The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in determining what Chaparral pays for the materials, equipment, and services used across our projects and branches. This position is responsible for running material buyouts on awarded projects, establishing pricing standards for smaller projects, and managing supplier agreements that govern pricing across the company.
The Senior Buyer will develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with Chaparral’s goals while ensuring we receive the right price, quality, delivery, and service from our suppliers. This role will serve as a strategic purchasing resource across all branches and will help Chaparral leverage its national buying power.
The scope of this position includes insulation materials, rental equipment, fleet, scaffolding, safety supplies, technology, and other construction-related products and services.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the buyout process on awarded projects by taking completed material lists from estimating, developing supplier bid packages, obtaining competitive pricing, comparing quotes against current pricing and price books, and negotiating the final award.
- Establish and maintain quoting and purchasing standards for projects below the buyout threshold.
- Develop and implement purchasing strategies that support company goals, improve margins, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier relationships.
- Negotiate master supplier agreements and national purchasing agreements for insulation materials, rental equipment, scaffolding, safety supplies, technology, and other key categories.
- Represent Chaparral as one national account in supplier negotiations to maximize purchasing leverage and consistency across all branches.
- Negotiate favorable pricing, delivery schedules, service levels, payment terms, and quality standards with suppliers.
- Conduct market research and analyze purchasing data to identify pricing trends, market changes, cost-saving opportunities, and potential supply chain risks.
- Evaluate and select suppliers based on pricing, quality, reliability, availability, service, and overall value.
- Review supplier price increase notices, challenge unsupported increases, and communicate approved changes to branches before they impact purchase orders or invoices.
- Monitor supplier performance and hold vendors accountable to negotiated pricing, delivery, quality, and service commitments.
- Lead quarterly business reviews with key suppliers and develop action plans to address performance issues and opportunities.
- Expedite open orders and resolve overage, shortage, damage, freight, and delivery claims with suppliers and carriers.
- Manage purchasing risk by identifying potential shortages, supplier disruptions, lead-time issues, and other supply chain concerns and developing contingency plans.
- Partner closely with estimating and project management to ensure purchasing and buyout activities begin immediately upon project award.
- Maintain accurate records of purchases, supplier agreements, pricing, contracts, and supplier communications for reporting and auditing purposes.
- Monitor purchasing performance and identify opportunities to improve processes, standardize purchasing practices, and increase company-wide savings.
- Own purchasing for rental equipment, fleet, scaffolding, safety, technology, and other assigned categories in addition to insulation materials.
- Serve as the senior purchasing resource for buyers and purchasing assistants, providing guidance, training, mentorship, and support.
- Help establish best practices and purchasing standards across all Chaparral branches.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, manufacturers, and strategic suppliers.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience purchasing construction materials, industrial distribution products, specialty contracting materials, or a related field.
- Proven experience negotiating with distributors and manufacturers, including competitive bid and buyout packages.
- Strong understanding of purchasing, procurement, and supply chain processes.
- Ability to read and understand material lists, specifications, drawings, and submittals.
- Experience expediting orders and resolving freight, shortage, overage, and damage claims.
- Experience negotiating supplier contracts and agreements.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems.
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers, projects, and purchasing priorities independently.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to analyze pricing and identify discrepancies or savings opportunities.
- Ability to build effective relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
- Knowledge of mechanical insulation products, including pipe and board insulation, blanket, metal and PVC jacketing, fittings, cellular glass, coatings, and mastics.
- Experience with Viewpoint Vista or a comparable construction ERP system and Field Materials.
- Multi-branch or multi-region construction or specialty contracting experience.
- Experience managing national or master supplier agreements.
- Experience with strategic sourcing, procurement analytics, and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction Management, or a related field. (Preferred but not required)
Equal Opportunity Employer:
We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e-mail address.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you understand this is an onsite position and NOT a remote position.
- Let us know why you would make a great fit for the Senior Buyer position.
Experience:
- Purchasing in construction: 3 years (Preferred)
Location:
- Waco, TX 76710 (Required)
Work Location: In person
