What Is a Purchasing Assistant and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As a purchasing assistant, you buy products for your company to sell or use in operations. Your job duties entail communicating with vendors to obtain goods at the best prices, tracking product inventory, monitoring sales trends, and placing orders on products. Purchasing assistants often play a role in choosing which products to stock. The career requires you have some formal qualifications and education, generally a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, excellent computer skills, and prior sales experience. It is necessary to develop knowledge of your specific industry, including normal sales and revenue trends.

The qualifications you need to begin a career as a purchasing assistant include experience at a job with related duties and a high school diploma or equivalent, although many companies look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or another similar field. You can sometimes find positions that provide on-the-job training under the supervision of a purchasing manager to learn your responsibilities and enhance your skills. A Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification from APICS or another similar credential can help you stand out from other applicants. Excellent communication skills and attention to detail are necessary for these positions.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Purchasing Assistant to help our procurement department obtain supplies at a fair price. In this role, you will contact vendors to acquire quotes for goods, process contracts and invoices, and communicate with trucking companies to ensure products are delivered within the designated timeframe. You will also be responsible for inputting all the items ordered and received into our inventory management system and making sure invoices are paid on time. We prefer candidates who have at least one year of purchasing or administrative experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify potential vendors and obtain quotes
• Contact vendors to confirm purchase order details
• Log all order receipts and confirmations
• Cross-reference product deliveries with purchase orders
• Collect and fulfill requests for office supplies
• Track and monitor purchases, from initial order to delivery
• Prepare monthly reports listing all purchases, returns and related costs

Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred
• 1+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or other administrative roles
• Familiarity with Quickbooks and Procurify a plus
• Strong communication skills
• Some local travel required
• Willingness to work additional hours as needed