National Sr. Purchasing Specialist

The National Senior Purchasing Specialist (NSPS) is responsible for the procurement of assigned vertical and horizontal costs for work constructed as it relates to the specific trades in the category they’re assigned to manage. The NSPS will be required to run a national category management team where they will work with their peers to manage costs at a national level. This includes identifying new trades, performing due diligence, and working with Division OPS leaders to qualify, approve and onboard new Trades. The National Senior Purchasing Specialist is responsible for competitive bidding, analyzing, negotiating, and awarding contracts to Trades who are approved by both Purchasing and Division OPS leaders. In addition to procurement duties, the NSPS is responsible for assembling and maintaining budgets, preparing documents for inclusion into trade contract agreements, and other duties related to the purchasing process. Purchasing Offices provide important services to the divisions; it is the National Senior Purchasing Specialist’s responsibility to respond timely to division needs and perform in keeping with established service standards and metrics.

Summary of Position Requirements:

Purchasing Strategy

1.Assist National Director of Purchasing in maintaining a bidding workload schedule for all communities.Aid in developing a competitive bid schedule for new communities including determining when it is appropriate to bid out or re-price contracts for in-progress communities.

2.Collaborate with Purchasing Director and Division OPS leaders to Identify those trades critical to achieving operational objectives and engage in discussions (when the market conditions warrant) to secure necessary trade capacity (Strategic Trade Relationships – STR) in order to achieve start and closing goals.

Specifying

1.Research new products, features and amenities for cost effectiveness and marketability.

2.For each new community, collaborate with Division associates on the development of feature specifications commensurate with the competitive market requirements.

3.Prepare and confirm with National Director of Purchasing all specifications, amenities and options for a community or series of homes.

4.Whenever possible, participate in value engineering, preliminary architectural reviews, feature & specification meetings, and model walks.

5.Develop Product Specifications for the project.

6.Always pursue the objective of simplicity (good = base house, better = option level #1, best = option level #2) when specifying features, materials, etc.

7.After the contract is awarded, assemble, and distribute product specification notebook to the Division.

Budgeting

1.Assist in the preparation of the proforma direct construction cost estimate.

2.Assemble information necessary to complete the indirect cost estimate.

3.Assist in the preparation of the Pre-bid line-item budget estimate

4.Provide cost and trade information to Purchasing Administrator to maintain accurate budgets in E1 and report budget adjustments to the division or business unit.

5.Review budgets and maintain a Revised Budget estimate (based on actual costs to date) compared to the Original Budget (at time of contract award) with the National Director of Purchasing and Division Business Leaders.

6.Update monthly the Direct Construction Cost (DCC) report and provide a 30/60/90 cost outlook.

Bidding

1.Maintain bid list with multiple qualified bidders per trade.Review qualified vendor list with divisions served by the national purchasing office.

2.Establish and hold trades accountable for meeting bid due dates.

3.Prepare and distribute all onsite bid sheets and packages, including latest architectural plans, consultant reports, cover letter with bid due date, standard trade requirements, list of options, specific trade requirements, material specifications and sequence sheet.

4.Obtain unitized pricing to include material quantities, SKU pricing, labor rates and standard labor hours to complete the scope of work.

5.Obtain written bids for all quotations including production, option, and alternate pricing, bid concessions, model home discounts, and sales complex upgrades.

6.Obtain, analyze, and negotiate option costs before awarding base house contracts.

Analyze, Qualify, Negotiate

1.Spread and compare bids for the cost of base house and optional offerings using historical or projected product mix and option frequencies to determine weighted average costs associated with each bid.

2.Identify and resolve bid discrepancies with each bidder.

3.Review and consider proposed substitutions.

4.Obtain Division approval for all substitutions, revise and update scopes and feature specifications to incorporate approved substitutions.

5.Review all substitutions or scope of work changes with each bidder.

6.Identify lowest qualified bidder and compare to line-item budget estimate.

7.Negotiate with Trades to achieve costs that are at or below budget.

Award Contract

1.Prepare bid analysis / award recommendation summarizing the final bids for each qualified bidder.Review award recommendations with the National Purchasing Manager.Approve and obtain National Purchasing Manager approval to achieve the required two person sign off.

2.Advise successful trade of award decision, notify all other bidders of award decision.

3.Transmit complete and accurate award package to the contract administrator for processing.

4.Prepare and review for accuracy all contract documents.

5. Forward contract documents to responsible manager for counter signature.

Contract Management

1.Assemble required information to process contract change orders for substitutions, scope of work changes, code updates, etc.

2.Transmit complete and accurate change order package to contract administrator for processing.

3.Forward change order documents to responsible manager for counter signature.

