Strategic Purchasing Specialist

Mckenney's - Atlanta, GA

Full-time - Mid Level

Atlanta, GA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Strategic Purchasing Specialist at McKenney's Inc. plays a crucial role in advising on buyouts for HVAC equipment, subcontractors, and mechanical and plumbing construction materials for fabrication shops and construction projects. This position serves as the primary liaison and company representative for key suppliers, ensuring the establishment and maintenance of strong and effective partnerships. The specialist will assist in executing continuous improvement projects related to purchasing, thereby contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement process. In this role, the specialist will conduct project buyout reviews, which involve evaluating vendor quotes, quality metrics, lead times, drawings, specifications, preferred partnership agreements, and bundling opportunities. Based on this analysis, they will make informed buyout recommendations to project teams. Collaboration with preconstruction and construction project teams is essential, as the specialist will advise on vendor selection and provide product alternatives to mitigate project costs or address escalation concerns. Additionally, they will be responsible for requesting and reviewing product submittals and IOMs, ensuring compliance with contract documentation. The Strategic Purchasing Specialist will also create material tracking logs, write material purchase orders (POs) and subcontracts, and assist project teams in escalating performance concerns to vendors and manufacturers. Collecting feedback from project teams on vendor performance through site visits and project meetings is a key responsibility, as is researching and resolving any discrepancies related to invoices and purchase orders. Engagement with vendors is another critical aspect of this role. The specialist will work closely with project teams and the legal department to manage vendor and subcontractor terms and conditions, create material lists, and send requests for proposals (RFPs) annually for buying agreements of construction materials. Hosting annual performance reviews with key suppliers and developing strong relationships with all supplier partners are also essential duties. Furthermore, the specialist will analyze company spending data to identify patterns and provide cost savings, maintain pricing databases, and assist with process improvement projects. They will create and review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for purchasing department processes as required, ensuring that all job duties align with McKenney's values and integrity standards. The role may also involve additional responsibilities as requested, with a strong emphasis on effective communication with the Purchasing Manager.

Responsibilities

• Review vendor quotes, quality metrics, lead times, drawings, specifications, preferred partnership agreements, and bundling opportunities to make buyout recommendations to project teams.
• Partner with preconstruction and construction project teams to advise on vendor selection and provide product alternatives to reduce project costs or escalation concerns.
• Request and review product submittals and IOMs by comparing them to contract documentation.
• Create material tracking logs and write material POs and subcontracts.
• Assist project teams with escalating performance concerns to vendors and manufacturers.
• Collect feedback from project teams on vendor performance by making site visits and attending project meetings.
• Research and resolve invoice and purchase order discrepancies.
• Work with project teams and the legal department to manage vendor and subcontractor terms and conditions.
• Create material lists and send RFPs annually for buying agreements of construction materials.
• Host annual performance reviews with key suppliers and develop strong relationships with all supplier partners.
• Collect and report on preferred partnership agreement spending to the Purchasing Manager.
• Identify opportunities for discounted pricing through bundling multiple jobs together for vendor award.
• Analyze company spending data to identify spending patterns and provide cost savings.
• Maintain equipment and material pricing databases, pricing indices, and escalation tracking databases.
• Assist with the execution and troubleshooting of process improvement projects.
• Create and review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for purchasing department processes as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree preferred in Supply Chain Operations, Logistics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Solid MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and computer skills.
• 3-5 years of procurement experience, specifically in a project-based or job-specific procurement environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with the mechanical contracting and construction industry.
• Knowledge of piping, plumbing, sheet metal materials, and commodities.
• Knowledge of HVAC equipment and plumbing fixtures.
• Knowledge of Smartsheet.
• Construction procurement experience.