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AccountancyISCO 3323

Timber trader

A timber trader is a person who assesses the quality, quantity and market value of timber and timber products for the purpose of trading them, organises the sale of new timber and buys in stock. The role combines buying, which calls for judging the material, and selling, which calls for pricing it.

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Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

sell processed timber in a commercial environment

process returned timber products

manage budgets

manage timber orders

study prices of wood products

About timber trader

Judging the material comes first. The trader handles timber directly, inspects the quality of the raw material, carries out timber inspections, and checks the condition of standing trees before a purchase is agreed. Species, moisture, knots, rot and how the log was stored all change what the wood can be used for, and therefore what it is worth.

Buying and selling follow from that judgement. The trader carries out purchasing operations in the timber industry, negotiates prices on both sides of the trade, and sells processed timber in a commercial setting to builders, joineries and merchants.

Stock is the standing problem. The trader manages the timber stock, which is a commodity that changes while it is held: wood dries, splits, stains and loses grade in the yard. Buying more than the trade can move, or holding it in the wrong conditions, can turn a good purchase into a loss.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (16)

timber productstimber productsKey features, advantages and limitations of the different timbers and timber based products sold at a company and where to access this information.sell processed timber in a commercial environmentsell processed timber in a commercial environmentCheck that the sales area is in a suitable condition for customers and that the stock and materials are in a suitable condition to be sold.process returned timber productsprocess returned timber productsConfirm the type, quantity, and condition of the goods being returned. Ask the client for the reason why the goods are being returned. Provide all relevant details and update the stock control system....manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.manage timber ordersmanage timber ordersEnsure that goods are in stock and accessible so that they can be dispatched. Identify any special loading or transportation requirements relating to the assembly of orders. Check and confirm any requ...study prices of wood productsstudy prices of wood productsBe aware of current market studies and forecasts concerning supply, demand, trade and prices of wood and related products.advise on timber-based productsadvise on timber-based productsProvide advice on the types of timber products or materials and their characteristics.inspect timberinspect timberInspect timber sale sites and reforestation activities for compliance with permits and regulations.write technical reports related to treeswrite technical reports related to treesCompose written adequate reports about tree-realted issues for parties such as engineers, solicitors, or mortgage and insurance companies, for example if tree roots are causing problems to the integri...negotiate pricenegotiate priceArrange an agreement on price of products or services provided or offered.inspect treesinspect treesCarry out tree inspections and surveys.carry out purchasing operations in the timber businesscarry out purchasing operations in the timber businessCarry out purchasing operations within the scope of personal responsibility and with due regard to production efficiency and business objectives.distinguish wood qualitydistinguish wood qualityDistinguish different types of wood quality schemes, grading rules, and standards. See how quality differs between certain kinds of wood, such as hardwoods and softwoods.check quality of raw materialscheck quality of raw materialsCheck the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.manage timber stocksmanage timber stocksInspect the stock to find out how much is left. Identify any damaged, faulty, or out of date items and move them to the appropriate location. Follow stock rotation methods to ensure stock is used effe...handle timberhandle timberIdentify the main types of timber and timber-based products to be received at a company. Stack and store timber and timber-based products safely and in compliance with company procedures.
Optional (19) — show
guarantee customer satisfactionguarantee customer satisfactionHandle customer expectations in a professional manner, anticipating and addressing their needs and desires. Provide flexible customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.monitor logging operationsmonitor logging operationsEnsure that logging operation follow the contractually agreed terms and specified procedures. Strive to solve any problems that arise during the operation. Improve on existing methods and ensure compl...implement marketing strategiesimplement marketing strategiesImplement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.manage logs segregation and stackingmanage logs segregation and stackingStack and segregate logs to enable ease of extraction, including placement of brash clear of timber zone.coordinate timber salescoordinate timber salesEfficiently coordinate timber selling in a profitable way. Assist companies in reaching timber production goals by managing timber sales. Takes lead role in timber sale layout and road location activi...read mapsread mapsRead maps effectively.monitor forest healthmonitor forest healthMonitor forest health to make sure all necessary actions are taken by the forestry workers team.conduct land surveysconduct land surveysConduct surveys to determine the location and features of natural and man-made structures, on surface level as well as underground and underwater. Operate electronic distance-measuring equipment and d...manage forestsmanage forestsDevelop forestry management plans by applying business methods and forestry principles in order to efficiently manage forest resources.work in a forestry teamwork in a forestry teamCollaborate with other forest workers in a team in service of forestry or forest related operations.pack timber productspack timber productsEnsure that the timber and the timber goods are wrapped or packed conforming to the provide specifications and the schedule agreed upon. Make sure the goods are not damaged during the packing or wrapp...comply with timber trade code of conductcomply with timber trade code of conductPromote consumer confidence in the workplace by watching over provided wood products and comply with their related legislation. Conduct business in a professional and transparent manner towards custom...process collected survey dataprocess collected survey dataAnalyse and interpret survey data acquired from a wide variety of sources e.g. satellite surveys, aerial photography and laser measurement systems.monitor forest productivitymonitor forest productivityMonitor and improve forest productivity by organising growing, timber harvesting, and health measures.advise on timber harvestadvise on timber harvestProvide guidance on how to apply the most appropriate timber harvesting method: clearcut, shelterwood, seed tree, group selection or single-tree selection.implement sales strategiesimplement sales strategiesCarry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company's brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.identify market nichesidentify market nichesAnalyse the composition of the markets, segment these into groups, and highlight the opportunities that each one of these niches represent in terms of new products.operate forestry machineryoperate forestry machineryOperate machinery on and off road for harvesting, forwarding and transportation of wood.report the results of treatmentreport the results of treatmentAnalyse and process information and data, and subsequently formulate the results in a written report.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

wood factory manager5 shared essential skillswood drying kiln operator2 shared essential skillswood technology engineer2 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a timber trader do?

Timber traders assess the quality, quantity and market value of timber and timber products for trade. They organise the selling process of new timber and purchase stocks of timber.

What skills does a timber trader need?

A timber trader needs 16 essential skills, including timber products, sell processed timber in a commercial environment, process returned timber products, manage budgets, manage timber orders.

Will AI replace timber trader jobs?

The AI disruption score for timber trader is 37/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: process collected survey data, write technical reports related to trees, report the results of treatment. Most resilient: work in a forestry team, operate forestry machinery, negotiate price.

Quick Facts

SectorAccountancy
ISCO GroupBusiness and administration associate professionals
Essential Skills16

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