Purchasing Agent

About the role

The primary role of a Purchasing Agent is to support the purchasing and construction departments to deliver quality homes on time and within budget. The purchasing agent will ensure that all contractors and vendors are approved to work and contracted to build homes at competitive prices that meet predetermined schedules and company expectations. You will be responsible for keeping Newstar accurate and updated. You will attend quarterly training for field personnel and award meetings.

Responsibilities

• Set up new vendor and trade packages.
• Maintain three competitive bids for each homebuilding task and upload into Newstar.
• Send DocuSign pricing agreement to trade partners and file in database.
• Assist Purchasing Manager in recruiting new vendors and trade partners.
• Maintain accurate bids and updated costs each month.
• Ensure contracts are complete and accurate before new community starts.
• Assist with Architectural and structural plan updates from the field.
• Create and revise purchase orders in construction software for new starts and changes.
• Analyze purchase orders on the job start report and revise when necessary.
• Assist with setup of new plans, options, communities, takeoffs and colors.
• Maintain rebate-tracking systems.
• Review and price lot specific changes and coordinate with construction/trades/sales.
• Maintain vendor contact list.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of specification documents.
• Perform related administrative and clerical duties as assigned.

Requirements

• BA in Construction Management, Building Sciences or related discipline.
• 2+ years of residential homebuilding Purchasing or Operations experience.
• Experience recruiting, negotiating with, and interpreting/enforcing scopes of work for a large trade base.
• Proven experience with a large, production builder — specifically with complex option offerings.
• Construction estimating / P.O. driven software knowledge — i.e. Newstar, Sage, Buildsoft, FAST would be highly beneficial.
• Skilled user in MS Excel.
• Proven experience with floorplan development and design.
• Strong inter-personal skills and ability to adapt to changing priorities or projects.

Work Environment

The work environment is representative of an office/field setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the job.

Physical Demands

While performing the job responsibilities, the employee is required to talk and hear. Vision abilities required by the job are close vision. Employees are often required to sit and use their hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate office equipment such as a computer, copier, and office supplies. In addition, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with their arms and hands, and to stoop, kneel or crouch. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the job.