Production Manager- Lumber

Ganahl Lumber is seeking an experienced Lumber Buyer to manage the purchasing, inventory planning, and supply-chain coordination of lumber and related building-material products. This role is responsible for maintaining the right product mix and inventory levels while balancing customer demand, product availability, quality, lead times, transportation costs, and market conditions.

Responsibilities

• Purchase lumber and related products in accordance with sales forecasts, inventory targets, customer requirements, and company objectives
• Manage inventory levels across assigned product categories, balancing product availability with inventory turns, carrying costs, and exposure to market fluctuations
• Develop accurate demand forecasts using sales history, seasonal trends, current orders, market intelligence, and input from sales and operations teams
• Build, maintain, and strengthen long-term relationships with lumber mills, wholesalers, manufacturers, brokers, and other supply partners
• Negotiate pricing, purchase terms, freight arrangements, delivery schedules, product specifications, and volume commitments
• Monitor lumber-market conditions, including pricing trends, mill production, availability, transportation constraints, regional demand, and other factors affecting supply and cost
• Identify purchasing opportunities and supply risks, communicating recommendations to company leadership and other stakeholders
• Coordinate inbound transportation with mills, carriers, brokers, distribution teams, and receiving locations to support timely and cost-effective delivery
• Evaluate freight options and consolidate shipments when appropriate to reduce transportation costs and improve efficiency
• Track open purchase orders, shipment schedules, backorders, lead times, and delivery performance
• Work closely with receiving and operations teams to resolve shortages, overages, damaged materials, specification issues, and other discrepancies
• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer demand, upcoming projects, special-order requirements, and changing product needs
• Analyze inventory performance, including stock levels, turns, aging, service levels, excess inventory, and slow-moving products
• Recommend transfers, promotions, purchasing adjustments, or other actions to address inventory imbalances
• Maintain accurate product, vendor, pricing, purchasing, and lead-time information within company systems
• Review supplier performance based on product quality, pricing, reliability, responsiveness, delivery accuracy, and overall value
• Support product-line reviews, vendor evaluations, annual planning, budgeting, and purchasing-strategy development
• Ensure purchased materials meet applicable grades, dimensions, quality standards, and company requirements
• Respond quickly and professionally to supply disruptions, transportation delays, urgent customer needs, and changing market conditions
• Perform other purchasing, inventory-management, and supply-chain duties as assigned

Requirements

• Several years of professional buying or purchasing experience within the lumber, building-materials, forest-products, construction-supply, or a closely related industry
• Strong working knowledge of lumber products, grades, dimensions, species, applications, pricing, and supply channels
• Demonstrated experience managing inventories, forecasting demand, placing purchase orders, and coordinating inbound transportation
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with mills, suppliers, brokers, and freight providers
• Established industry relationships and a strong understanding of mill operations and lumber-market dynamics
• Ability to interpret sales, inventory, purchasing, and market data and translate it into sound buying decisions
• Strong mathematical, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, vendors, and product categories in a fast-paced environment
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency with purchasing, inventory, ERP, and spreadsheet applications
• Ability to work collaboratively with sales, operations, accounting, receiving, and leadership teams
• Ability to work full-time, in person at the Anaheim location

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of lumber-buying or closely related purchasing experience
• Experience purchasing high volumes directly from mills and manufacturers
• Familiarity with Western lumber markets and suppliers
• Experience coordinating truck, rail, intermodal, or other freight arrangements
• Knowledge of inventory-planning methods, margin management, replenishment practices, and supply-chain performance metrics
• Experience supporting multiple yards, branches, or distribution locations
• Bachelor’s degree in supply-chain management, business, finance, forestry, construction management, or a related discipline. Equivalent industry experience will also be considered

Core Competencies

• Commercial judgment and market awareness
• Inventory planning and demand forecasting
• Vendor and mill relationship management
• Negotiation and cost management
• Transportation and logistics coordination
• Data analysis and attention to detail
• Decisive problem-solving
• Accountability and follow-through
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Clear and professional communication

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-person position based in Anaheim, California. The role operates primarily in a professional office environment and may require visits to lumberyards, mills, vendor facilities, or other company locations. Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

Benefits

• Group medical benefits
• ESOP retirement plan
• Paid time off and paid holidays

Final compensation will depend on relevant experience, industry knowledge, qualifications, and other job-related factors.