Architectural Specialist – Specialty Products

Foundation Building Materials•Addison, IL

4d•$90,000 - $140,000

About The Position

At Foundation Building Materials (FBM), the Architectural Specialist – Specialty Products sources, procures, and coordinates architectural specialty products for large-scale commercial construction projects. The role liaises with customers, vendors, project teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure products are competitively priced, accurately specified, delivered on schedule, and maintained in proper condition throughout the project lifecycle. It reviews drawings, specifications, and construction documents to identify product opportunities, validate scope requirements, and support project execution from bid through final delivery. The specialist exercises independent judgment in sourcing and procurement, vendor negotiations, product alternatives, pricing, and purchasing recommendations within established authority levels. The position also manages quotes, orders, logistics, project documentation, and customer and cross-functional communication. It supports bid strategy, margin optimization, value engineering, and continuous improvement in procurement and project execution.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least 5 years of project management, sales support, customer service, construction materials, distribution, or related industry experience.
Strong understanding of procurement, specialty products, order management, pricing, logistics, and customer relationship management.
Experience with ERP, CRM, and project management systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Ability to analyze information, solve problems, and make sound business decisions.
Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Extensive knowledge of specialty ceiling products.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Review architectural drawings, blueprints, specifications, and bid documents to identify requirements and architectural specialty product opportunities.
Analyze project scope and confirm product selections align with design intent, customer needs, code requirements, and installation specifications.
Identify scope gaps, product substitutions, value-engineering opportunities, and specification conflicts.
Collaborate with sales and project teams to develop complete, accurate material packages for customer proposals.
Source and procure architectural specialty products for large-scale commercial projects, balancing customer requirements, specifications, lead times, and profitability.
Negotiate with vendors, manufacturers, and suppliers on pricing, freight, delivery schedules, and service commitments.
Evaluate vendor proposals, product alternatives, and sourcing strategies for cost, quality, availability, and project performance.
Analyze market conditions, material costs, vendor pricing trends, and supply chain constraints to develop procurement strategies that protect margins and reduce financial risk.
Make purchasing recommendations and procurement decisions, including vendor selections, pricing structures, and product substitutions within established authority levels.
Develop and maintain strategic vendor relationships; resolve vendor disputes, pricing discrepancies, availability issues, and escalations.
Partner with leadership and sales teams on bid strategy, margin optimization, and large-project procurement planning.
Assess vendor performance, compliance, and purchasing trends to identify consolidation opportunities, savings, and process improvements.
Prepare material quotes, pricing proposals, and cost analyses; ensure pricing aligns with margin expectations, requirements, and market conditions.
Identify cost-effective alternatives for value engineering and process pricing changes, revisions, and change orders as project scope evolves.
Manage purchase orders, order placement, and tracking to ensure accuracy and timely fulfillment.
Coordinate procurement schedules with internal teams, vendors, and customers; monitor order status and address delays, shortages, backorders, or specification changes.
Support project forecasting and material planning.
Coordinate deliveries to meet schedules and jobsite requirements; ensure products needing climate-controlled or specialized storage are handled and stored appropriately to preserve product integrity and manufacturer warranty requirements.
Coordinate with operations, warehouse, and transportation teams to optimize deliveries and resolve delivery, freight, damage, and logistics issues.
Prepare, review, and process submittals, product documentation, certifications, and other project materials.
Maintain accurate records of quotes, purchase orders, project documents, product specifications, and vendor communications; ensure documentation meets contractual, customer, and company requirements.
Support billing review, credits, returns, and discrepancy resolution.
Provide technical guidance as a subject matter expert in architectural specialty products and collaborate with sales, operations, purchasing, accounting, customers, and project stakeholders.
Communicate with customers about order status, lead times, delivery schedules, and project changes; build customer relationships through responsive service and problem-solving.
Monitor market trends, pricing fluctuations, and product innovations for sourcing and competitive opportunities.
Support continuous improvement initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.