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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$82K - $102K *

Engage with a dynamic team to oversee collections management, ensuring preservation and accessibility of cultural resources. Collaborate on exhibitions and enhance public engagement while maintaining...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by managing strategic supplier partnerships and contracts. Drive value through effective negotiation and stakeholder collaboration while ensuring vendor performance aligns with corpor...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$132K - $225K *

Join a team that's dedicated to managing the full contract lifecycle for defense programs, ensuring compliance with regulations while fostering strong customer relationships and mitigating risks throu...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Advance inventory management by analyzing data, ensuring compliance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize material flow and support decision-making for effective operations...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$105K - $140K *

Advance your career by managing and shaping commercial contracts that drive global operations. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective contractual agreements while providing st...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$115K - $180K *

Empower investment teams by building scalable procurement processes for data sourcing, enhancing efficiency, and maximizing value through strategic vendor negotiations and collaboration across multipl...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$97K - $146K *

Join a team that's redefining supply chain strategies by identifying technology gaps and enhancing supplier relationships to meet evolving customer needs. Drive innovation through advanced sourcing an...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Optimize procurement strategies by managing diverse expense categories, leading negotiations, and ensuring high-quality service delivery while achieving cost savings and vendor performance excellence...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$88K - $105K *

Grow your career with a dynamic role focused on category strategy, driving sales growth and enhancing customer experience through effective product management and vendor partnerships in a fast-paced r...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$88K - $105K *

Optimize category strategies to drive sales growth and enhance customer experience. Collaborate cross-functionally to manage product assortment, pricing, and vendor relationships, ensuring alignment w...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$88K - $105K *

Champion category strategies that drive sales growth and enhance customer experience. Manage product assortment, pricing, and vendor partnerships while collaborating cross-functionally to optimize per...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$88K - $105K *

Join a dynamic team as you develop and execute category strategies that drive sales growth and enhance customer experience across retail categories. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$95K - $115K *

Shape the future of retail by developing and executing category strategies that drive sales growth and enhance customer experiences. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product offerings and ac...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$90K - $105K *

Shape the future of retail by developing and executing category strategies that drive sales growth and enhance customer experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize product offering...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$90K - $105K *

Transform your career by driving category strategies that enhance sales growth and customer experience. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product offerings and vendor partnerships while manag...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by driving category strategies that enhance sales growth and customer experience. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product offerings and vendor partnerships, ensuring alignm...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$88K - $105K *

Lead the charge in developing and executing category strategies that drive sales growth and enhance customer experience across retail categories, collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$88K - $105K *

Accelerate progress at our retail division by driving category strategies that enhance sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product offerings and...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$90K - $110K *

Drive category strategies that enhance sales growth and customer experience. Manage product assortment, pricing, and vendor partnerships while collaborating cross-functionally to optimize performance...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$85K - $118K *

Reimagine procurement excellence by leading contract management, supplier performance, and data governance initiatives. Drive accountability and enhance operational visibility while delivering data-dr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$112K - $208K *

Join a collaborative team to optimize the Purchase Order lifecycle, driving financial efficiency and process improvement while influencing spend forecasting and enhancing cross-functional workflows fo...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $95K *

Unlock potential by leading supplier audits and training, enhancing performance metrics, and collaborating across teams to ensure product quality and safety in a dynamic, innovative environment focuse...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Lead and empower cross-functional procurement teams to optimize project delivery at all stages, from planning to execution, ensuring compliance and building strong vendor relationships for effective p...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$84K - $112K *

Lead the charge in procurement operations, ensuring compliance with regulations while managing a dynamic team. Drive initiatives that support agency facilities and community programs across the Common...

2 days ago

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

$80K - $95K *

Drive compliance excellence by managing trade operations, ensuring adherence to U.S. regulations, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to optimize processes and mitigate risks in import/export...

4 days ago

  •   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.