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
Vocational PathwaysPay
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
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 officers check goods ordered with suppliers
Last updated 16 May 2023