Cost Reduction / Management

1.Track costs for needed building materials, services, prevailing labor rates, and other related cost components for each assigned trade contract category.

2.Update bid sheet to accurately reflect the cost components of each assigned trade contract category.

3.Evaluate and compare bids to current and prevailing prices (for the items outlined in #1 above) for the region and across the company.

4.Qualify and negotiate trade costs based upon prevailing prices.

5.When specifying, review and apply all exclusive national accounts.

6.Advise National Purchasing Manager immediately of substantive changes or variation from the approved Direct Construction Cost and Indirect Construction Cost budget.

Administrative

1.Obtain required information (cut-sheets, samples, specs, etc.) from manufacturers, suppliers, and trades to facilitate the work of contract administrators, sales, field supervision, and others served by the NPO.

2.Check all work products for accuracy.

Trade Relations

1.Identify trade contractors whose performance and capacity make them strategically important to the division.

2.Assist construction management in resolving Trade issues.

3.Maintain professional, win-win working relationships with Trades through honest and open exchange of information and ideas.

4.Participate in Trade/Safety Council meetings and committees as required.

5.Assist SHPIP administrator in gaining Trade adherence to insurance requirements.

Leadership

1.The NSPS will be asked to fill in as needed within their own market or within other National markets as a resource to help address times of heavy workload or short staffing. The NSPS will have the experience needed to pick up and any trade category that we are purchasing for.

2.National Senior Purchasing Specialist will mentor, develop, and motivate all Specialists and Assistant Specialists.

3.Monitor adherence to purchasing practices, procedures, and standards in keeping with Shea Homes policies and values.

4.The NSPS may be called on to lead a national Process Improvement Team that includes all markets Shea builds in.This will include running team calls, coordinating data collection for national accounts, guiding team members on price increases, and taking point on large scale national projects.

5.The NSPS will fill in for their immediate supervisor when the supervisor is out of the office.

Performance Standards

1.Achieve objectives and goals as outlined by the National Director

2.Complete personal goal objectives

3.Complete on time and in keeping with quality requirements the work associated with all of position requirements listed above.

Knowledge / Experience

1.College degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

2.Previous experience in a continuous improvement environment

3.Mainframe and personal computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, E1/JDEdwards

4.Five years' experience in the homebuilding industry

5.Three years’ experience in residential purchasing or CPSM Certified

6.Multi-family purchasing experience a plus.

7.Field construction experience a plus.

Skills/Abilities

1.Must have a passionate drive to learn and improve. Self-motivated

2.Professional demeanor: projects positive and professional image

3.Productivity: excellent attendance, excellent work quantity and quality, positive contributor; ability to work successfully in a team environment, strong people skills, works well with others at all levels

4.Innovation: seeks new opportunities and growth challenges, contributes ideas, helps resolve problems, and develops new procedures and methods

5.Honesty: truthful and trustworthy, does what needs to be done and what is right; is fair and objective, has personal integrity and treats others in a mature, responsible manner

6.Loyalty: has commitment toward the goals and values of the organization, respects its efforts, defends its good name, gives the job the best effort and sincerity

7.Initiative: ability to think, work and make independent decisions based on sound judgment

8.Excellent written and verbal communications skills

9.Understanding of basic measurement and team tools and continuous process improvement methodology and practices

10.Must possess a strong internal/external customer service orientation/commitment.

11.Excellent time management, organization, and follow-up skills

12.Ability to manage competing priorities and assignments.

13.Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where continuous improvement is expected.

14.Must be able to consistently achieve high work standards.

15.Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to rapid change.

16.Creates good will within department and interdepartmentally.

17.Ability to read, understand and apply the requirements of architectural and consultant drawings and reports, including:

a.Title 24 reports

b.Acoustical reports

c.Soils reports

d.Post tension drawings.

e.Precise grading plans

18.Ability to understand construction terminology.

19.Ability to define and apply specific and standard trade requirements.

20.Ability to analyze TradePartners®’ bids for accuracy and completeness.

21.Ability to comprehend construction processes and sequence of work.

22.Ability to understand consumer expectations within defined market segments and relate to specification levels.

23.Ability to negotiate win-win agreements.

24.Ability to understand and utilize Shea measurement tools.

Travel Requirements

1.Travel may be required on a periodic basis to attend required meetings and/or visit out of state divisions or supervisors.

Physical Demand/Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to talk and hear. The associate frequently is required to walk and sit, and occasionally is required to stand. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to approximately 25 pounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Professional Development Statement

This position is expected to maintain a program for his/her own professional development and shall do so by creating, maintaining, and executing his/her Professional Development Plan per company standards.

Shea Homes is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.

EOE/M/F/D/V