A professional who compiles information and records to prepare purchase orders for procurement of material for industrial firm, governmental agency, or other establishment. Respnsibilities include:

• Verifies nomenclature and specifications of purchase requests.
• Searches inventory records or warehouse to determine if material on hand is in sufficient quantity.
• Consults catalogs and interviews suppliers to obtain prices and specifications.
• Types or writes invitation-of-bid forms and mails forms to supplier firms or for public posting.
• Writes or types purchase order and sends copy to supplier and department originating request.
• Compiles records of items purchased or transferred between departments, prices, deliveries, and inventories.
• Computes total cost of items purchased, using calculator.
• Confers with suppliers concerning late deliveries.
• May compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates and award contract to bidders or place orders with suppliers or mail order firms.
• May verify bills from suppliers with bids and purchase orders and approve bills for payment.
• May classify priority regulations.