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.

6. Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.

7. Maintain records of goods ordered and received.

8. Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products or substitute materials.

9. Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.

10. Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.

11.Control purchasing department budgets.

12. Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.

13. Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.

14. Administer online purchasing systems.

15. Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.

16. Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.

Key knowledge areas

Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.This enables easier balancing of expenditure and book entries.

Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Transportation — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Personnel and Human Resources — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Skills

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions and also being able to relate to past events.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.This also facilitates proper utilisation of resources by all the intending users.

Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraph

Abilities

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions and also being able to relate to past events.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.