Job description Contract Specialist in the Windsor-Sarnia Region

Find out what work is like for a contract specialist in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Purchasing agents and officers (NOC 12102).

Procurement and purchasing agents and officers

Description

Procurement and purchasing agents and officers source and purchase general and specialized equipment, materials, business services and land or access rights for use or for further processing by their establishment. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.

Work week duration

Procurement and purchasing agents and officers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Procurement and purchasing agents and officers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Procurement agents and officers
  • Evaluate risk, assess, prepare forecasts, scenarios and other factors concerning the supply market, and write reports and recommendations
  • Provides research and input into the financial sourcing aspects of contracts and calls for tender when information is not readily available
  • Identify high impact cost reduction opportunities
  • Leverage the organization’s buying power to optimize costs, access new suppliers, reduce lead times, and guarantee supply
  • Develop and maintain relationships with existing and potential buyers and suppliers to the organization
  • Respond to customer service inquiries and clarify requirements and provide information as needed.
  • Purchasing agents and officers
  • Purchase general and specialized equipment and materials, business services and land or access rights for use or for further processing by their establishment
  • Assess requirements of an establishment and develop specifications for equipment, materials and supplies to be purchased
  • Invite tenders, consult with suppliers and review quotations
  • Determine or negotiate contract terms and conditions, award supplier contracts or recommend contract awards
  • Establish logistics of delivery schedules, monitor progress and contact clients and suppliers to resolve problems
  • Negotiate land acquisition or access rights for public or private use, and may conduct field investigations of properties
  • May hire, train or supervise purchasing clerks.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Sitting
  • Handling material manually

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Procurement and purchasing agents and officers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Establishements throughout the private and public sector

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 12102), and a list of similar occupations:

  • contract management officer
  • contracts officer
  • energy asset surface land analyst
  • furniture and furnishings purchaser
  • government supply officer
  • material management officer
  • procurement officer
  • purchasing agent
  • sourcing specialist
  • strategic sourcing analyst

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Procurement and purchasing agents and officers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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