Lumber & Building Products Buyer
Department: Purchasing
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: General Manager
Location: Menifee, CA
Position Summary
We are a large wholesale lumber and building materials distributor seeking an experienced Lumber & Building Products Buyer to join our purchasing team.
This position is responsible for purchasing and managing inventory across assigned lumber and building-product categories while maintaining competitive costs, appropriate inventory levels, reliable supply, and strong supplier relationships.
The successful candidate will understand the unique demands of the wholesale lumber industry, including changing market conditions, mill and manufacturer relationships, commodity pricing, freight considerations, inventory turns, and the need to make timely purchasing decisions.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced lumber or building-products professional who understands that successful purchasing requires more than simply placing purchase orders—it requires market awareness, inventory discipline, negotiation skills, and sound judgment.
Key Responsibilities
- Purchase lumber and building products from mills, manufacturers, wholesalers, and other approved suppliers.
- Manage assigned product categories to ensure appropriate inventory levels while meeting customer demand and company inventory-turn objectives.
- Analyze inventory positions, sales history, open orders, usage trends, lead times, and market conditions to determine purchasing requirements.
- Monitor lumber and building-product markets for changes in pricing, supply, demand, production, transportation, and availability.
- Maintain regular communication with mills and suppliers regarding pricing, availability, production schedules, lead times, and purchasing opportunities.
- Negotiate purchase prices, freight, payment terms, volume programs, and other commercial terms.
- Evaluate purchasing opportunities, including spot buys, contract purchases, forward buys, and inventory positions.
- Make purchasing decisions based on market conditions, anticipated demand, replacement cost, inventory exposure, and sales requirements.
- Coordinate inbound truck and rail shipments and consider freight economics when evaluating purchasing decisions.
- Work closely with sales to understand customer demand, upcoming projects, market activity, and product requirements.
- Communicate significant price changes, supply issues, market developments, and purchasing opportunities to sales and management.
- Maintain appropriate stock levels while minimizing overstocks, slow-moving products, and aged inventory.
- Review inventory performance, including inventory turns, days of supply, gross margin, GMROI, and aged inventory.
- Maintain accurate purchase orders, costs, expected delivery dates, and vendor information within the company's ERP system.
- Resolve shortages, damaged material, freight issues, pricing discrepancies, claims, and other supplier-related problems.
- Develop and maintain strong long-term relationships with mills, manufacturers, brokers, and other suppliers.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers and alternative sources of supply.
- Assist management in developing purchasing strategies designed to improve margins, inventory performance, and overall profitability.
Product Categories
Depending on experience and business needs, purchasing responsibilities may include:
- Dimensional lumber
- Douglas Fir, SPF, Hem-Fir, and other species
- Treated lumber
- Engineered Wood Products (EWP)
- LVL, LSL, PSL, and I-Joists
- OSB and plywood
- Structural panels
- Specialty lumber and timbers
- Industrial and appearance-grade products
- Other complementary building materials
Qualifications
- 3–5+ years of purchasing, trading, inventory management, or sales experience within the lumber or building-products industry preferred.
- Direct experience purchasing lumber, panels, engineered wood products, or related building materials strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of lumber grades, species, dimensions, units of measure, and industry terminology.
- Understanding of lumber and building-product market dynamics, including commodity pricing and supply-and-demand conditions.
- Established relationships with mills, manufacturers, distributors, or brokers are highly desirable.
- Strong negotiation and vendor-management skills.
- Ability to analyze inventory positions, sales history, purchasing data, and market information.
- Strong understanding of cost, gross margin, replacement cost, freight, inventory turns, and working capital.
- Ability to make timely purchasing decisions in changing market conditions.
- Strong mathematical and analytical skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ERP/inventory-management systems.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with purchasing, sales, operations, logistics, accounting, and management.
What Success Looks Like
A successful Lumber & Building Products Buyer will:
- Maintain strong in-stock positions on core products.
- Achieve established inventory-turn objectives.
- Minimize aged, excess, and obsolete inventory.
- Maintain competitive replacement costs.
- Identify advantageous purchasing opportunities.
- Develop strong and reliable mill and supplier relationships.
- Communicate market information effectively to the sales organization.
- Balance customer service requirements with inventory investment and market risk.
- Contribute to improved gross margins and overall company profitability.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $75,000 – $150,000 annually, depending on lumber-industry experience, product knowledge, supplier relationships, and qualifications.
Benefits include:
- Performance-based incentive opportunity
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Paid vacation and holidays
- Career advancement opportunities
- Stable, team-oriented work environment
About Us
Grove Lumber & Building Supplies is a leading wholesale distributor of lumber and building products serving professional lumber dealers, building-material distributors, contractors, and other customers throughout Southern California.
Our success is built on product knowledge, strong mill relationships, disciplined inventory management, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service.
We are looking for a purchasing professional who understands the lumber business and wants to play an important role in our continued growth.
To Apply: Please submit your resume along with a brief description of your experience purchasing or selling lumber and building products.
Grove Lumber & Building Supplies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $75,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
