Director of Purchasing

Description

Position Summary

The Director of Purchasing provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all Estimating and Purchasing functions across Blue Heron, supporting both programmatic communities and fully custom design-build work. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate cost models, leading bid strategies, negotiating contracts, cultivating strong trade and vendor partnerships, and ensuring timely and precise purchase order execution that supports schedule, quality, and margin objectives.

Reporting to senior leadership and collaborating cross-functionally with Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Sales, Client Services, and Finance, the Director ensures seamless integration of estimating and purchasing workflows across the entire lifecycle—from design through construction and closeout. This role also provides oversight for the options program, ensuring offerings align with the Blue Heron brand, client expectations, and margin strategy.

The Director leads and develops a high-performing Estimating & Purchasing team, drives continuous improvement, leverages systems and data to enhance decision-making, and plays a key role in Blue Heron’s long-term strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive purchasing and estimating strategy aligned with Blue Heron’s brand, growth objectives, and financial goals.
• Translate business goals into departmental priorities, KPIs, and execution plans.
• Provide insights into market trends—materials, labor, supply chain, trade capacity—and proactively adjust strategies.
• Participate in pipeline planning, deal analysis, and early feasibility assessments.

Estimating & Cost Modeling

• Oversee development and maintenance of accurate cost models, budgets, pro formas, and ROM estimates.
• Ensure consistency and scalability in estimating methodologies, take-off standards, and cost databases.
• Partner with Architecture and Interior Design to support design development, cost feasibility, and value engineering.
• Leverage historical data to refine specifications, cost structures, and forecasting.

Purchasing & Procurement Operations

• Lead the full purchasing lifecycle: bid strategy, trade and vendor qualification, proposal analysis, negotiation, contract execution, and PO issuance.
• Ensure purchase orders are accurate, timely, and aligned with construction schedules, specifications, and budget targets.
• Establish and enforce purchasing processes, policies, controls, and documentation standards.
• Support seamless data flow across systems—from Sales through Design, Purchasing, Construction, and Finance.

Trade Partner & Vendor Management

• Build, strengthen, and expand trade and vendor relationships in existing and future markets.
• Create and maintain comprehensive scopes of work, performance criteria, and qualification standards.
• Lead negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favorable terms, quality outcomes, and schedule reliability.
• Conduct regular business reviews, address performance gaps, and support trade partner planning.

Options & Upgrades Program

• Provide leadership and alignment for the options and upgrades program across all product types.
• Ensure offerings reflect brand vision, client expectations, cost accuracy, and margin goals.
• Partner with Interior Design, Sales, Client Services, and Architecture to maintain an up-to-date, accurate options catalog with current costs, lead times, and specifications.
• Ensure all options are properly integrated into estimates, sales contracts, and purchase orders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Architecture and Interior Design to ensure designs account for cost, constructability, sourcing, and lead-time considerations.
• Collaborate with Construction to ensure scopes, budgets, and POs support field execution and quality standards.
• Partner with Sales on pricing support, proposal development, and pre-contract estimating.
• Align with Finance on forecasting, variance management, and margin performance.
• Coordinate with IT/Systems to optimize ERP and project management tools.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Estimating and Purchasing team with strong analytical, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Set clear expectations, provide regular coaching and feedback, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Model Blue Heron’s leadership competencies, including sound judgment, resilience, collaboration, and a “One Team” mindset.

Process, Systems & Data Management

• Implement and refine standardized workflows, tools, and procedures across estimating and purchasing.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and usability of the item master, vendor records, and cost databases.
• Drive system optimization and support continuous improvement in ERP systems, and complementary tools.
• Reduce cycle times, minimize errors, and improve data-driven decision making through process excellence.

Financial & Performance Management

• Own departmental budget and performance metrics, including cost variance, bid coverage, procurement cycle times, and margin performance.
• Monitor market conditions influencing pricing and availability and adjust strategies proactively.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership on risk, opportunities, and cost trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, estimating, or preconstruction within residential construction, luxury homebuilding, or related real estate development.
• 5+ years of proven leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in cost modeling, bid processes, contract negotiation, and vendor management.
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, building science, and materials.
• Proficiency with estimating and construction management software, ERP systems, and Excel (or equivalent tools).
• Track record of driving process improvement, implementing systems, and scaling operations.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.