Construction Purchasing Lead — Build Our Procurement System

Montana Construction; Lodi (NJ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Montana Construction Inc. is seeking a highly organized Purchasing Agent to build and manage our procurement function for construction materials, equipment, and services across active projects in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

You will design SOPs, establish vendor onboarding, and implement purchasing software while collaborating with the CFO, project managers, and department heads to ensure cost-effective, timely decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in construction purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management.
• Demonstrated ability to build a procurement function or implement purchasing processes in an environment without existing systems.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills with a proven track record of securing favorable vendor terms.
• Ability to build and maintain effective long-term relationships with suppliers and vendors.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple purchasing needs simultaneously across active projects.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement Montana Construction’s purchasing function from the ground up, including establishing procurement policies, approval workflows, vendor onboarding processes, and recordkeeping standards.
• Evaluate, select, and implement purchasing software or tools to manage purchase orders, vendor records, pricing agreements, and procurement reporting.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all purchasing activities, ensuring consistency, accountability, and compliance across all departments.
• Build a vendor database and approved supplier list, establishing competitive sourcing relationships across all key material and equipment categories.
• Create a purchase order system and approval structure in coordination with the Vice President, accounting, and project management teams.
• Manage the procurement of construction materials, equipment, and services for all active projects across sewer, water, bridge, and emergency service operations.
• Track purchase orders from issuance through delivery and invoice reconciliation, resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors across all key procurement categories.
• Negotiate favorable pricing, payment terms, volume discounts, and long-term supply agreements with preferred vendors.
• Continuously evaluate vendor performance on pricing, delivery, quality, and responsiveness; address underperformance and source alternatives as needed.
• Manage vendor contracts and supplier agreements in coordination with the CFO and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Monitor purchasing costs against project budgets and company targets, identifying cost-saving opportunities and reporting variances to the CFO and project management team.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and generate regular purchasing reports covering spend by category, vendor, project, and period.
• Support project managers in change order pricing, material cost analysis, and budget review.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for bulk purchasing, blanket purchase agreements, and strategic sourcing to reduce unit costs across recurring material categories.
• Work closely with project managers, field supervisors, and the Vice President to understand upcoming material and equipment needs and proactively initiate procurement.
• Coordinate with the accounting department to ensure purchase orders align with approved budgets and that invoices are matched, approved, and processed accurately.
• Collaborate with the fleet and shop team on equipment purchases, rentals, and parts procurement.
• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including prevailing wage requirements, environmental standards, and government contract procurement rules.
• Maintain required documentation for certified payroll, prevailing wage, and public contract compliance as it relates to materials and subcontractor procurement.
• Stay current on regulatory changes affecting construction procurement across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned by the CFO.

Skills

Procurement

Vendor relationships

Negotiation

SOP development

Project coordination

Tools

ERP systems

Procurement software

Excel

Office Suite

Job description

Montana Construction Inc. is seeking a highly organized Purchasing Agent to build and manage our procurement function for construction materials, equipment, and services across active projects in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

You will design SOPs, establish vendor onboarding, and implement purchasing software while collaborating with the CFO, project managers, and department heads to ensure cost-effective, timely decisions.