Senior Purchasing Agent

BREAK GROUND ON A REWARDING CAREER WITH US!

The Sekisui House U.S. team is a proud builder of the SHAWOOD, Richmond American, Woodside, Holt, Hubble, and Chesmar brands. We take great pride in being a member of Sekisui House, a global leader in homebuilding. This impressive, 60+ year old company has built over 2.6 million new homes designed to reflect and adapt to the changing needs of today's homebuyers. Drawing on Sekisui House's unparalleled history and superior service, we commit ourselves to a future where people around the world can live joyful lives in homes that are safe, secure, stylish and comfortable.

We encourage a company culture that promotes professionalism, teamwork, health & wellness and work-life balance. If you are a results-driven professional with a passion for success, consider building a career with us.

Positive Work Environment & Culture

Collaborative Team Culture: Join a supportive environment where teamwork and the open exchange of ideas are highly valued.
• Team Engagement: Participate in a variety of team-building events and social gatherings, such as company outings, holiday celebrations, and regular office socials. We support a healthy work-life balance and recognize the importance of time outside of work commitments.

Overview & Position Summary
This position leads advanced residential purchasing activities by independently managing complex sourcing, bidding, and contracting efforts across assigned communities, product lines, or specialty scopes. The role is responsible for driving cost-effective procurement strategies while ensuring trade partner reliability, scope accuracy, and alignment with construction schedules and product requirements. Acting as a subject matter expert, this position partners closely with Construction, Estimating, Operations, and Design to support operational performance, value engineering initiatives, and margin objectives. The role applies seasoned judgment to resolve multifaceted purchasing challenges and contributes to continuous improvement within the purchasing function.

Primary Responsibilities
* Lead sourcing, evaluation, and selection of trade partners and suppliers for assigned communities, divisions, or specialty scopes.
* Independently manage complex bid processes, including scope development, bid analysis, negotiations, and contract awards.
* Negotiate pricing, terms, and agreements to achieve cost, quality, and schedule objectives while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
* Analyze cost drivers, market conditions, material changes, and construction requirements to inform purchasing strategy and recommendations.
* Ensure purchasing data, contracts, scopes of work, and pricing are accurate and consistently maintained across procurement and ERP systems.
* Partner with Construction, Estimating, Operations, and Design to validate scopes, support plan or product changes, and align purchasing decisions with build cycles.
* Lead or contribute to value engineering initiatives, cost reduction efforts, and supplier optimization programs across multip le communities or product lines.
* Resolve escalated trade partner issues related to pricing discrepancies, scope gaps, performance concerns, and contractual compliance.
* Research and identify new suppliers, materials, or methods that enhance quality, competitiveness, or operational efficiency.
* Serve as a resource to peers and cross-functional partners by providing guidance on purchasing processes, market conditions, and best practices.
* Support purchasing process improvements, documentation standards, and system enhancements to strengthen efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Education & Experience
Required:
* Minimum of 5 years of relevant purchasing, supply chain, or construction operations experience OR 9-11 years of equivalent experience.

Preferred:
* Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Construction Management, or a related field.
* Homebuilding or residential construction purchasing experience.
* Experience leading complex scopes or multi-community purchasing portfolios.

Skills & Competencies
* Advanced knowledge of purchasing practices, contract management, and construction procurement.
* Strong negotiation skills with the ability to manage complex supplier relationships.
* Analytical capability to evaluate multifaceted issues, cost structures, and operational impacts.
* Ability to influence stakeholders within and outside the purchasing function.
* Effective communication skills, including presenting recommendations and resolving vendor disputes.
* Proficiency with purchasing or ERP systems and advanced data analysis tools.
* Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
* Ability to interpret construction drawings, scopes of work, and material requirements.
* Problem-solving skills using extensive experience and independent judgment.
* Ability to mentor and guide team members on purchasing processes and best practices.

Working Conditions
Work is typically performed in a professional office environment requiring frequent collaboration with internal teams and suppliers. Occasional visits to construction sites may be necessary to verify scopes, support supplier performance evaluations, or address field-related concerns. Some travel to vendor facilities, industry events, or regional meetings may be required depending on business priorities.

Physical Requirements
* Ability to sit or stand for extended periods in an office environment.
* Ability to walk construction sites with uneven terrain during field visits.
* Ability to lift and carry materials, documents, or samples up to 20 pounds.
* Ability to communicate clearly in person, over the phone, and in written communication.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families:

• Competitive Compensation: We provide a competitive compensation structure that rewards performance and results.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive coverage includes medical, dental, and vision insurance options, as well as Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Financial Future: Access a 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Time Off: Our time-off benefits include vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and other leave types (bereavement, jury duty, FMLA, military leave).
• Insurance & Protection: Company-provided life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage are included. An employee assistance program (EAP) is also available.
• Exclusive Perks & Discounts
• Homeownership & Financing: Take advantage of exclusive home purchase and financing discounts.
• Pet Insurance: Enjoy discounted group pet insurance rates.

If you are ready for more than a job and seek a career with one of the most respected organizations in the industry, we encourage you to connect with us. Please visit our website at www.richmondamerican.com for additional information.

Sekisui House U.S., Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.