PLEASE NOTE: Job profile content may reflect pre-COVID-19 conditions.

Purchasing/​Supply Officer

Āpiha Hoko

Alternative titles for this job

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

Pay

Purchasing/supply officers usually earn

$47K-$110K per year

Purchasing/supply managers usually earn

$69K-$196K per year

Source: NZPICS, 2019.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a purchasing/supply officer are good due to a shortage of workers and increasing demand for their services.

Pay

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.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

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.

Skills and knowledge

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.

Working 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.

Entry requirements

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. 

Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but maths, accounting and business studies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.

Personal requirements

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.

Useful experience

Useful experience for purchasing/supply officers includes:

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

Find out more about training

New Zealand Government Procurement
procurement@mbie.govt.nz - www.procurement.govt.nz
Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

High demand for purchasing/supply officers

The demand for purchasing/supply officers is growing as businesses and government agencies aim to run more efficiently and profitably. The COVID-19 pandemic has created further demand for purchasing/supply officers because businesses need to have a good supply chain for providing essential products. 

There are currently more job vacancies than applicants, so the job is in high demand across a range of government agencies, councils and private industries including construction and infrastructure, manufacturing, IT and aged care. 

Procurement manager (senior purchasing/supply officer) appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled purchasing/supply officers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 15,447 purchasing/supply officers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Learn purchasing/supply officer skills with MBIE's graduate programme  

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) procurement programme for graduates is a good way to enter the role. By working across government agencies you gain a broad range of skills. 

Types of employers varied

Most medium to large organisations employ purchasing/supply officers to buy the goods and services needed for their organisation. 

Sources

  • Immigration New Zealand, 'Long Term Skill Shortage List', 27 May 2019, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
  • McAndrew, L, senior procurement specialist, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, careers.govt.nz interview, February 2021.
  • Todkar, V, general manager, NZPICS, careers.govt.nz interview, February 2021. 
  • Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

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. 

 

 

Purchasing/supply officer with a supplier, holding an ipad and pointing at goods in a warehouse

Purchasing/supply officers check goods ordered with suppliers

Last updated 16 May 2023