What does a buyer lead do?
Buyer lead responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real buyer lead resumes:
- Facilitate and manage key communication between internal customers and suppliers regarding RFP status, price and contract negotiations.
- Used T4m (ERP system )
- Direct and indirect (MRO) purchase materials.
- Implement usage of ERP system to its full capacity.
- Serve as key team member on development and implementation of automate MRO systems.
- Issue and analyze RFQ and RFP to obtain the best cost and quality for goods and services.
- Produce and process requests for quotes (RFQ), customer quotes, sales orders, credits and returns.
- Coordinate daily planning and material logistics schedules.
- Update MRP system to ensure accurate information are available
- Provide coordination and leadership in procurement activities for assign commodities.
- Interact daily with commodity leaders, engineering, logistics, manufacturing and planning divisions.
- Investigate material shortages and inventory discrepancies through cycle counting and reconciliation to ensure accuracy of inventory and MRP.
- Provide coordination and leadership in procurement activities for assign commodities and perform continual market analysis in monitoring supplier progress.
- Plan and execute all production order activity utilizing ERP/MRP/SPS/SIC associate with KanBan and JIT2 manufacturing processes along with product shipment commitments.
- Create product mix, negotiate pricing and contracts (POS and margin), and merchandise e-commerce website.
Buyer lead skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Buyer Leads are proficient in Purchase Orders, Supplier Performance, and Commodities.
We break down the percentage of Buyer Leads that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Purchase Orders, 19%
Obtained and evaluated proposals by utilizing appropriate negotiation and financial analysis techniques to ensure all purchase orders satisfied budget requirements.
- Supplier Performance, 17%
Participate in cross-functional teams tasked with improving supplier performance.
- Commodities, 7%
Provided coordination and leadership in procurement activities for assigned commodities and perform continual market analysis in monitoring supplier progress.
- RFQ, 6%
Decreased cost margins using 12 month historical and trend reports, RFP's / RFQ's, and vendor negotiations.
- On-Time Delivery, 6%
Drive supplier productivity, deflation and on-time delivery across military, commercial and marine engine applications.
- Customer Service, 4%
Handled individual client accounts, customer service calls, consumer complaints, account management and overview, and interdepartmental collaboration.
Most buyer leads use their skills in "purchase orders," "supplier performance," and "commodities" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential buyer lead responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most buyer leads are:
- Eaton5 buyer leads jobs
- DSM Services USA Inc4 buyer leads jobs
- General Electric3 buyer leads jobs
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Compare different buyer leads
Buyer lead vs. Purchasing agent
A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between buyer leads and purchasing agent. For instance, buyer lead responsibilities require skills such as "commodities," "commodity strategies," "expedite," and "part numbers." Whereas a purchasing agent is skilled in "corrective action," "delivery dates," "production schedules," and "product quality." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Purchasing agents tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,517. In contrast, buyer leads make the biggest average salary, $63,936, in the manufacturing industry.purchasing agents tend to reach similar levels of education than buyer leads. In fact, purchasing agents are 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Buyer lead vs. Contract worker
A contract worker is an independent contractor who only works at companies for a limited amount of time, according to agreed-upon contract terms. When it comes to employment, a contract worker may find opportunities in different industries, depending upon their set of skills and abilities. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it typically includes performing basic tasks, maintaining an active communication line with co-workers, and adhering to company policies and regulations.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that buyer lead responsibilities requires skills like "purchase orders," "supplier performance," "commodities," and "rfq." But a contract worker might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "financial statements," "sql," "payroll," and "computer system."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Contract workers tend to reach similar levels of education than buyer leads. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Buyer lead vs. Senior contract administrator/contract administrator
Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from buyer lead resumes include skills like "supplier performance," "commodities," "on-time delivery," and "customer service," whereas a senior contract administrator/contract administrator is more likely to list skills in "contract administration," "proposal preparation," "contract management," and "contract terms. "
Senior contract administrators/contract administrators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $97,980. Comparatively, buyer leads have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $63,936.senior contract administrators/contract administrators typically earn higher educational levels compared to buyer leads. Specifically, they're 7.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Buyer lead vs. Contracts administrator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between buyer leads and contracts administrators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a buyer lead might have more use for skills like "supplier performance," "commodities," "on-time delivery," and "cost savings." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of contracts administrators require skills like "contract administration," "contract management," "proposal preparation," and "contract terms. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for contracts administrators, with average annual pay of $72,687. Comparatively, the highest buyer lead annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.contracts administrators reach similar levels of education compared to buyer leads, in general. The difference is that they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of buyer lead
Updated January 8, 2025
