Purchasing Agent - Steel

RK Industries•Aurora, CO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent - Steel manages end-to-end purchasing activities to keep project and operations materials on schedule. The role sources materials, equipment, rough-in items, and services while balancing cost, quality, and timelines and ensuring alignment with approved vendors, buying agreements, specifications, budgets, schedules, and job cost codes. It obtains competitive bids and negotiates pricing, lead times, rebates, purchasing terms, and overall value with suppliers. The position coordinates deliveries to job sites, fabrication shops, yards, manufacturing facilities, and tool facilities; tracks back orders; and expedites critical materials. It supports cost control and inventory optimization by analyzing pricing, usage, and purchasing trends, utilizing existing stock, and coordinating returns when appropriate. It also maintains accurate purchase order, vendor, and item master data in company systems, including pricing updates and new part number requests. The role calls for working knowledge of structural steel materials, products, grades, specifications, and industry standards. The agent must be able to interpret structural steel, fabrication, and erection drawings, bills of materials, material takeoffs, and project schedules for procurement decisions, and understand steel fabrication, processing, finishing, fastening, connection materials, and related value-added services. Familiarity with mill lead times, service center capabilities, domestic and imported sourcing, material traceability, MTRs, and quality documentation is also relevant. This is an on-site position in Aurora, Colorado, with a listed salary range of $75,000–$90,000 and eligibility for an annual incentive bonus. RK describes opportunities to contribute to sophisticated projects, influence project strategy and operations, work across its specialized business units and in-house capabilities, and pursue development through mentorship, hands-on learning, and RK University.

Requirements

Strong organizational, follow-up, and communication skills.
Strong proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and formulas.
Experience working in purchasing or ERP systems.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
Working knowledge of structural steel materials, products, grades, specifications, and applicable industry standards.
Ability to read and interpret structural steel drawings, fabrication drawings, erection drawings, BOMs, material takeoffs, and project schedules to support procurement decisions.
Understanding of steel fabrication, processing, finishing, fastening, connection materials, and related value-added services.
Familiarity with mill lead times, service center capabilities, domestic and imported sourcing considerations, material traceability, MTRs, and quality documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with structural steel, fabrication, or construction-related procurement.
Experience with IFS and/or Vista by Viewpoint.

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end purchasing activities, from requisitions and purchase orders through delivery coordination, to support project and operations timelines.
Source materials, equipment, rough-in items, and services in alignment with approved vendors, buying agreements, specifications, budgets, schedules, and job cost codes.
Obtain competitive bids and negotiate pricing, lead times, rebates, purchasing terms, and overall value with suppliers.
Coordinate deliveries to job sites, fabrication shops, yards, manufacturing facilities, and tool facilities; track back orders and expedite critical materials as needed.
Support cost control and inventory optimization by analyzing pricing, usage, and purchasing trends, utilizing existing stock, and coordinating returns when appropriate.
Maintain accurate purchase order, vendor, and item master data in company systems, including pricing updates and new part number requests.