Description:
Grunau is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to support strategic sourcing, project procurement, supplier management, and operational purchasing activities across our construction and service businesses. This position will serve as a key liaison between Operations, Project Management, Field Leadership, and the Procurement Center of Excellence to ensure materials and equipment are sourced effectively, competitively, and in alignment with company procurement strategies.
The Senior Buyer will be responsible for fostering local supplier relationships, executing sourcing initiatives, negotiating pricing , identifying procurement process improvements, and supporting cost reduction objectives while ensuring uninterrupted project execution.
This role is ideal for an individual with and understanding of construction industry sourcing or a strong knowledge of procurement who can operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment.
Role Responsibilities:
Strategic Sourcing & Category Management- Lead procurement activities for mechanical materials, pipe, valves, fittings, sheet metal and HVAC Equipment.
- Execute category strategies aligned with Procurement Center of Excellence objectives.
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, and volume leverage.
- Support corporate rebate, preferred supplier, and strategic sourcing programs.
- Analyze purchasing trends, supplier performance, and spend data to identify savings opportunities.
Procurement & Project Support- Partner with project managers, operations leaders, and field teams to understand project requirements and procurement needs.
- Issue RFQs, evaluate quotations, negotiate pricing, and work with project teams to award business to suppliers.
- Manage equipment and material procurement for construction and service projects.
- Monitor delivery schedules and proactively resolve supply chain disruptions.
- Ensure procurement activities align with project schedules, budgets, and customer requirements.
Supplier Relationship Management- Build strong relationships with key suppliers and manufacturers.
- Provide feedback to the Category Manager for supplier business reviews and performance evaluations.
- Resolve pricing, quality, delivery, and service issues.
- Collaborate with suppliers to identify process improvements and value-engineering opportunities.
- Ensure suppliers comply with contractual, quality, and safety requirements.
Operational Excellence- Build and maintain strong relationships with leaders across the business (including but not limited to estimation, operations, project managers, accounting and field leaders) to promote accountability and partnership to support our clients and customers.
- Promote procurement best practices across Grunau operations.
- Support implementation of procurement technologies, ERP systems, and procurement workflows.
- Provide feedback for updates related to purchasing procedures, sourcing documentation, and supplier records.
- Ensure compliance with purchasing policies and delegated authority limits.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency and reduce total cost of ownership.
- Support procurement reporting and KPI tracking.
- Contribute to procurement transformation initiatives and Center of Excellence objectives.
Requirements/Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
- Minimum 5 years of purchasing, sourcing, or procurement experience in a construction, mechanical contracting, industrial, manufacturing, or related environment.
- Demonstrated success negotiating pricing, contracts, and supplier agreements.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and procurement tools.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a project-driven environment.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 7+ years of procurement or strategic sourcing experience.
- Experience supporting HVAC, mechanical contracting, plumbing, industrial, or specialty construction businesses.
- Knowledge of supplier rebate programs and strategic sourcing methodologies.
- Experience with COINS, GEP, KOJO, AI, Power BI, SharePoint, or other procurement technologies.
- CPSM, CPM, or other supply chain certification preferred.
Core Competencies:
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Negotiation & Influence
- Construction Procurement
- Cost Savings Identification
- Project Procurement
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Process Improvement
- Stakeholder Collaboration
- Business Acumen
- Change Management
Pay: Salary dependent on your level of experience/skills *plus annual incentive bonus tied to company performance*
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, Matching 401K, PTO, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
