Explore Purchasing Specialist Jobs

Purchasing specialists help organizations source the goods and services they need while balancing cost, quality, reliability, and risk. On Ladders, explore vetted professional opportunities with compensation of $100,000 or more, including purchasing and procurement roles for experienced candidates.

What Does a Purchasing Specialist Do?

Purchasing specialists research suppliers, evaluate bids, negotiate pricing and contract terms, issue purchase orders, and monitor deliveries. They may also analyze spending, maintain supplier relationships, support inventory planning, and help ensure purchasing decisions comply with company policies and regulations.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers often seek experience in procurement, sourcing, vendor management, contract negotiation, and cost analysis. Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills are valuable. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and procurement systems, supply chain practices, and relevant industry requirements can also be an advantage. Requirements vary by employer and seniority.

Career Paths in Purchasing

Purchasing specialists may advance into senior procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain leadership, or procurement management positions. Roles and titles differ across organizations, so review each listing for its specific responsibilities, qualifications, location, and compensation details.

Find Purchasing Specialist Jobs on Ladders

Search Ladders for vetted purchasing and procurement opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Explore current listings to find roles aligned with your experience and career goals, and review each job posting for the latest details.

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$97K - $194K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on innovative sales strategies in health and benefits. Engage clients, lead complex sales processes, and leverage technology to drive impactful solutions f...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$143K - $197K *

Pioneer comprehensive program management, overseeing cost, schedule, and performance for projects under $100M. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive success, enhance processes, and develop...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$88K - $147K *

Optimize financial management processes by leveraging expertise in federal budgeting and RDT&E. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure accurate tracking and reporting for Marine Corps initiatives, en...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$88K - $115K *

Shape category strategies and strategic sourcing for one of the most complex procurement programs in sport, driving innovation and efficiency to deliver the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Gam...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$95K - $105K *

Unlock potential by managing centralized procurement for infusion centers, ensuring timely and accurate supply delivery. Collaborate with clinical teams and supply chain partners to uphold patient-cen...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Oversee enterprise procurement and strategic sourcing to optimize vendor relationships, manage spend effectively, and ensure compliance with organizational standards while enhancing business value thr...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in procurement excellence by overseeing purchasing operations, ensuring compliance, guiding a skilled team, and enhancing supply chain efficiency through effective strategies and vendo...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$150K - $180K *

Lead strategic purchasing and global sourcing initiatives, driving supplier partnerships and optimizing costs while ensuring supply chain resilience and operational alignment across manufacturing oper...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Drive successful business outcomes by managing contracts, analyzing regulations, and providing strategic guidance to ensure compliance and maximize cash flow for key programs and projects...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $120K *

Help us drive procurement excellence by leveraging your mechanical engineering expertise to support strategic sourcing and supplier management for defense programs, ensuring quality and cost-effective...

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2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Lead strategic procurement initiatives by leveraging mechanical engineering expertise to optimize sourcing, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships for defense programs, ensuring qualit...

RemoteRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $110K *

Lead the charge in optimizing materials planning and supplier relations, driving inventory management and supply chain projects to enhance plant performance and service excellence in a dynamic manufac...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$104K - $130K *

Help us ensure compliance with export regulations while collaborating across teams to implement effective processes. This role is vital in supporting trade compliance and managing risk in a dynamic ae...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$99K - $157K *

Unlock potential by leading procurement strategies for new product development, driving supplier engagement, and optimizing product costs while ensuring quality and risk management throughout the life...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$99K - $157K *

Optimize procurement strategies to drive innovation and cost efficiency in new product development. Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to enhance product quality and lifecycle manag...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$105K - $168K *

Optimize procurement strategies by leading new product sourcing initiatives, managing supplier engagement, and driving cost, quality, and risk improvements for innovative sensor products in a collabor...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$105K - $168K *

Optimize procurement strategies for new product development, driving supplier engagement and innovation. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance product quality, cost, and risk management while ensu...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$108K - $139K *

Engage in strategic sourcing for mechanical commodities, optimizing cost and quality. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure supply continuity and support new product development while mana...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $130K *

Elevate inventory management processes by developing and implementing policies that enhance accuracy, optimize working capital, and drive continuous improvement across multiple locations, ensuring eff...

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$80K - $95K *

Transform complex acquisitions by providing expert business advice and managing pre- and post-award functions. Collaborate with diverse teams to develop strategies and negotiate contracts for speciali...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$68K - $102K *

Shape the future of warehouse operations by designing and optimizing layouts to enhance efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement data-driven solutions and drive continuous impr...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$97K - $115K *

Transform inventory management by driving accuracy and quality across multiple sites. Collaborate with operations teams to implement standards, enhance processes, and achieve measurable improvements i...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$97K - $115K *

Optimize inventory integrity and quality across multiple sites, driving measurable improvements in accuracy and process adherence. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement standards and en...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$92K - $114K *

Empower your career by managing supplier relationships and performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop supply base strategies, analyze data, and drive improvements in quality and d...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Transform procurement projects by leading cross-functional teams, defining needs, and ensuring alignment with corporate values. Collaborate internationally to share best practices and drive project su...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a purchasing specialist do?question toggle

    A purchasing specialist sources goods and services, evaluates suppliers and bids, negotiates pricing and terms, manages purchase orders, and monitors purchasing activity to support organizational needs.

  • What qualifications are common for purchasing specialist jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers commonly value procurement or purchasing experience, supplier and contract management skills, negotiation, cost analysis, and familiarity with ERP or procurement software. Some roles may request a degree, certifications, or industry-specific knowledge.

  • How can I advance my purchasing career?question toggle

    Build expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, contract negotiation, spend analysis, and supply chain operations. Experienced purchasing specialists may pursue senior procurement, category management, sourcing leadership, or procurement management roles.

  • Are there Purchasing Specialist jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Ladders features vetted professional jobs with compensation of $100,000 or more, including eligible purchasing and procurement opportunities. Review individual listings for current salary and role requirements.

  • What is the difference between purchasing and procurement?question toggle

    Purchasing often refers to the process of buying goods and services, while procurement can cover the broader strategic process, including needs assessment, sourcing, supplier selection, contracting, and performance management. Employers may use the terms differently.