Purchasing/Supply Officer Āpiha Hoko

Purchasing/supply officers buy or supply equipment, materials and services at the best price and quality for an organisation.

Purchasing/supply officers may do some or all of the following:

  • work with staff and management to define their purchasing needs
  • keep up to date with market trends in the industry they work
  • research and identify new suppliers
  • build relationships and negotiate prices with suppliers 
  • order and purchase goods and services that the business needs
  • keep accurate records of payment and delivery of goods and services.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for purchasing/supply officers includes:

  • customer service
  • administrative work
  • accounting or financial work
  • work in stores and warehouses.

Personal Qualities

Purchasing/supply officers need to be:

  • good at communicating
  • able to follow a budget
  • good at planning and time management
  • methodical and accurate, with an eye for detail
  • good at negotiating
  • able to work well under pressure.

Skills

Purchasing/supply officers need to have knowledge of:

  • the organisation and industry they work for
  • the specifications of the products they deal with
  • procurement strategies
  • the pricing and availability of products they deal with
  • laws regarding contracts and buying and selling of goods and services, such as the Sale of Goods Act and Commerce Act
  • electronic inventories.

Conditions

Purchasing/supply officers:

  • work normal business hours
  • work in offices or at places where they supply goods and services  
  • may travel domestically to find suppliers.

Purchasing/Supply Officers can earn around $47K-$110K per year.

Chances of getting a job as a Purchasing/Supply Officer are good due to a shortage of people interested in this type of work.

Pay for purchasing/supply officers varies depending on skills, experience, the type of work they do and where they work. 

  • Purchasing/supply officers with one to three years’ experience usually earn between $47,000 and $83,000 a year.
  • Purchasing/supply officers with more than three years’ experience can earn up to $110,000.
  • Purchasing/supply managers can earn between $69,000 and $196,000.

Depending on experience and ability, they may also get bonuses and other benefits such as a company car.

Source: NZPICS, Lawson Williams Specialist Recruitment 'NZ Supply Chain Salary Survey', 2019.

Purchasing/supply officers may move into management roles such as procurement manager. 

Purchasing/supply officers may specialise in a particular industry, such as construction or IT. 

 

 

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a purchasing/supply officer as you gain skills on the job. However, many employers prefer to hire purchasing/supply officers who have or are working towards a qualification. 

A tertiary qualification in procurement or purchasing and supply management can be useful.

University students who want to work in a government purchasing/supply role can apply for the New Zealand Government Procurement two-year graduate training programme. 

Purchasing/Supply Officer