Purchasing Agent (Structural Steel)

Overview:

Purchasing Agents at Schuff Steel master the art of buying misc. steel materials by navigating competitive markets, high material costs, managing volatility, and ensuring uninterrupted production through strategic sourcing using the ERP/MRP system and other internal tools. Purchasing agents are also responsible for the outsourcing of all rolled, bent, cut and/or drilled plate as well as other produced material to fulfill production requirements. #LI-KF1

 

Responsibilities:

• Procurement and Supplier Management
  • Sourcing materials
  • Negotiating contracts
  • Managing supplier relationships
  • Monitoring performance
  • Budget cost controls
  • Obtain and compare quotes from mills, service centers and distributors
  • Evaluate suppliers based on price, availability lead time and quality
  • Purchase all materials to schedule, special requirements, location, and budget
  • Review material and determine best nested requirement and buy materials
  • Accurately process purchase orders in a timely manner
  • Stays knowledgeable on all current market conditions and adjusts buying patterns accordingly.
• Inventory Control
  • Monitor stock
  • Forecast demand
  • Minimize costs
  • Coordinate with production to prevent shortages/overstocking
  • Implement Just-in-Time (JIT) strategies as appropriate
  • Track material usage and waste
• Logistics and Delivery Coordination
  • Schedule deliveries to align with fabrication timelines
  • Arrange freight and transportation as/if needed
  • Track shipments and resolve delays
• Coordination with Project Management, Production Planning, Production, and Field
  • Review advanced bill of materials
  • Clarify material grades and certifications meet ASTM standards
  • Communicate lead times to all internal departments
  • Support change orders and material revisions
  • Provide purchasing schedule for each project to internal departments
  • Offers technical assistance on specific product(s)
• Risk Management
  • Anticipate supply chain disruptions
  • Develop backup suppliers for critical materials
  • Manage contract risks and terms
• Quality and compliance
  • Ensure materials meet required specifications
  • Obtain mill test reports (MTRs)
  • Resolve material discrepancies or defects with suppliers
• Process Improvement
  • Analyze supply chain data, identify bottlenecks, and develop strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs
  • Develop and implement new strategies and workflows for procurement, inventory, and logistics
  • Optimize the entire flow of goods and services from sourcing to delivery

(This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job responsibilities and functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform. Above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. Duties and responsibilities can be changed, expanded, reduced or delegated by management to meet the business needs of the company)

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Three to five (3-5) YOE in a Purchasing Agent/Buyer role within the steel fabrication or structural steel construction industry

Software & Technology:

• General understanding and knowledge MS Office, Excel, Bluebeam, and Oracle programs

Work Environment:

• Position requires as many hours needed to fulfill the daily and weekly obligations required to carry out the functions and generally performed inside a climate-controlled office environment
• This role may require employee to occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request for those who have disabilities that qualify under the American with Disabilities Act. Schuff Steel Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer