Construction Purchasing Manager

About the role

ARIVA Homes has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, building quality homes and creating communities our customers are proud to call home. The Purchasing Manager is responsible for overseeing all purchasing activities related to home construction, managing subcontractor and vendor relationships, bidding architectural plans, negotiating pricing, maintaining cost databases and price agreements, preparing purchase orders, and supporting accurate project budgets. This hands‑on leadership role works closely with Construction, Production, Sales, Engineering, and Field Teams to control costs, reduce variances, maintain accurate estimates, and ensure projects stay on budget.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing & Vendor Management: Manage all purchasing activities for residential construction projects; bid architectural plans to subcontractors and vendors; source and negotiate competitive pricing for materials, labor, and subcontracted work; select and maintain relationships with qualified contractors, suppliers, and trade partners; maintain pricing, price agreements, vendor information, and purchasing databases; monitor material and labor cost changes and prepare cost comparisons; explore new products, construction techniques, and industry opportunities to improve quality and cost.
• Estimating & Cost Control: Create and maintain project budgets, material take‑offs, and estimates; review costs on active and upcoming projects; maintain accurate house estimates and purchase orders; identify and reduce cost variances through communication with field personnel and trade partners; participate in design and costing of new home models; assist with rebate programs and cost‑saving initiatives; visit active jobsites to verify materials and compare actual usage against budgets and estimates.
• Purchase Orders & Construction Packages: Oversee preparation of purchase orders and construction start packages/EPOs; generate accurate lot‑, buyer‑, and model‑specific purchase orders and distribute them; review and approve EPOs while supporting process improvements; assist in developing accurate standard Scopes of Work (SOW) for each trade; maintain accurate pricing and purchasing information for plans, options, and specifications; provide Custom Option Request pricing within required timelines.
• Cross‑Department Support: Attend Production and Operations meetings; coordinate with construction engineering contacts; provide the Sales Department with pricing information and technical support; work closely with field personnel and trade partners to resolve purchasing and cost‑related issues; support the operations team in achieving company goals for quality, efficiency, and cost control.
• Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities: Lead and supervise Purchasing Department staff; interview, hire, train, and develop team members; plan, assign, and direct daily work; monitor performance and provide coaching and feedback; address employee concerns and resolve problems per company policies; provide daily guidance and support to the Purchasing Team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 4–6+ years of related experience in construction purchasing, procurement, estimating, or a similar role; experience with residential home construction strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, subcontractors, scopes of work, and project costs.
• Experience bidding plans and negotiating with subcontractors and vendors.
• Understanding of budgets, estimates, purchase orders, and cost control.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, organization, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proficient with purchasing/estimating systems and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work effectively with Construction, Production, Sales, Engineering, vendors, and trade partners.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• Essential functions include daily office presence, supervision of direct reports, computer use, effective communication, ability to sit or stand for extended periods, travel to active construction jobsites, and occasional evenings, weekends, or extended hours based on project deadlines.