Lumber and Hardware Buyer

Job Description

Responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials and hardware to ensure optimal inventory levels and cost-effectiveness for the organizations manufacturing group. This role requires a deep understanding of market trends, strong negotiation skills, and collaboration with various internal teams and external suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing and Procurement: Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, mills, and distributors for hardwood lumber, engineered wood products, tools, and general and specialty hardware.

Negotiation and Contracts: Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules to secure favorable agreements and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.

Inventory Management: Monitor and maintain optimal stock levels, analyze sales trends and forecasts to adjust purchasing plans, and minimize stockouts or overstocking.

Market Analysis: Stay informed about market conditions, commodity pricing, and product availability to anticipate changes and adapt purchasing strategies accordingly.

Supplier Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong, reliable relationships with vendors and suppliers, tracking their performance and resolving any invoice, delivery, or quality discrepancies.

Quality Control: Evaluate the quality of products to ensure they meet company standards, specifications, and industry certifications.

Coordination and Documentation: Collaborate with sales, logistics, and management teams to understand product requirements, communicate order status and backorders, and maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Qualifications

Experience: Requires 3-5+ years of progressive purchasing or procurement experience, ideally within the hardwood materials industry.

Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of various lumber types, grades, hardware applications, and industry standards.

Analytical Skills: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and forecasting abilities to make data-driven decisions.

Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective internal collaboration and external vendor negotiations.

Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or inventory management systems.

Education: A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Forestry, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent industry experience is also highly valued.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person