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Purchasing Agent Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Your job description is the first touchpoint between your company and your new hire. With millions of people searching for jobs on Indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.

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Purchasing Agent job title

A great job title typically includes a general term, level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

  • Purchasing Agent
  • Senior Purchasing Agent
  • Purchasing Agent (with MRP Concept proficiency)
  • Purchasing Agent (Part-Time)
  • Buying Agent
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Purchasing Agent Job Description Examples:

Purchasing Agent job summary

A great job description starts with a compelling summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is a good fit.

Example of a Purchasing Agent job summary

Our pre-owned car dealership seeks an entry-level Purchasing Agent to join our growing team. We’re opening a new location across town and sending our purchasing department to that campus, so we’re hiring a Purchasing Agent to start at our flagship location. If you love cars and understand how they work, you might be perfect for this position. We need someone who has experience working on cars or who is willing to learn. We offer in-house training during the first two weeks of employment, but we’d like you to hit the ground running. The benefits package includes generous paid time off.

Purchasing Agent responsibilities and duties

The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and who the job reports to.

  • Seek out and evaluate used cars for sale through local and out-of-state vendors
  • Negotiate purchase prices on used cars and determine whether to purchase or pass based on our in-house guidelines
  • Visit local dealers on a regular basis to peruse new inventory and maintain positive working relationships with those vendors
  • Keep meticulous records on all transactions and submit them to our accounting department monthly for auditing
  • Inform vendors of our purchasing requirements and ensure all tasks are fulfilled, from producing new keys to providing maintenance records

Purchasing Agent qualifications and skills

Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field required
  • Prior knowledge of vehicles and their mechanics highly desired
  • Working knowledge of major makes and models of popular vehicles
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and negotiating skills
  • Reliable transportation required
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Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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