Purchasing Assistant job description
A Purchasing Assistant is responsible for monitoring stock levels, researching potential vendors, tracking orders, and updating order records. They conduct market research, evaluate vendor offers, negotiate prices, and maintain accurate records. Their goal is to make cost-effective purchases and ensure a fully stocked inventory.
This is a Purchasing Assistant job description template to help you attract and hire qualified candidates.
What is a Purchasing Assistant?
A Purchasing Assistant is a professional who assists in the procurement process by monitoring stock levels, researching vendors, tracking orders, and maintaining purchasing records. They play a crucial role in ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement of supplies and equipment based on the organization’s needs.
What does a Purchasing Assistant do?
A Purchasing Assistant is responsible for monitoring stock levels, identifying purchasing needs, researching potential vendors, tracking orders, updating internal databases with order details, conducting market research, evaluating vendor offers, negotiating prices, and maintaining accurate records of invoices and contracts. Their role is essential in maintaining a fully stocked inventory and optimizing the procurement process for the organization.
Purchasing Assistant responsibilities include:
- Monitoring stock levels and identifying purchasing needs
- Researching potential vendors
- Tracking orders and ensuring timely delivery
Job brief
We are seeking a detail-oriented Purchasing Assistant to join our team. Your main responsibility will be to order supplies and equipment in accordance with our company’s needs.
This will involve researching new vendors, tracking deliveries, and maintaining accurate order records, including dates, invoices, and discounts. Familiarity with supply chain procedures and the ability to create and interpret cost analyses are important for this role.
Your goal will be to make cost-effective purchases while ensuring our inventory remains well-stocked.
If you have a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of procurement processes, we would like to meet you.
Responsibilities
- Monitor stock levels and identify purchasing needs
- Research potential vendors
- Track orders and ensure timely delivery
- Update internal databases with order details (dates, vendors, quantities, discounts)
- Conduct market research to identify pricing trends
- Evaluate offers from vendors and negotiate better prices
- Prepare cost analyses
- Maintain updated records of invoices and contracts
- Follow up with suppliers, as needed, to confirm or change orders
- Liaise with warehouse staff to ensure all products arrive in good condition
Requirements and skills
- Work experience as a Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Officer or similar role
- Good understanding of supply chain procedures
- Hands-on experience with purchasing software (e.g. Procurify or SpendMap)
- Advanced knowledge of MS Excel
- Knowledge of market research
- Solid organizational skills
- BSc in Logistics, Business Administration or relevant field
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Purchasing Assistant do?
- A Purchasing Assistant monitors stock levels, researches vendors, tracks orders, updates records, conducts market research, evaluates offers, negotiates prices, and ensures timely delivery to maintain a fully stocked inventory.
- What are the duties and responsibilities of a Purchasing Assistant?
- Duties of a Purchasing Assistant include monitoring stock, researching vendors, tracking orders, updating databases, conducting market research, evaluating offers, maintaining records, and liaising with warehouse staff for smooth operations.
- What makes a good Purchasing Assistant?
- A good Purchasing Assistant possesses a good understanding of supply chain procedures, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, knowledge of market trends, proficiency in purchasing software and MS Excel, and the ability to negotiate and maintain accurate records.
- Who does a Purchasing Assistant work with?
- A Purchasing Assistant works with vendors, warehouse staff, and internal teams such as finance, inventory management, and logistics to ensure timely delivery and efficient procurement processes.
- What skills should a Purchasing Assistant have?
- A Purchasing Assistant should have skills in supply chain procedures, purchasing software, MS Excel, market research, organization, attention to detail, negotiation, communication, and the ability to maintain accurate records.