Buyers and procurement officers

£34,414

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

37 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

-0.9%

Pay growth from 2017 to 2018

Average change in weekly pay rate | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

3.36%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

Definition: Buyers and procurement officers

*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 3541

Buyers and procurement officers organise and undertake the buying of raw materials, equipment and merchandise from manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and other sources for wholesale distribution, resale or for own internal use.

Common tasks include:

attends trade fairs, shows and demonstrations to research new product lines and suppliers, checks catalogues;
keeps up with market trends and chooses products/services;
assesses budgetary limitations and customer requirements and decides on quantity, type, range and quality of goods or services to be bought;
assesses bids from suppliers, finds suppliers and negotiates prices;
helps negotiate contract with supplier and specifies details of goods or services required;
looks at ways to improve supply networks, presents new ideas to senior management team;
ensures that delivered items comply with order, monitors quality of incoming goods and returns unsatisfactory or faulty items, monitors performance and makes sure targets are met;
supervises clerical, administrative and warehouse distribution staff, deals with recruitment and training;
works closely with merchandisers who allocate stock and develop sales forecasts;
maintains records and prepares reports as necessary.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers expect A levels/H grades, BTEC/SQA awards or degrees. Employers may ask for specific experience for a particular role. Professional qualifications and NVQs/SVQs in Procurement at Levels 2, 3 and 4 are available.

*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.

Employment status: Buyers and procurement officers

Regional employment: Buyers and procurement officers

Future employment: Buyers and procurement officers

Top 12 industries: Buyers and procurement officers

Alternative & related job titles: Buyers and procurement officers

Buyer, store Controller, purchasing Officer, supplies, chief Assistant, buying (wholesale trade) Assistant, trading (retail trade) Estimator and buyer (retail trade) Buyer, space Controller, buying Coordinator, supplies Agent, buying Officer, contract (government) Officer, supplies Planner, demand (photographic) Buyer, advertising Officer, purchasing Salesman-buyer Selector, range (retail trade) Administrator, contracts, purchasing Consultant, wine Coordinator, purchasing Buyer, media Buyer, print Officer, supply, armament Buyer Planner, supply Officer, contracts Buyer and estimator Consultant, purchasing Executive, purchasing Officer, procurement Officer, contract Agent, purchasing Assistant, purchasing (wholesale trade) Planner, merchandise Manciple Engineer, purchasing Purchaser Oenologist Officer, contracts (government) Buyer, fashion Officer, supply (MOD)

Equality focus: Buyers and procurement officers

Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.