Procurement Clerks

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

• Maintain knowledge of all organizational and governmental rules affecting purchases, and provide information about these rules to organization staff members and to vendors.
• Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists.
• Monitor contractor performance, recommending contract modifications when necessary.
• Compare suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy.
• Train and supervise subordinates and other staff.
• Locate suppliers, using sources such as catalogs and the internet, and interview them to gather information about products to be ordered.
• Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.
• Calculate costs of orders, and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts.
• Approve and pay bills.
• Perform buying duties when necessary.
• Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists.
• Train and supervise subordinates and other staff.
• Maintain knowledge of all organizational and governmental rules affecting purchases, and provide information about these rules to organization staff members and to vendors.
• Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.
• Prepare invitation-of-bid forms, and mail forms to supplier firms or distribute forms for public posting.
• Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary.
• Check shipments when they arrive to ensure that orders have been filled correctly and that goods meet specifications.
• Monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes.
• Prepare invitation-of-bid forms, and mail forms to supplier firms or distribute forms for public posting.
• Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations.
• Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems.
• Review requisition orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.
• Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.
• Compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers.

Skills

• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

Abilities

• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.

Knowledge

• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Education

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

1 to 12 months on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

×

Education and Training Opportunities

• Bellevue College
  3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue WA 98007-6484
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 425-564-1000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://bellevuecollege.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Bellingham Technical College
  3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham WA 98225-1599
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-752-7000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.btc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of less than 12 weeks
  Award Level
  Certificates of less than 12 weeks, Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Centralia College
  600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia WA 98531-4099
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-736-9391
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.centralia.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Clark College
  1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver WA 98663-3598
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 360-992-2000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.clark.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
  Save

  ---

• Edmonds College
  20000 68th Ave W, Lynnwood WA 98036
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 425-640-1459
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.edmonds.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  2 years
  Award Level
  Associate's degree, Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Everett Community College
  2000 Tower Street, Everett WA 98201
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 425-388-9100
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.everettcc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Grays Harbor College
  1620 Edward P Smith Drive, Aberdeen WA 98520-7599
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-532-9020
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.ghc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Green River College
  12401 SE 320th St, Auburn WA 98092-3622
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 253-833-9111
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.greenriver.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year, Certificates of less than 12 weeks
  Save

  ---

• Highline College
  2400 S 240th St, Des Moines WA 98198-9800
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 206-878-3710
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.highline.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland WA 98034-8506
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 425-739-8100
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.lwtech.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Award Level
  Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Peninsula College
  1502 E Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles WA 98362
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-452-9277
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.pencol.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of less than 12 weeks, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Pierce College District
  9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood WA 98498-1999
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 253-964-6500
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Associate's degree, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Skagit Valley College
  2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon WA 98273
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-416-7600
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.skagit.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
  Save

  ---

• South Puget Sound Community College
  2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia WA 98512-6292
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-596-5200
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.spscc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years
  Save

  ---

• Spokane Community College
  1810 North Greene Street, Spokane WA 99217-5399
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 509-533-8400
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://scc.spokane.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

• Spokane Falls Community College
  3410 W Whistalks Way, Spokane WA 99224-5288
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-533-3500
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://sfcc.spokane.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  2 years
  Award Level
  Associate's degree, Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
  Save

  ---

• Walla Walla Community College
  500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla WA 99362-9267
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-522-2500
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.wwcc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
  Save

  ---

• Yakima Valley College
  South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima WA 98907-2520
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-574-4600
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://www.yvcc.edu/
  Program Name
  General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, Certificates of less than 12 weeks, Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year
  Save

  ---

Close

Pay

Washington Annual Salary

50010/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

24.05/hr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

1,330

Yearly Projected Openings

130

Personality

Conventional: People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines. They do well at jobs that need:

• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Integrity
• Cooperation
• Initiative
• Adaptability/Flexibility

Tools

• Cash registers
• Laser fax machine
• Personal computers
• Photocopiers
• Scanners
• Special purpose telephones

Technology

• Accounting software
• Calendar and scheduling software
• Data base user interface and query software
• Document management software
• Electronic mail software
• Enterprise application integration software
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
• Internet browser software
• Inventory management software
• Office suite software
• Operating system software
• Presentation software
• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software