Millwork Buyer

Buyer

Hours: (full-time, 40 hrs/wk) M-Th, 8 am – 5 pm | Fr, 8 am – 2:30 pm Location: This position is located in Albany, NY – onsite work is required Pay Range: $65,000-$85,000/Year

Digifabshop & CWK Associates are pioneering firms at the forefront of digitally intensive custom architectural fabrication. We specialize in bringing one-of-a-kind projects to life, embracing complex geometric, fabrication, and logistical challenges to create what has never been built before. Our work leverages advanced algorithms and robotics to create structures with precision and efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Buyer attends the Biweekly Project Meeting to gain a thorough understanding of the scope of work, schedule and materials & services needed to complete the project. The Buyer works directly with the Project Manager and Lead Engineer to identify material budgets, specifications and lead times on specialty and large purchases.

• Material Research - Understand, evaluate, and analyze specifications and requirements for custom items and commodity bids to determine the optimal method of procurement; consult with internal Teams on what and how the product is being used.
• Help expand our supplier base and build a knowledge of available materials that the vendors offer. (This allows us to consider all available material options, while comparing pricing, evaluating payment term options, and determining best lead-time/availability.)
• Review pending orders with project teams and provide suggestions for finding alternative products to those originally suggested, that may be priced better/have better availability or lead times.
• Help negotiate with vendors for better lead-times and pricing.
• Track materials that are ready to be purchased via the company's ERP system and work with project teams to understand when materials are needed in the shop for projects. Review options for sourcing these materials, while negotiating the best possible price for each order.
• Write purchase orders to secure materials/products in time for operations and project teams.

Estimating/RFQs- Be a source for both Estimating and Project Management in terms of where to procure materials, which vendors have exceeded our expectations on price, quality, and schedule.

• Submit requests for quotes for materials and supplies to obtain the best pricing and lead times.
• Retain quotes for negotiating later when releasing purchase orders for active projects.

Purchasing- Actively participate in a project handoff meeting with Project Management to understand the materials needed, review schedule, budget, and establish guidelines for the purchasing of project materials.

• Understand what purchases require more information and how to pull this information together to complete the buyout package. This could include drawings, custom specifications, and previous quotes for reference.
• Build and maintain good vendor relationships, establishing fluid communication – responding promptly to vendor emails and calls.
• Onboard new suppliers, which includes negotiating payment terms, insurance requirements and lien waivers as needed.
• Accurately create Purchase Orders that clearly identify the items or services that are being purchased. (All pertinent information should be on the PO for clear communication to both the vendor and internal teams.)
• Accurately code the line items into Epicor and execute with the selected vendor.
• Communicate potential material issues, both cost and schedule related to the respective team members.
• Meet with Operations and Project Management to discuss short- and long-term project material purchasing.
• Review material costs to date compared to budgets established and report progress.
• Prepare and execute custom material ordering, reviewing with engineering and project management for accuracy and getting all orders over $10,000 signed off by the project manager.

Accounting- Establish and negotiate credit terms with vendors and work to improve our financial flexibility by negotiating better terms with our vendors.

• Review materials with Shipper/Receiver when they arrive, to understand what has been ordered, evaluate quality issues, react to damages or inconsistences and rectify with the vendors.
• Work with management and the Finance Director on vendor payment issues.

Buying- Work with multiple vendors to ensure pricing accuracy.

• Negotiate shipping costs and determine what will work for our schedule.
• Understanding material needs, availability and presenting alternates when product is not available.
• Request, collect and organize documentation for LEED projects. (Understand what qualifies for credits and follow up for the proper paperwork with vendors prior to entering their invoice.)
• Maintain FSC material recordkeeping.

Overall: Keep a positive attitude even when things do not go as planned.

• Quality control check all documentation incoming and outgoing.
• Maintain clear communication with everyone including expectations and accountability.
• Know the status of pending orders, track the progress, and relay information to the team to keep everyone informed of status.

Preferred skills/qualifications:

• Millwork/Construction Industry knowledge and work experience.
• Previous Project Management and/or Project Buying experience.
• Proven success in Negotiating Payment terms, pricing, and better lead-times.
• Experience working in an ERP System. (CWKA uses Epicor ERP)
• Epicor experience a plus.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
• Able to hold vendors accountable to product availability, pricing, and payment terms.
• Able to work with multiple adjacent teams, including Finance/Operations, Project Management, Receiving, and Engineering, while also being able to work independently as needed.
• Successful in completing tasks by established deadline.

Experience:

• Project Management: 1 year (Preferred)
• Project Buying: 2 years (Required)
• Commercial construction: 2 years (Required)
• ERP systems: 1 year (Preferred)

Digifabshop is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital or domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, prior arrest or conviction record, pregnancy or related conditions, known relation or association with any member of a protected class, or any other protected characteristic as established by federal or state law. Digifabshop will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.