Lumber Purchasing Lead: Forecasting, Negotiation & Inventory

ganahllumberco; Anaheim (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group medical benefits

ESOP retirement plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ganahl Lumber is seeking an experienced Lumber Buyer to manage purchasing, inventory planning, and supply-chain coordination for lumber and related building materials in Anaheim, CA. The role focuses on maintaining the right product mix and stock levels while balancing demand, availability, quality, lead times, and transportation costs.

The ideal candidate will have strong lumber industry knowledge, established supplier relationships, and experience forecasting demand, negotiating purchases, and

Qualifications

• Several years of professional buying experience in lumber/building materials or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of lumber products, grades, and supply channels.
• Experience forecasting demand, placing POs, and coordinating inbound transportation.
• Proven negotiating ability with mills, suppliers, brokers, and freight providers.
• Established industry relationships and understanding of lumber-market dynamics.
• Ability to interpret sales, inventory and market data for buying decisions.
• Excellent math, analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Purchase lumber and related products aligned with sales forecasts and customer requirements.
• Manage inventory levels across product categories and balance availability with carrying costs.
• Develop accurate demand forecasts using sales history, trends, and market intel.
• Build and maintain relationships with mills, wholesalers, manufacturers, and logistics partners.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, freight, delivery schedules and volume commitments.
• Monitor market conditions, pricing trends, and regional demand affecting supply.
• Coordinate inbound transportation with mills, carriers, and distribution teams.
• Track open POs, shipments, backorders, and lead times.
• Resolve shortages, discrepancies, and issues with receiving/ops teams.
• Collaborate with sales to understand demand and upcoming projects.
• Analyze inventory performance and adjust transfers or replenishments as needed.
• Maintain accurate vendor, pricing, and lead-time data in systems.

Skills

Inventory management

Forecasting

Negotiation

Vendor relations

Data analysis

Communication

ERP systems

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply-chain management or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Forecasting software

Job description

Ganahl Lumber is seeking an experienced Lumber Buyer to manage purchasing, inventory planning, and supply-chain coordination for lumber and related building materials in Anaheim, CA. The role focuses on maintaining the right product mix and stock levels while balancing demand, availability, quality, lead times, and transportation costs.

The ideal candidate will have strong lumber industry knowledge, established supplier relationships, and experience forecasting demand, negotiating purchases, and