Vertical Builders

Drafting and Purchasing Associate

Location: Henrico, Virginia -- Richmond Metro Area

Help Turn Great Home Designs Into Accurate Plans, Budgets, and Builds.

Vertical Builders is a growing semi-custom homebuilder serving the Richmond Metro area and surrounding Central Virginia communities. We are committed to quality craftsmanship, clear communication, efficient processes, and an exceptional homeowner experience.

We are seeking a dependable, organized, and technically skilled Drafting and Purchasing Associate to support two essential areas of our homebuilding process: architectural drafting and purchasing.

This dual-role position is responsible for producing accurate master and lot-specific construction documents while maintaining reliable takeoffs, budgets, purchase orders, and cost information. Working closely with our Architectural Services and Purchasing teams, this person will help ensure that each project is properly documented, accurately budgeted, and ready to move into construction.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, comfortable managing repeatable technical work, and able to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced homebuilding environment.

Key Responsibilities

Drafting

• Create and maintain master construction plans, including floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation plans, floor joist layouts, subfloor layouts, roof framing plans, roof sheathing plans, and lighting plans.
• Prepare and maintain accurate lot-specific plans for individual home contracts.
• Attend Preconstruction Kick-Off (PKO) meetings and update plans based on approved comments and project requirements.
• Coordinate roof truss, floor truss, and floor joist layouts with suppliers.
• Support timely and accurate building permit submissions.
• Participate in value-engineering initiatives that reduce construction costs while maintaining design quality.
• Work closely with the Architectural Services Manager to keep plans accurate, current, and ready for construction.

Purchasing

• Create and maintain master plan and option takeoffs.
• Maintain accurate cost databases for plans, options, and communities.
• Review budgets and purchase orders before each PKO meeting.
• Update budgets and purchase orders based on approved PKO comments.
• Maintain master and community-specific budgets and takeoffs as plans, pricing, and project requirements change.
• Monitor cost variables and vendor pricing to help prevent margin erosion.
• Coordinate with the Purchasing Manager and other departments to ensure purchasing information is complete and accurate.

Performance Expectations

• Submit building permit packages on time and achieve approvals with zero structural comments.
• Maintain plan-error variances at or below 1% of the company's total variance.
• Complete master and lot-specific budgets before the applicable PKO meeting.
• Complete plan and budget updates within two business days of receiving PKO comments or other required changes.
• Consistently produce accurate, complete, and construction-ready information.

Qualifications

• Experience using Autodesk AutoCAD is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace is required.
• Experience or familiarity with residential construction drafting, purchasing, estimating, takeoffs, or budgeting is preferred.
• Experience with ECI Mark Systems software is preferred.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complete repeatable tasks consistently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate professionally with internal departments, vendors, and suppliers.
• Positive, proactive, adaptable, and team-oriented approach.
• Strong follow-through and the ability to complete assignments within established deadlines.

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.

Pay and Benefits

• Full-time, W-2 position
• Salary: $60,000-$75,000 per year, based on experience
• Health insurance, with the company paying 50% of the employee premium; eligible after 30 days, with coverage beginning on the first day of the following month
• Dental insurance available at the employee's request
• Simple IRA retirement plan with company match up to 3%; eligible after 90 days
• Two weeks of Paid Time Off after 90 days
• 11 paid holidays
• Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM

Why Vertical Builders

At Vertical Builders, drafting and purchasing are essential to delivering well-designed homes efficiently and accurately. In this position, your work will directly influence plan quality, construction readiness, cost control, and the overall success of each project.

You'll have the opportunity to work across departments, contribute to value-engineering initiatives, and help improve the systems that support a growing homebuilding company.

If you enjoy detailed technical work, take pride in accuracy, and want to contribute to a collaborative residential construction team, we'd like to hear from you.

Vertical Builders is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Vertical Builders encourages applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.