What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Agent position at Alvarez Construction?
Purchasing Agent
Alvarez Construction, one of Louisiana's leading homebuilders, is seeking an experienced and detail-driven Purchasing Agent to join our growing team. This role is responsible for managing purchase orders, trade partner coordination, bid support, and system accuracy across multiple active communities — keeping the build moving and the numbers right from the first take-off to the final closing.
Our Core Values
- Resilient
- Do the Right Thing
- Be a Team Player
- Excellence in Everything
- Accountable
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the full purchase order lifecycle — issue, track, update, void, and correct POs across assigned trades and communities in Newstar ERP.
- Process and manage variance purchase orders (VPOs), change orders, and tax corrections accurately and on time.
- Audit PO accuracy against estimates and flag discrepancies before they reach the job site.
- Support bid preparation — perform take-offs and cost comparisons for assigned trade categories.
- Review plan sets from a cost perspective, identifying opportunities to reduce cost or improve accuracy.
- Coordinate directly with trade partners and suppliers on pricing, delivery schedules, and order details.
- Maintain accurate system data — supplier records, parts pricing, bid rates, and takeoffs.
- Support community setup in Newstar — pricing, attribute mapping, and PO generation rules.
- Respond to construction, buyer, and sales team questions on POs, specifications, and options.
- Collaborate with accounting on completion dates, PO discrepancies, and payment processing.
- Responsible for job scrubs — for homes closed and under construction.
- Build and maintain working relationships with trade partners and suppliers across assigned categories
- Coordinate delivery schedules, pricing confirmations, and order details directly with suppliers
- Monitor supplier license expirations and flag compliance issues proactively
- Assist with onboarding new trade partners into the system and vendor qualification process
Qualifications
- 2–4 years of purchasing, estimating, or procurement experience — homebuilding or residential construction strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of construction documents, plan sets, and scope of work concepts.
- Experience with homebuilder ERP systems (Newstar, Builder MT, Hyphen, or similar) or a strong aptitude to learn quickly.
- Ability to perform or support quantity take-offs and cost comparisons.
- Strong organizational skills — comfortable managing multiple trades and communities simultaneously.
- High attention to detail — PO accuracy directly impacts job site execution and cost outcomes.
- Effective communicator with trade partners, internal teams, and management.
- Self-motivated, accountable, and able to work independently without constant direction.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred, but not required.
Why Alvarez Construction?
We believe great people deserve a great workplace. That's why we offer:
- Competitive compensation package
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Company contribution toward employee health coverage
- 401(k) with generous company match
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
- Half-day Fridays year-round (Monday–Thursday: 7:00 AM–4:30 PM | Friday: 7:00 AM–12:00 PM)
- Birthday Friday Off – enjoy a paid Friday off during your birthday week
- Career growth and advancement opportunities
- Supportive, team-oriented culture built on trust, accountability, and excellence
If you're looking for a long-term career with a company that values precision, teamwork, and continuous improvement — and wants to grow with a team that's building something real — we'd love to hear from you.