Sr. Purchasing Agent

About the role

The Sr. Purchasing Agent is the senior buyer on the purchasing team, responsible for Corvant's most complex and highest-value purchases, including major HVAC and mechanical equipment, long-lead and engineered items, and subcontracted services. This role works with a high degree of independence, leads purchasing for large or mission-critical projects, and helps set the standards the rest of the team follows. Beyond carrying a senior purchasing workload, the Purchasing Agent III negotiates vendor agreements, leads process and cost improvement efforts, mentors Purchasing Agents I and II, and serves as a backup to the Purchasing Manager.

Responsibilities

• Strategic and Complex Purchasing: Lead purchasing and buyout for large, complex, or mission-critical projects, including major equipment, engineered systems, and long-lead items
• Manage high-value purchases and subcontracted services from specification review through negotiation, award, and delivery
• Negotiate pricing, terms, warranties, and delivery commitments with manufacturers, distributors, and subcontractors
• Develop and manage project-specific procurement schedules aligned with submittal, fabrication, and installation milestones
• Evaluate specifications and submittals with project and engineering teams to confirm purchased equipment meets requirements
• Vendor Agreements and Supplier Management: Support the Purchasing Manager and Purchasing Director in negotiating and administering regional and national pricing agreements
• Own relationships with key suppliers and manufacturer representatives in assigned categories
• Lead supplier performance reviews and drive corrective action on quality, delivery, and pricing issues
• Identify and qualify new suppliers to strengthen supply continuity and competitive pricing
• Risk, Expediting, and Escalation: Monitor market conditions, lead times, and commodity pricing for critical categories and recommend buying strategies
• Develop contingency and expediting plans for single-source, long-lead, and high-risk materials
• Serve as the escalation point for complex vendor disputes, claims, and delivery failures
• Cost Control and Process Improvement: Lead cost savings and cost avoidance initiatives and report results to purchasing leadership
• Analyze spend, pricing, and vendor data to recommend sourcing and consolidation opportunities
• Develop, document, and improve purchasing procedures, controls, and ERP workflows
• Provide pricing, lead-time, and market insight to Estimating and Preconstruction for major bids
• Leadership and Mentorship: Mentor, train, and review the work of Purchasing Agents I and II
• Assign and balance workload across the team when directed by the Purchasing Manager
• Act as backup to the Purchasing Manager and represent Purchasing in project and leadership meetings as needed

Qualifications

• Required: High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Construction Management, or a related field preferred
• Required: 5+ years of progressive purchasing experience in HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, or construction, including experience buying major equipment and long-lead items
• Required: Proven track record negotiating high-value purchases and vendor agreements
• Required: Strong knowledge of mechanical and HVAC equipment, specifications, submittals, and construction procurement schedules
• Required: Advanced proficiency with ERP or purchasing systems and Microsoft Excel, including spend and pricing analysis
• Required: Demonstrated experience mentoring or leading other buyers
• Required: Excellent negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Preferred: Experience supporting mission critical, data center, healthcare, or other technical facility projects
• Preferred: Experience purchasing subcontracted services and administering national or regional pricing agreements
• Preferred: Professional certification such as CPSM, CPP, or CPIM