Buyer Job Description | LHH (2024)

What is a Buyer?

Buyers are responsible for purchasing goods for a company to use or sell in their own business. This position requires extensive research and the ability to negotiate contracts with suppliers, manage an inventory, evaluate quality goods, and stick within a budget. Since these individuals work in a range of sectors, from fashion and technology to food and industry, Buyers must understand the unique needs of their particular employer.

Buyers must also source quality items at competitive prices that are useful to their company’s bottom line. This may require them to predict what consumers will want by forecasting next season’s trends. Buyers also need to find trustworthy wholesalers and manufacturers and ensure their deliveries are on time, complete, free of damage, and within budget. This position often leads to becoming a Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Director, Assistant to the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO).


Education Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Associate or bachelor’s degree
  • 0-2 years of related experience
  • Trade-specific certification like CPP, CPPB, or CPPO (optional)

Buyer Essential Skills

  • Analytical and math skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Ability to perform under stress
  • Purchasing and inventory management skills
  • Knowledge of a specific sector’s needs

Buyer Roles & Responsibilities

  • Search for and negotiate contracts with suppliers and manufacturers
  • Craft purchase order and inventory reports for management
  • Solve supply chain problems
  • Work within the management team to ensure that all deliveries satisfy the assigned orders
  • Develop an effective and accurate system for monitoring purchase orders

Day-to-Day Duties

  • Order products and authorize payments
  • Manage inventory, including current stock and new deliveries
  • Ensure the accuracy of purchase orders
  • Research possible item selections

Find Buyer roles in your area>

Buyer Job Description | LHH (2024)

FAQs

What is the description of a buyer? ›

What is a Buyer? Buyers are responsible for purchasing goods for a company to use or sell in their own business. This position requires extensive research and the ability to negotiate contracts with suppliers, manage an inventory, evaluate quality goods, and stick within a budget.

What are the core responsibilities of a buyer? ›

Duties and responsibilities of a Buyer
  • Selecting new products and reviewing the old.
  • Finding the right suppliers.
  • Negotiating prices (so the store doesn't get ripped off)
  • Ensuring the products are delivered on time.
  • Helping to interpret reports and predicting future sales.
  • Pitching ideas to senior management.
  • Stock control.

What is the job description of a set buyer? ›

The set buyer works under the direction of the set decorator, and is brought on board during preproduction. This person's first task is to carefully review the script to identify all action props (objects specifically mentioned in the script) and dressing required.

What does a job description describe about a purchaser's position? ›

The purchaser's primary role is to identify the needs of the organization, research potential suppliers or vendors, negotiate contracts, place orders, and ensure the timely delivery of the purchased items.

How do you describe a buyer? ›

A buyer is a person who is buying something or who intends to buy it. Car buyers are more interested in safety and reliability than speed. A buyer is a person who works for a large store deciding what goods will be bought from manufacturers to be sold in the store. I was a buyer for the women's clothing department.

What are the characteristics of a good buyer? ›

Some of the attributes are:
  • The buyer is respectful. A buying company that respects the seller is a desirable quality. ...
  • The buyer is discreet. ...
  • The buyer has little or no baggage. ...
  • The buyer is organized and can adapt to challenges. ...
  • The buyer has an advisory team.
Oct 13, 2015

What are 4 out of 8 duties of professional buyers? ›

The Duties of Professional Buyers
  • Considering the availability of products, the reliability of the products' vendors, and the technical support they can provide.
  • Studying a company's sales records and inventory levels.
  • Identifying suppliers and obtaining bids from them.

What is the skill of a buyer? ›

To become a Buyer, you will need to have: Excellent communication skills. Negotiating and persuasion skills. An aptitude for figures, finance, budgets and numeracy.

What is a category buyer job description? ›

The Category Buyer's Key Responsibilities

Managing the supply of goods within the chosen purchasing category. Staying within budget and constantly working to improve the level of value achieved (in other words, saving money wherever possible without compromising the quality of supply)

What are the duties and responsibilities of a purchaser? ›

Job duties include assessing the market, evaluating pricing and availability, ordering new products, and keeping accurate records. Most of the job is performed in-house or in an office setting. However, a purchaser may regularly attend trade shows and conventions. They may also meet with vendors in person.

How to be a good buyer? ›

Skills of a good buyer include:
  1. Industry knowledge. The first thing that a buyer needs is an understanding of their industry. ...
  2. Organisation. Another one of the most important characteristics of a buyer is organisation. ...
  3. Relationship building. ...
  4. Passion for products.
Oct 4, 2018

What is the job description for an associate buyer? ›

Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts.

What are the key responsibilities of a buyer? ›

Researching, selecting and purchasing quality products and materials. Building relationships with suppliers and negotiating with them for the best price, quantities and delivery timescales. Processing requisitions and updating management on the status of orders. Updating inventory and managing stock levels.

What are the roles of buyers? ›

As seekers of the best deal for their organization, a buyer searches for the highest quality goods and services at the lowest possible cost to the company. Buyers also make sure to examine trends, sales records, and inventory levels of current stock.

What is the job description of purchasing? ›

Purchasing officers source and buy materials, goods, and services on behalf of the employer to be resold or used in daily operations. Purchasing officers maintain stock levels, and may also conduct research, negotiate with vendors, and interview prospective suppliers.

What is the definition of a buyer? ›

a person who buys; purchaser. a purchasing agent, as for a department or chain store.

What is the meaning of duties of buyer? ›

The buyer's main duties are simple: payment of the purchase price and acceptance of delivery. Contemporary legal systems are no longer concerned with enforcing a just price. Only a few European countries (including Italy and France) still have rules on exorbitant prices and only in certain special fields.

What is the description of buyer power? ›

What is it? Buyers have the power to influence price and the quantity of products sold. Powerful buyers can bargain on volume or switching costs or they can simply find substitute products. Price sensitivity also impacts the buyer/seller relationship.

What is the job description of a car buyer? ›

Keeps abreast of current market and valuation of used vehicles. Identifies viable auctions and has working knowledge of inventory selection at each. Works with General Manager and Inventory staffs to identify buying needs and price points. Attends car auctions to purchase used vehicles and sell wholesale units.

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