Purchasing Agent

Alvarez Construction; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with generous company match

Paid Time Off (PTO) and holidays

Half-day Fridays

Birthday Friday Off

Career growth opportunities

Supportive team-oriented culture

Job summary

Alvarez Construction, a leading homebuilder in Louisiana, is seeking a Purchasing Agent with 2-4 years of experience to manage purchase orders and support trade partners across multiple communities.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in residential construction and be comfortable with construction documents. Offered are competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) match.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of purchasing, estimating, or procurement experience in residential construction preferred.
• Working knowledge of construction documents and plan sets.
• Self-motivated, accountable, and able to work independently without constant direction.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full purchase order lifecycle across assigned trades.
• Process variance purchase orders and change orders accurately.
• Audit PO accuracy against estimates to flag discrepancies.
• Support bid preparation and cost comparisons.
• Maintain accurate system data and respond to team questions.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Effective communication

Ability to support quantity take-offs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business, or Supply Chain

Tools

Newstar ERP

Job description

Purchasing Agent

Alvarez Construction, one of Louisiana's leading homebuilders, is seeking an experienced and detail-driven Purchasing Agent to join our growing team. This role is responsible for managing purchase orders, trade partner coordination, bid support, and system accuracy across multiple active communities — keeping the build moving and the numbers right from the first take-off to the final closing.

Our Core Values

• Resilient
• Do the Right Thing
• Be a Team Player
• Excellence in Everything
• Accountable

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full purchase order lifecycle — issue, track, update, void, and correct POs across assigned trades and communities in Newstar ERP.
• Process and manage variance purchase orders (VPOs), change orders, and tax corrections accurately and on time.
• Audit PO accuracy against estimates and flag discrepancies before they reach the job site.
• Support bid preparation — perform take-offs and cost comparisons for assigned trade categories.
• Review plan sets from a cost perspective, identifying opportunities to reduce cost or improve accuracy.
• Coordinate directly with trade partners and suppliers on pricing, delivery schedules, and order details.
• Maintain accurate system data — supplier records, parts pricing, bid rates, and takeoffs.
• Support community setup in Newstar — pricing, attribute mapping, and PO generation rules.
• Respond to construction, buyer, and sales team questions on POs, specifications, and options.
• Collaborate with accounting on completion dates, PO discrepancies, and payment processing.
• Responsible for job scrubs — for homes closed and under construction.
• Build and maintain working relationships with trade partners and suppliers across assigned categories
• Coordinate delivery schedules, pricing confirmations, and order details directly with suppliers
• Monitor supplier license expirations and flag compliance issues proactively
• Assist with onboarding new trade partners into the system and vendor qualification process

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of purchasing, estimating, or procurement experience — homebuilding or residential construction strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of construction documents, plan sets, and scope of work concepts.
• Experience with homebuilder ERP systems (Newstar, Builder MT, Hyphen, or similar) or a strong aptitude to learn quickly.
• Ability to perform or support quantity take-offs and cost comparisons.
• Strong organizational skills — comfortable managing multiple trades and communities simultaneously.
• High attention to detail — PO accuracy directly impacts job site execution and cost outcomes.
• Effective communicator with trade partners, internal teams, and management.
• Self-motivated, accountable, and able to work independently without constant direction.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred, but not required.

Why Alvarez Construction?

We believe great people deserve a great workplace. That's why we offer:

• Competitive compensation package
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company contribution toward employee health coverage
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half-day Fridays year-round (Monday–Thursday: 7:00 AM–4:30 PM | Friday: 7:00 AM–12:00 PM)
• Birthday Friday Off – enjoy a paid Friday off during your birthday week
• Career growth and advancement opportunities
• Supportive, team-oriented culture built on trust, accountability, and excellence

If you're looking for a long-term career with a company that values precision, teamwork, and continuous improvement — and wants to grow with a team that's building something real — we'd love to hear from you.