Purchasing Agent
We are looking for a Purchasing Agent to manage the day-to-day buying cycle: requesting quotes, comparing offers, issuing purchase orders and following up on deliveries. The role makes sure each team receives what it needs on time and at the agreed price.
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Responsibilities
Receive and review purchase requests from departments, checking specifications, quantities and approvals.
Request quotes from several suppliers and prepare comparison sheets on price, lead time and terms.
Issue purchase orders and confirm prices, quantities and delivery dates with the supplier.
Track open deliveries and work with suppliers on delays or shortages.
Keep the supplier list and agreed prices up to date, and flag price changes.
Coordinate with the warehouse and accounting on receiving goods and matching invoices to purchase orders.
Handle returns, credit memos and complaints about defective goods with the supplier.
Prepare regular reports on purchases, savings achieved and delivery performance for management.
Requirements
Degree or coursework in business, industrial engineering, supply chain or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience in purchasing, procurement or supplier management.
Intermediate Excel skills and experience with an ERP or purchasing system.
Ability to compare offers beyond price: lead time, quality, payment terms and warranty.
Careful handling of documents and respect for company policy and approval levels.
If you like getting the company what it needs on good terms with everything properly documented, we'd like to meet you.
Interview Questions
Tell me how you compared offers from several suppliers for an important purchase.
Look for criteria beyond price (lead time, quality, payment terms, warranty), a comparison sheet and how the decision was justified.
A key supplier says a delivery your team urgently needs will be late. What do you do?
Look for finding the cause and new date, informing the requesting team, checking alternatives (another supplier, partial shipment) and documenting it.
A colleague from another department asks you to buy from a specific supplier without getting other quotes. How do you respond?
Look for a respectful explanation of the quoting policy, asking for the reason if there is a technical one and, if so, documenting it and escalating to the right person.
An invoice arrives that doesn't match the purchase order. How do you resolve it?
Look for comparing invoice, order and receipt, finding the difference, clearing it up with the supplier and holding payment until it is corrected.
A supplier offers you an expensive gift ahead of a contract renewal. What do you do?
Look for declining the gift or reporting it under company policy and staying objective when evaluating suppliers.
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