Which activities appear in relevant job advertisements and how often? What is required in purchasing specialist jobs?

Wie sehen die Stelleninserate für Jobs Einkaufsfachmann aus? Welche Tätigkeiten und Anforderungen werden genannt?

Advertisements for purchasing specialist jobs contain all the requirements that a company places on new employees for the vacancy. People looking for a job will find all the important information about the vacancy in the job advertisements, such as

  • the activities
  • the employer's requirements (previous education, professional experience, personal skills and characteristics)
  • the company and detailed information about it
  • Purchasing specialist
  • Buyer
  • Strategic Buyer / Strategic Purchaser
  • Operational buyer
  • Technical Buyer / Technical Buyer
  • Purchasing specialist
  • Project buyer
  • Procurement specialist
  • Purchasing Specialist
  • Purchaser
  • Active Sourcing Specialist
  • Sourcing Manager
  • Produrement Manager
  • Buyer
Strategic tasks such as developing the product range strategy, optimizing procurement-specific processes, ensuring the defined quality and cost targets, carrying out market and cost analyses approx. 20% of the time
Disposition and operative procurement of goods, supplier management, price negotiations, warehouse and inventory management, preparation of inquiries, offers and framework agreements, cooperation in projects approx. 40% of the time
Administrative processing of daily purchasing business, maintenance and updating of master data, invoice verification, control of current deadlines approx. 40% of the time

Requirements mentioned in job advertisements for purchasing specialist jobs

The duties and requirements described here are based on an analysis of relevant job postings on various Swiss job platforms and are intended to give you an idea of what a purchasing specialist position entails. The requirements and responsibilities may vary depending on the employer, industry, and specific job description.

Professional requirements
  • Basic commercial or technical training
  • Continuing education, further training as a purchasing specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education
  • Several years of experience in operational purchasing and purchasing projects, preferably in the relevant industry
Specialist knowledge for Purchasing Specialist jobs
  • Industry knowledge
  • Very good knowledge of German
  • Written and spoken English (business fluent)
  • French and Italian an advantage
  • Very good knowledge of ERP systems and MS Office, possibly SAP
Personal characteristics
  • Strong communication skills and results orientation
  • Strategic and creative thinking personality
  • Negotiating skills and assertiveness
  • Organizational skills and independence
  • Good judgment
Other jobs Purchasing Specialist Analytical skills, i.e. a procurement professional must be able to analyze complex data and make informed decisions based on these analyses. One of the most important tasks in a procurement role is negotiating contracts with suppliers. Strong negotiation skills are therefore crucial.

Useful Information on Job Search and Applications

Are you looking to advance your career or seeking a new challenge? Compare different job postings to find out what responsibilities, qualifications, and experience are required for purchasing specialist positions. This will help you better assess which positions match your profile and whether targeted continuing education, further training is worth pursuing for your next career move.

Schools Offering Training for Careers as Purchasing Specialists