PURCHASING AGENT

Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION/PURPOSE

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for sourcing all labor and materials, ensuring we have accurate scopes of work for each vendor/trade, capturing all applicable rebates, and managing trade/vendor relationships to ensure our direct costs support company objectives for gross margin and earnings for all products (plan series) and communities, as well as to ensure we have a strong bench strength of vendors and labor trades with the capacity to meet our production goals.

COMPANY GENERAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE

• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The competence of the employee in performing his or her job duties will be demonstrated, maintained, and improved on an ongoing basis.
• The statements contained in this position description reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.
• Each team member is expected to be in compliance with policies in the employee handbook (located online at www.nextep.com).

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (include the following, and other duties may be assigned)

• Conduct vendor and trade solicitation and pre-qualification; contract bidding; contract negotiation; vendor performance feedback and monitoring; dispute resolution; vendor management
• Ensure that purchasing policy and procedures and the community specifications are accurately adhered to
• Manage manufacturer rebate identification, capture, model credits, invoicing, and local utility incentives while ensuring we get the best total price
• Manage product offerings/programs (i.e., carpet, wood, tile, countertops, brick, paint, etc.) by bidding multiple manufacturers and contracting to purchase the best products at the best possible pricing
• Prepare budget and bid reporting for review and execution by the Vice President of Purchasing
• Support design center staff and ensure product pricing and selection samples are accurate
• Support field staff when product availability, product or vendor performance issues arise, and when vendor/trade capacity issues are made known
• Actively review option frequency and performance and make recommendations to adjust our option strategy as needed

• Help manage all product or specification change implementation
• Assist in cost and variance analysis
• Assist with pricing and requisition process inclusive of ADA and non-standard changes (NSC)

Results/Accountability

• Must operate within the vision, mission, values and operating principles of the organization
• Must achieve daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly objectives as defined by company goals and Vice President of Purchasing - all subject to change
• Address variances at weekly collaboration meeting to ensure budgets are accurate

Character Demonstration

• Leadership: perform with excellence
• Initiative: do what needs to be done before being asked to do it
• Responsibility: hold yourself accountable for results
• Determination: commit to accomplish company and department goals in the allotted time while working with others to overcome and adapt to changing conditions
• Truthfulness: operate with honesty and integrity
• Persuasiveness: leverage facts and relationships when faced with challenges to achieve best outcomes
• Competitiveness: don’t settle on the easy choices or give in when you hear the word “no”
• Innovative: lead the way – find new products, solutions to company needs

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Preferred candidate will have a BBA in Supply Chain, Construction Management or Business Management
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement in the construction industry is required
• Must be self-directed, take initiative, proactively address problems, and work with minimal oversight
• Must be analytical with the ability to give and receive feedback, analyze information, and interpret complex issues to determine the root problem and make effective decisions to bring the issue to a successful conclusion
• Must be highly organized and follow processes in sequential order while being flexible when appropriate
• Must have the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines; often with frequent interruptions and changing circumstances in a high-volume fast-paced work environment
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office applications with advanced skills in Excel and KOVA or equivalent purchasing management software
• Must have the ability to read and interpret blueprints and other construction documents
• Must be able to develop strong trade/vendor relationships as well as with other internal company personnel
• Must be persuasive and be able to negotiate win-win outcomes while protecting costs/budgets

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The physical demands in the Job Responsibilities are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• This position requires attendance at a number of meetings outside of the normal office hours.