Jobs in Purchase

Your career in procurement: find the right job now with cademify

For many companies, purchasing is a crucial department that can make a significant difference to their success or failure. Purchasing manages the complex processes for the procurement of goods and services that are necessary for company operations. Therefore, qualified professionals are required who have a comprehensive understanding of the ever-changing dynamics between suppliers, products and a company's internal requirements in order to achieve the best possible purchasing results.

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What does the Purchasing department do in a company?

Purchasing is an indispensable department in every company and is responsible for ensuring the supply of necessary resources. These resources can vary greatly depending on the type of company and the products manufactured. The aim of the purchasing department is to provide the right quantity of resources in the right quality at the right place at the right time - ideally at the lowest possible price. Important factors here are location, deadline, quantity, quality and the price-performance ratio of the procurement objects.

Purchasing thus contributes to cost optimization and ensures the quantitative and qualitative supply of resources required for operations. There are basically two sub-areas in purchasing: operational purchasing and strategic purchasing.

What are the differences between operational and strategic purchasing?

Both operational purchasing and strategic purchasing are dedicated to the procurement of goods and services for a company. However, there are significant differences in their tasks and objectives. Operational and strategic purchasing can be separated from each other, particularly in terms of their time perspective and objectives. While operational purchasing focuses on short-term, tactical tasks such as daily order processing and ensuring deliveries, strategic purchasing is dedicated to long-term, strategic goals such as developing supplier relationships and minimizing risk. Strategic purchasing is also responsible for promoting innovation by monitoring the market and incorporating new developments into purchasing planning. This also includes, for example, evaluating suppliers with regard to aspects such as sustainability, climate protection and social responsibility.

In short, strategic purchasing develops a strategy that is implemented by operational purchasing. With regard to the different focus, there are also significant differences in the specific tasks and areas of responsibility of the two areas:

Tasks in operational purchasing

Determining requirements and managing stock levelsDetermining
and optimizing order quantitiesSupporting
the order through to receipt of goodsObtaining
quotationsProcessing
order confirmations
Delivery control AmP

Tasks in strategic purchasing

Supplier management and development (supply chain management)
Supplier evaluation and selection
Price AmP

In which sectors and areas of application is purchasing used?

Purchasing is of great importance in practically all industries, as almost every company needs goods and services to maintain its operations. However, the characteristics of purchasing vary depending on the business sector. In the manufacturing industry, for example, purchasing focuses on the procurement of raw materials, machines, components and other materials. In (retail)trade, the focus is on procuring a wide range of consumer goods in order to replenish stocks and meet customer demand at all times. Purchasing even plays an important role in service companies, such as consulting firms or IT service providers. Office materials, hardware and software licenses as well as external services are purchased here.

What training and qualifications do you need to be a buyer?

In principle, there are various entry opportunities in the professional field of purchasing. In particular, a degree in business administration, logistics, supply chain management or a similar field is a solid foundation for a career in strategic purchasing. As strategic purchasing is closely linked to corporate strategy, it is an advantage to have in-depth business knowledge.

Alternatively, a completed apprenticeship as an industrial clerk (m/f/d) or office management assistant (m/f/d) can provide an entry into the purchasing department. The training path is a classic entry requirement, especially for operational purchasing. Through targeted further training, such as specialist in purchasing and logistics or through certifications such as CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) or CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), interested parties can specialize further and improve their career opportunities in purchasing.

Due to the versatility of purchasing, various career paths are conceivable depending on the industry. For example, technical training or a degree in engineering or mechanical engineering is a solid basis for purchasing machinery and equipment. Specialists for specific product categories are often sought in these areas.

In addition to technical qualifications, soft skills are also very important. Good buyers have strong negotiating skills, strong communication skills and the ability to build good relationships with suppliers. Other important qualities include analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, organizational talent, a sense of responsibility and the ability to work in a team. These skills help buyers to work efficiently, maintain successful business relationships and negotiate favorably to achieve the best terms for the company. If you believe you have these skills, nothing could stand in the way of a successful career in purchasing. Give it a try!

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At cademify, you benefit from numerous employee benefits and social offers such as family counseling. In many cases, we can offer permanent employment and above-standard pay. Our employees often have the opportunity to be taken on by the client company as temporary employees.

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