Purchaser

Position Overview

The Construction Purchaser is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, equipment, and services required for construction projects. This position ensures timely procurement at competitive prices while maintaining quality standards and supporting project schedules. The role requires strong attention to detail, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with project managers, estimators, field teams, and vendors.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Purchasing

• Execute the procurement process for materials, equipment, and subcontracted services.
• Solicit quotes, prepare bid comparisons, and issue purchase orders (POs).
• Ensure all purchases comply with project specifications, scope requirements, and company guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and organized purchasing records and logs.

Vendor & Supplier Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
• Evaluate vendor performance regarding pricing, delivery, and service quality.
• Resolve pricing discrepancies, material shortages, and delivery issues promptly.
• Research new vendors, materials, and pricing options to improve cost competitiveness.

Cost Control & Budget Support

• Track material costs and verify that purchases align with project budgets.
• Work with project managers and accounting to reconcile invoices and address PO discrepancies.
• Assist in identifying cost-saving opportunities and value engineering options.

Project Coordination

• Communicate material lead times, order status, and delivery schedules to project teams.
• Coordinate with superintendents and project managers to ensure timely delivery of materials and equipment.
• Support preconstruction teams during the budgeting and estimating phases by collecting pricing and availability information.

Logistics & Scheduling

• Arrange and track deliveries to job sites, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper documentation.
• Help maintain inventory where applicable and ensure materials are stored and handled appropriately.
• Monitor long-lead items to prevent project delays.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of purchasing or procurement experience, preferably in construction.
• Knowledge of construction materials, equipment, and subcontracted services.
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Ability to read and understand construction drawings and specifications (preferred).
• Proficiency in purchasing or project management software (e.g., Procore, Sage, Vista, Buildertrend, ERP systems) and MS Office.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.