Purchasing Agent

Trumark Companies • San Luis Obispo, CA

93d

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent will play a critical role in construction activities for building single family and multi‐family residential homes. The Purchasing Agent will supervise the creation and upkeep of Product Specifications, Scopes of Work, bidding of new communities, maintenance of all existing contract issues, budget updates and jobsite variances. The ideal candidate should thrive managing multiple complex transactions and demonstrate the ability to work independently, think critically, exercise good judgement, and take initiative. Applicants must be willing to “roll up their sleeves” on the job and embrace new subject areas and undertake tasks outside their prior experience with enthusiasm and confidence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Economics, Construction Management, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent required.
• 2 - 5 years of construction experience with a production homebuilder.
• Strong Knowledge of and experience with general contract terms and conditions.
• Necessary people skills, including the capability to handle various personalities and develop professional relationships.
• Knowledge of residential construction required in both single family and multi-family construction.
• Technologically savvy with strong aptitude for learning new software.
• Solid verbal & written communication skills.
• Strong ability to work within a team-setting, inclusive of other's ideas.
• Knowledge of unitized pricing, bids and subsequent contract analysis.
• Experience in take-offs and estimates.
• Ability to read blueprints.
• Capacity to make quick and accurate decisions based heavily on facts, data and/or metrics.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook as well as proficiency in builder’s software.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to conduct business in a professional and ethical manner.

Responsibilities

• Main point of contact for bidding and contracting all trades.
• Take full responsibility for bidding, negotiating, and hiring trade contractors to maintain a competitive edge on costs while meeting the company’s standards of quality, reliability, and overall performance of trade contractors and suppliers.
• Communicate with Project Management in a proactive manner to ensure that all necessary plans are obtained and bid in a timely manner.
• Prepare Preliminary Product Specifications for new projects to meet spec level and pro forma budget considerations.
• Interface with Architects, Structural Engineers and other third-party experts on product development and innovation.
• Calculate and maintain material take-offs from working drawings and check take-offs made by suppliers.
• Compare bids with respect to prices, past performance, financial stability, or in the case of a trade contractor new to the company, their relationship with other builders.
• Understand bids based on unitized pricing and be able to analyze accordingly.
• Prepare direct construction budget for each community based on overall mix.
• Analyze bids and proposals to ensure they are complete and comparable.
• Negotiate contracts to ensure best pricing and performance.
• Obtain alternate costs and hourly rates as needed to fully contract potential changes to the contract requirements.
• Update budgets as contracts are awarded to ensure current information.
• Contract all site variances and issue Site Variance Purchase Orders accordingly.
• Review new products and Vendors to identify opportunities for improved quality and cost effectiveness.
• Recruit new, qualified trade contractors and suppliers.
• Validate and eliminate variances to the Direct Construction Budget.
• Attend model walks and facilitate consistent communication of design changes.
• Contract specialty Trade Contractors for Model Designers.
• Participate in Frame Walks to document changes to existing contracts based on authorized Frame Walk changes.
• Research new procedures, products, and methods of construction available to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Participate in field walks to physically inspect installations to ensure that they match the contract specifications.
• Coordinate plan review process with production team, trade partners and design professionals.
• Maintain trade Scopes of Work to ensure that they match the project plans and specifications.
• Actively mentor and train Assistant Purchasing Agents.

Benefits

• Exceptional Medical Benefits (100% Employee + 60% Dependent).
• Monthly wellness stipend.
• 401k with company matching program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree