What are the responsibilities and job description for the Steel Buyer position at Gibraltar Fabrication?
The Steel Buyer is responsible for procuring structural steel, raw materials, coatings, and outsourced fabrication services required to support manufacturing and project operations. This role ensures the timely availability of steel products and related materials while maintaining competitive pricing, quality standards, and reliable supplier performance. The Buyer works closely with Operations, Engineering, Sales, Logistics, and Finance to support production schedules, inventory planning, and project requirements.
What Youll Do
- Procure structural steel, plate, tubing, raw materials, and fabrication supplies required for manufacturing and project operations.
- Convert purchase requisitions into accurate and timely purchase orders within the ERP system.
- Coordinate with inventory and logistics teams to maintain appropriate material levels and prevent shortages.
- Source, evaluate, and onboard steel mills, service centers, and fabrication vendors.
- Solicit and evaluate competitive quotes to ensure cost-effective purchasing.
- Monitor steel market conditions, pricing trends, material availability, and supplier capabilities.
- Provide material pricing information to Sales and estimating teams to support quoting activities.
- Procure specialized coatings, outsourced fabrication services, and other external production resources as needed.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation within the ERP system.
- Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Sales to support production and project needs.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure consistent pricing, quality, and delivery performance.
What You Bring
- Experience procuring steel materials, fabrication services, or industrial manufacturing supplies.
- Understanding of steel purchasing processes, supplier management, and procurement workflows.
- Ability to negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, and supplier agreements.
- Strong analytical skills for evaluating quotes, supplier performance, and total cost considerations.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple purchasing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Attention to detail when managing purchase orders, pricing, and procurement documentation.
- Experience using ERP purchasing systems.
Education | Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum 2 years of purchasing or supply chain experience, preferably in a manufacturing or steel fabrication environment.
- Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Experience sourcing steel materials, coatings, or fabricated components.
- Experience working with domestic and international steel suppliers or service centers.
- Familiarity with product costing, price analysis, and steel market pricing trends.