Position OverviewThe Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading and executing the company's procurement function in support of a large-scale electrical contracting operation. This role oversees all purchasing personnel, supplier relationships, procurement strategies, material buyouts, subcontract administration, and purchasing processes to ensure the company secures quality materials and services at the best overall value.
The Purchasing Manager serves as a key partner to Operations, Estimating, Project Management, and Risk Management by proactively managing supplier performance, market conditions, lead times, pricing exposure, and procurement risks across all projects. This individual will drive process improvement, vendor accountability, procurement standardization, and operational efficiency while supporting company growth and profitability.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Department Management- Lead, mentor, and develop the purchasing team to ensure high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Establish and maintain purchasing procedures, workflows, and procurement best practices.
- Develop and maintain procurement reporting metrics, historical purchasing data, commodity tracking, and supplier performance analytics.
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, legal regulations, and industry standards.
- Collaborate with Operations, Accounting, and Risk Management to maintain and enforce standard purchasing terms and conditions.
- Drive process improvements and technology utilization within procurement systems and ERP platforms.
Supplier & Vendor Management- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
- Negotiate vendor agreements, pricing structures, rebates, value-added services, and long-term purchasing partnerships.
- Establish and maintain master subcontract agreements in coordination with the Risk Management team, including tracking utilization, contract renewals, insurance certificates, and compliance documentation.
- Monitor supplier performance related to pricing, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and reliability.
- Address vendor disputes, material issues, back charges, non-conformance concerns, and invoice discrepancies.
- Solicit feedback from internal project teams and suppliers to strengthen vendor relationships and improve performance.
- Manage company recycling and surplus material programs to maximize recovery value and reduce waste.
- Solicit, evaluate, and analyze quotations based on pricing, delivery schedules, lead times, scope compliance, and overall value.
- Negotiate favorable purchasing terms and conditions while minimizing project and company risk exposure.
- Ensure all purchased materials and services meet company quality standards and project specifications.
Preconstruction Support- Review vendor and subcontractor proposals for completeness, exclusions, scope gaps, and commercial risk.
- Provide recommendations regarding vendor selection, pricing strategy, procurement risk, and escalation exposure.
- Assist in drafting procurement-related contract language and material escalation provisions for proposals and customer agreements.
- Identify and communicate supply chain risks, long lead items, and procurement challenges during preconstruction planning.
Project Execution Support- Partner with Project Management and Operations teams to support project procurement execution and material logistics.
- Assist with tax exemption procurement strategies and required documentation when applicable.
- Support project teams with material handling coordination, procurement troubleshooting, and supplier issue resolution.
- Monitor critical material deliveries and assist in resolving supply chain disruptions that may impact project schedules.
Collaboration & Communication- Work closely with Operations, Estimating, Accounting, Warehouse, and Executive Leadership to align procurement strategies with company objectives.
- Provide regular reporting on procurement performance, market trends, supplier risks, and cost-saving initiatives.
- Participate in operational planning meetings and strategic company initiatives.
QualificationsEducation & Experience- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction Management, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5-10 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience within the electrical construction, commercial construction, or industrial contracting industry.
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience managing purchasing personnel or procurement teams.
- Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered.
Required Skills & Competencies- Demonstrated leadership ability with a focus on accountability, process improvement, and team development.
- Strong negotiation, vendor management, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong understanding of supply chain management principles, market conditions, and procurement risk mitigation.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, procurement software, Microsoft Office Suite, and construction management platforms.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience working for a large commercial or industrial electrical contractor.
- Familiarity with subcontract administration and construction contract language.
- Knowledge of commodity purchasing strategies and supply chain forecasting.
- Experience implementing procurement systems, workflows, or process improvements.
