Audubon is currently seeking a Senior Buyer-Construction to join our team in our Houston Energy Corridor office. The Senior Buyer is responsible for purchasing materials, equipment, and services required for construction projects. This role manages the complete purchasing cycle, from sourcing and bid evaluation through negotiation, purchase order placement, expediting, delivery, invoice reconciliation, and vendor performance management.
The ideal candidate has substantial experience supporting Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects and understands the schedule, quality, cost, and commercial requirements of complex oil and gas construction environments. EPC experience is mandatory. Acumatica ERP experience is preferred.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:- Manage procurement activities for oil and gas construction projects in accordance with approved budgets, schedules, specifications, and procedures.
- Review purchase requisitions, drawings, specifications, scopes of work, and material requirements.
- Source qualified vendors and obtain competitive bids for materials, equipment, rentals, and project-related services.
- Prepare bid comparisons and make purchasing recommendations based on price, quality, delivery, technical compliance, and commercial terms.
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules, warranties, freight, and other commercial conditions.
- Prepare, issue, and administer purchase orders in accordance with company policies and project requirements.
- Coordinate with engineering, project management, construction, estimating, quality, accounting, and field personnel.
- Purchase construction materials and equipment such as piping, valves, fittings, structural steel, electrical materials, instrumentation, tools, safety equipment, and specialty items.
- Expedite orders and monitor vendor commitments to ensure materials are delivered in accordance with project schedules.
- Track long-lead items and proactively communicate potential delays, shortages, substitutions, or other supply risks.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, vendor files, pricing data, delivery information, and purchase order status.
- Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with vendors and suppliers.
- Address vendor performance issues, delivery concerns, quality problems, and invoice discrepancies.
- Review vendor invoices against purchase orders, receiving records, packing slips, approved changes, and contract terms.
- Perform three-way matching and reconcile vendor statements, invoices, receipts, and payments.
- Coordinate with Accounts Payable and Finance to resolve discrepancies and ensure timely, accurate payments.
- Support month-end close activities, including accruals, open commitments, outstanding invoices, and purchase order reconciliation.
- Monitor committed costs, actual expenditures, remaining purchase order balances, and budget variances.
- Assist with maintaining accurate project cost records and balancing procurement information with accounting records.
- Prepare procurement, cost, delivery, and vendor performance reports for project management and leadership.
- Support audits by maintaining complete and organized purchasing, receiving, invoicing, and payment documentation.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and recommend alternative suppliers, materials, or purchasing strategies when appropriate.
- Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, applicable laws, and ethical sourcing standards.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, construction management, engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 10+ years of progressive purchasing or procurement experience in Construction or EPC
- Mandatory experience purchasing materials, equipment, or services for EPC projects.
- Experience supporting oil and gas, industrial, pipeline, petrochemical, refinery, energy, or commercial construction projects.
- Strong knowledge of construction materials, equipment, vendor sourcing, purchasing practices, and project delivery requirements.
- Proven experience preparing bid evaluations, negotiating commercial terms, and administering purchase orders.
- Experience with expediting, delivery tracking, vendor performance management, and resolving supply issues.
- Experience reviewing invoices, performing three-way matching, reconciling vendor statements, and resolving payment discrepancies.
- Working knowledge of purchase order commitments, accruals, budget tracking, cost control, and month-end close procedures.
- Strong understanding of procurement ethics, documentation, and internal controls.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Strong communication, negotiation, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet demanding project deadlines.
- Willingness to travel to project sites, suppliers, or manufacturing facilities as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience using ERP systems, preferably Acumatica
- Knowledge of oil and gas industry standards, construction specifications, and material certification requirements.
- Experience purchasing long-lead or high-value equipment and materials.
- Familiarity with domestic and international logistics, freight coordination, and import/export requirements.
- Experience working with project cost reports, vendor audits, and financial reconciliations.
- Core Competencies
- EPC project procurement
- Oil and gas construction purchasing
- Strategic sourcing and bid evaluation
- Vendor relationship management
- Commercial negotiation
- Purchase order administration
- Expediting and delivery coordination
- Invoice reconciliation and three-way matching
- Vendor account balancing
- Budget and cost tracking
- Accrual and month-end close support
- ERP systems, preferably Acumatica
- Risk identification and issue resolution
- Attention to detail
- Cross-functional collaboration
No Recruiters, please!
