What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Manager (Homebuilding) position at The Newport Group - Executive Recruiters?
Senior Purchasing Manager (Homebuilding)
Location: San Jose, CA
Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time | Onsite/Hybrid
Compensation: Highly competitive and open, based on depth of homebuilding experience and expertise
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Purchasing Manager with a proven background in the residential homebuilding industry to lead purchasing, bidding, and contracting activities for both underground and vertical construction. This role plays a critical part in controlling costs, maintaining quality, and ensuring timely execution across multiple projects.
Homebuilding experience is a must-have for this role. Candidates without direct experience purchasing for residential home construction will not be considered.
This position reports directly to the Director of Operations and partners closely with construction, sales, and marketing teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all bidding and contracting efforts for vertical and offsite trades, ensuring bids are complete, accurate, and aligned with plans and scopes of work
- Analyze subcontractor bids and make hiring recommendations based on cost, performance history, quality, and schedule adherence
- Prepare, issue, and manage subcontract agreements and amendments using Word and DocuSign to support construction schedules
- Negotiate master contracts, pricing, change orders, cost overruns, and scope disputes to achieve best-in-class pricing and terms
- Source, research, and qualify new subcontractors to meet company standards for quality, pricing, and reliability
- Perform and verify take-offs, review architectural and site plans, and support value engineering initiatives
- Review construction plans and specifications for constructability, accuracy, cost efficiencies, and quality
- Stay current on construction materials, methods, labor markets, and pricing trends
- Collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams on product selections and specifications
- Maintain and update master purchasing schedules across all projects
- Refine and customize scopes of work based on master scopes and individual project requirements
- Prepare and distribute bid packages to subcontractors and manage the bid process end-to-end
- Act as a primary liaison between construction teams and subcontractors
Required Experience & Qualifications
- 5–7 years of purchasing experience specifically within residential homebuilding (required)
- Strong background supporting both vertical and underground construction
- Demonstrated success in subcontractor negotiations and cost control
- Proven ability to read and interpret contracts, scopes of work, construction documents, and plans
- Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment
- Strong leadership presence with initiative and accountability
- High level of integrity and professionalism
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Experience with PlanGrid and Box is a plus
- College degree in a related field preferred
Why This Role
- Senior-level purchasing role with significant impact on cost, quality, and delivery
- Stable, long-term direct hire opportunity
- Compensation that reflects the value of your homebuilding expertise
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holidays, life insurance, and 401(k) with company match