Procurement administrators provide support to the procurement team by carrying out general administrative duties and placing orders for equipment and materials. This role involves organizing and storing documents, making purchase orders, updating records, and responding to order issues. This job is usually full time and office-based. Those wishing to work as a procurement administrator need excellent organization skills, must enjoy working as part of a team, have an aptitude for math, and can take initiative to resolve issues when they arise.
A key part of this job is monitoring inventory stock. This includes observing whether the appropriate items have arrived and determining what needs to be reordered. Procurement administrators must be aware of low supplies so they can make purchase orders in advance of stock running out.
Procurement administrators work with suppliers to negotiate material and order costs, and compile cost reports for invoices. In some cases, bargaining may be necessary to get the best rates possible.
Procurement administrators prepare purchase orders and send order requests to suppliers. They also update records and follow up with vendors to check if the order is being processed.
If issues arise with shipments or orders are incorrect or late, procurement administrators work with the supplier to resolve the issue. They build strong relationships with key contacts within these companies, working with them closely to fix problems as quickly as possible.
Procurement administrators perform inventory and administrative tasks like preparing and forwarding invoices, updating databases, filing, and organizing documents for accounts. They also provide additional administrative support for team members as needed.
The minimum education requirement for procurement administrators is a high school diploma, although some employers may prefer applicants to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business administration or a similar field depending on the complexity of the position. Prior procurement experience may be necessary for some jobs, while others provide on-the-job training from more seasoned colleagues.
The median annual salary for procurement administrators is $39,000, according to PayScale. Procurement administrators in the 10th percentile earn around $27,000 a year, while the highest paid earn around $59,000 annually. This top-end salary includes up to $4,000 in bonuses. The majority of companies provide health benefits, including dental and medical coverage. The level of experience an applicant has positively affects the potential pay for this job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment in the purchasing sector will decline 3 percent by 2026.