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This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Purchase general and specialized equipment, materials, land or access rights, or business services for use or for further processing by their establishment
• Assess requirements of an establishment and develop specifications for equipment, materials and supplies to be purchased
• Invite tenders, consult with suppliers and review quotations
• Determine or negotiate contract terms and conditions, award supplier contracts or recommend contract awards
• Establish logistics of delivery schedules, monitor progress and contact clients and suppliers to resolve problems
• Negotiate land acquisition or access rights for public or private use, and may conduct field investigations of properties
• May hire, train or supervise purchasing clerks.

Purchasing agents and officers may specialize in the purchase of particular materials or business services such as furniture or office equipment.

• A bachelor's degree or college diploma in business administration, commerce or economics is usually required.
• Purchasing agents and officers purchasing specialized materials or business services may require a related university degree or college diploma. For example, a bachelor's degree or college diploma in engineering may be required for purchasers of industrial products.
• A certificate in purchasing from the Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) may be required.
• Previous experience as a purchasing clerk or as an administrative clerk may be required.
• Certification from the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) may be required.

• Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.

• Purchasing and inventory control workers (1524)
• Purchasing managers (0113)
• Retail and wholesale buyers (6222)