Construction Buyer

Audubon Companies•Houston, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Audubon is seeking a Buyer III to join its team in the Houston, Texas office. The Buyer procures equipment and bulk materials for assigned projects, ensuring purchases meet budget, project specifications, and delivery schedules. The role typically supports segments of broader, more complex projects and includes commercial bid evaluation and the preparation, issuance, and administration of purchase orders. The Buyer develops bidder lists, issues and coordinates requests for quotation, evaluates bids, negotiates with suppliers, recommends suppliers, and converts requisitions into purchase orders. The position also tracks deliveries, resolves invoice and documentation queries, handles change orders and warranty claims, addresses overage, shortage, and damage issues, and reports procurement status. When there is no dedicated Project Expediter, the Buyer performs expediting activities to support on-time delivery. The Buyer maintains procurement records, qualifies and evaluates suppliers, contributes to procurement goals, and may help train less experienced team members.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Product knowledge of materials and services being purchased, the items being built, and the supplier base.
Complete understanding of project procurement processes and terminology, commercial terms, applicable laws and regulations, and company policies and procedures.
Good understanding of economic factors affecting project costs, schedules, and profitability.
Progressive, directly related experience with a successful record of delivering cost-effective, quality products and services on time.
Experience with bid evaluation, purchase negotiation, and commercial recommendations.
Ability to prepare commercial bid evaluations and provide purchase recommendations.
Experience working with blueprints and engineering drawings and ability to discuss technical requirements and specifications.
Ability to identify new supplier sources and recommend sourcing strategies.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain working relationships with internal teams and suppliers.
Attention to detail, good planning and organizational skills, and ability to meet deadlines.
Proficiency with procurement and ERP software and Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and/or Access, and PowerPoint; ability to download, manipulate, and report information.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Management, Logistics, or a related field, or equivalent work experience in purchasing and supply chain.

Responsibilities

Evaluate project scope, review bills of materials, and identify material and service requirements.
Identify or source suppliers and prepare and communicate requests for quotation.
Develop bidder lists, prepare RFQ-specific commercial documents, issue RFQs, and coordinate clarifications and revisions.
Conduct bid openings, prepare bid rankings and clarification requests, and coordinate bidder clarification meetings.
Perform commercial evaluations with the project team, develop procurement strategies, identify negotiation points, and recommend successful suppliers.
Coordinate supplier meetings and negotiations, and finalize commercial evaluations.
Convert requisitions to purchase orders in accordance with applicable procedures and requirements; enter and verify purchase-order data and issue orders to suppliers.
Maintain procurement records in accordance with standard operating procedures and quality-system requirements.
Record shipment and delivery details and, when needed, perform expediting to support on-time delivery and report delivery status.
Investigate and respond to accounting invoice questions, resolve invoice discrepancies with suppliers, and review final invoices for payment approval.
Respond to Document Control queries concerning supplier documentation.
Schedule and conduct supplier meetings to negotiate and issue purchase-order change orders.
Work with suppliers to resolve overage, shortage, and damage issues, and administer and negotiate warranty claims through resolution.
Prepare and distribute procurement status reports and recommend solutions or changes as needed.
Update the corporate supplier database, qualify new suppliers, and provide supplier feedback through the Supplier Performance Management System.
Assist in achieving annual goals and targets set by the Procurement Manager.
May orient, train, and check the work of less experienced team members.