Director of Purchasing

Traditions of America; Berwyn (PA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A national leader in active lifestyle communities is seeking a Vice President of Purchasing based in Berwyn, PA. The role involves developing purchasing strategies, overseeing supplier partnerships, and ensuring cost control across large-scale projects. Candidates should have 7–10 years of experience in purchasing, preferably in home building, along with strong leadership and financial skills. This position requires oversight of purchasing operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and collaboration with various stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive purchasing or supply chain leadership experience.
• Home building purchasing experience is required.
• Proven success in strategic sourcing and contract negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive purchasing strategy.
• Establish best-in-class sourcing strategies and supplier selection.
• Oversee purchasing operations and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Cost management

Leadership

Financial acumen

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting, or related discipline

MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems (MarkSystems preferred)

Job description

Overview

Traditions of America — a national leader in the development of award-winning 55+ active lifestyle communities — is seeking a Vice President of Purchasing to lead and advance our purchasing strategy from our corporate headquarters in Berwyn, PA.

The VP of Purchasing will play a critical role in driving cost discipline, strengthening supplier partnerships, mitigating risk, and supporting scalable growth across large-scale residential and amenity development projects.

This position serves as a key business partner to Operations, Finance, Design, Architecture, Construction, and Land Development teams, ensuring purchasing strategies align with corporate objectives, quality standards, and long-term profitability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Enterprise Purchasing Strategy & Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive purchasing strategy that supports company growth, margin objectives, and operational excellence.
• Provide executive oversight of construction, vertical, and amenity costs; analyze budget variances and implement proactive cost-control and value-engineering initiatives.
• Lead cost modeling and estimating for new home models, community amenities, clubhouses, and large-scale development projects.
• Partner with Finance and Operations leadership to support forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Governance

• Establish and oversee best-in-class sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and contract standards.
• Lead high-value contract negotiations and approvals, ensuring favorable terms, risk mitigation, and compliance with corporate policies.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management, including renewals, amendments, terminations, and performance evaluations.
• Build and maintain strategic, long-term supplier partnerships that support quality, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Evaluate and onboard new vendors to support expansion into new markets or product lines.
• Conduct executive-level vendor reviews and site visits to assess performance, capacity, and alignment with company standards.

Operational Excellence & Systems Optimization

• Provide oversight of beginning to end purchasing operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and cost-effective purchasing.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives related to pricing structures, product options, purchase orders, and cost-tracking systems.
• Drive effective use and enhancement of ERP systems (e.g., MarkSystems) and purchasing analytics to improve visibility and decision-making.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing purchasing organization, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team, contributing insights to strategic initiatives, process improvements, and enterprise-wide decision-making.
• Promote cross-functional alignment between purchasing, accounting and field operations to ensure seamless execution.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• 7–10+ years of progressive purchasing or supply chain leadership experience, including senior or enterprise-level responsibility.
• Home building purchasing experience
• Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, cost management, and contract negotiation within residential construction or real estate development.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to influence outcomes at the executive level.
• Experience with ERP systems and purchasing platforms (MarkSystems preferred).
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and analytical skills.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Executive financial leadership
• Strategic planning and enterprise thinking
• Supplier and contract governance
• Risk management and compliance
• Team building and talent development

Work Schedule:

This position is based in our Berwyn, PA corporate office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Periodic travel is required for supplier engagement and industry events.