Director of Purchasing and Estimating

All Career•Cary, NC

About The Position

HHHunt is seeking a Director of Purchasing and Estimating to lead the purchasing and estimating functions for its homebuilding division. The role is responsible for developing processes, standards, and performance expectations that support profitability, cost control, quality, and production pace. The Director monitors division profitability and market costs, develops and oversees estimates and budgets, manages trade and supplier relationships, and maintains accurate specifications, pricing, and purchasing records. The position works closely with division leadership, construction management, design, sales, and operations teams.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent and 10 years of experience in residential construction, estimating, purchasing, procurement, supply chain management, or a similar field; alternatively, a four-year degree in business management, finance, supply chain management, construction management, or a similar field and 5 years of related experience.
Comprehensive working knowledge of residential construction, purchasing, estimating, supply chain practices, and job costs.
Ability to interpret construction documents and prepare or validate detailed estimates of materials, labor, options, and plan-set costs.
Demonstrated contract negotiation, supplier management, trade partner management, and cost-control skills.
Strong analytical ability, financial judgment, and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead cross-functional work, and consistently meet deadlines.
Effective written, verbal, presentation, collaboration, and leadership skills.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, and working knowledge of homebuilder software systems.

Nice To Haves

Prior leadership or supervisory experience in a multi-division or regional homebuilding environment.

Responsibilities

Lead purchasing and estimating functions and implement processes that maximize company results and profitability.
Establish purchasing, estimating, supply chain, and cost-control standards and performance expectations across the division.
Forecast and monitor division profitability and provide timely cost information to leadership.
Research, monitor, and report commodity, lumber, material, and labor cost trends; secure advantageous long-term pricing commitments where appropriate.
Ensure material and labor costs balance quality, value, and production pace.
Develop and maintain detailed estimates for plan sets, house designs, components, options, and community-specific requirements.
Establish bidding guidelines, estimating standards, and documented processes; oversee the accuracy and timeliness of cost estimates.
Work with division leadership to establish initial prices, costs, budgets, and profitability targets for homes and options.
Analyze costs across house designs, components, communities, and divisions; communicate trends and recommend pricing or specification adjustments.
Oversee completion and closing cost reviews, budget sweeps, and allocation or correction of missing costs.
Lead the identification, recruitment, evaluation, and management of trade partners for the division.
Negotiate, execute, and administer supplier and trade partner contracts, scopes of work, addenda, pricing changes, and related documentation in coordination with construction leadership.
Develop and maintain material and product specifications for sales and construction teams.
Collaborate with construction management to document trade partner scopes of work, communicate expectations, support training, and promote accountability.
Monitor national and regional manufacturer programs, supplier capabilities, and market developments that may improve cost, quality, availability, or service.
Maintain working knowledge of product layouts and field conditions through prototype walks and jobsite visits as needed.
Keep sales catalogs, cost data, specifications, option information, and related purchasing and estimating records current and accurate.
Oversee option management and profit-margin performance, including consistent application of approved pricing and product standards.
Coordinate with design and operational teams to support accurate product selections, pricing, selection deadlines, and production schedules.