Buyer​/Purchasing Specialist

Job Summary

A residential home builder in Riverside, CA is seeking a hands‑on Buyer/Purchasing Specialist for a direct hire opportunity. This role is ideal for an experienced Purchasing Agent with residential homebuilding or commercial construction purchasing experience, or a strong Assistant Purchasing Agent from a larger home builder who is ready to step into a broader role with more responsibility. This is a strong opportunity for a construction purchasing professional who wants to be directly involved in ground‑up homebuilding projects, work closely with leadership, and partner with the construction team in a collaborative, fast‑moving environment.

The position offers visibility, ownership, and the ability to make a meaningful impact on project costs, vendor relationships, purchasing processes, and field support. The work environment is well‑suited for someone who enjoys being part of a smaller, hands‑on team where communication, accountability, teamwork, and problem‑solving are valued.

• Obtain, review, compare, and negotiate bids from subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers for residential construction projects.
• Prepare and manage purchase orders, contracts, scopes of work, and change orders to support accurate project execution.
• Review construction plans, specifications, and trade scopes to ensure purchasing accuracy and alignment with project needs.
• Track project costs, monitor material and labor pricing, and help maintain construction budgets.
• Coordinate with Superintendents and construction teams to ensure materials, vendors, and trades are available when needed.
• Develop and maintain strong subcontractor and supplier relationships while resolving pricing, scope, material, and vendor issues.

• Direct hire opportunity.
• Assistant Purchasing role: $70,000 to $80,000 per year.
• Purchasing Agent with homebuilding or commercial construction experience: $85,000 to $95,000 per year.
• Overall salary range provided: $75,000 to $95,000 per year.

• Manage vertical purchasing for ground‑up residential construction projects.
• Support estimating, budgeting, bid evaluation, purchase orders, contracts, and change orders.
• Coordinate purchasing activities with Superintendents, construction teams, subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers.
• Track costs, resolve scope and pricing issues, and identify opportunities to control construction expenses.
• Purchasing experience within residential homebuilding is preferred.
• 6 to 10 years of relevant purchasing, construction, or homebuilding experience is desired.
• Working knowledge of residential construction, building plans, trade scopes, materials, and vendor coordination.
• Experience obtaining bids, comparing pricing, negotiating terms, and managing purchase orders.
• Strong Excel skills and the ability to work with homebuilding or construction software.
• Strong negotiation, communication, organization, and follow‑through skills.
• Comfortable working in a smaller environment where team members take ownership and wear multiple hats.
• Detail‑oriented, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities in a deadline‑driven construction setting.

• Experience with a large production home builder or publicly traded home builder.
• Prior experience as a Purchasing Agent, Buyer, Construction Purchasing Specialist, or Assistant Purchasing Agent.
• Experience with both residential homebuilding and commercial construction purchasing.
• Familiarity with construction estimating, budgeting, cost tracking, and vendor development.

The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-_Know Your Rights
6.12.pdf

The pay…