A procurement clerk is employed by a business or government office or agency to keep track of and oversee the purchasing and acquisition of necessary operating materials and supplies used and required. Purchasing by a company or the government is usually completed through the use of a purchase order, which is managed and prepared by a procurement clerk. The clerk would then send the order to the appropriate seller, verifying that it has been received and making sure that resulting bills are approved for payment by the clerk’s company or office. The procurement clerk will also check an incoming order when it is delivered to ensure it was completed correctly, and the clerk might also then distribute the incoming items appropriately within the business. Procurement clerks also manage all mail, telephone calls, and associated correspondence with vendors and sellers.

Another integral part of a procurement clerk’s job function to research needed supplies, materials, and items using available resources to find the best prices. Additionally, clerks will prepare invitation-to-bid paperwork, which is essentially contacting a supplier to let them know the company or office would like a quote on needed goods. It is also important for a procurement clerk to be familiar with all legal, governmental, and company rules for purchasing, and to explain these rules to sellers and vendors. There may also be a customer service component to a procurement clerk’s job, as they help to address questions and concerns about the status of orders, billing, and prices. Procurement clerks should be well organized, comfortable with mathematics and writing, as well have good time management skills.

Procurement clerks usually have a high school diploma, and learn most of what is needed for the job by way of occupational training. The average salary across the board for procurement clerks is $16.72 per hour. In the coming years, demand for procurement clerks is thought to drop, as it is becoming easier to manage purchasing using the Internet and software. However, job prospects are still likely as this position has a rate of turn-over, as those employed move up in other jobs, such as procurement manager or into other spots available at a company.

In the modern global economy, international business transactions have become a standard practice in various industries. While manufacturing jobs in the United States have been lost to foreign workers, there is still a great need of specialists that can manage the logistics of international business.

Procurement & supply chain jobs make the international business practices that involved buying, moving, and reselling products. For example, buying finished products from an overseas factory and then importing the goods are classic examples of supply chain work.

Working in any type of international business transaction requires knowledge in international law and great communication skills. Being fluent in multiple languages is particularly helpful in the logistics aspect of supply chain work because it requires making contacts with people from different countries. Regular travel is another major part of workers that hold high managerial positions in international business.