Director of Purchasing - Austin at GFO Home LLC – Austin, Texas

GFO Home is a premier home builder dedicated to crafting exceptional homes that exceed expectations and enrich lives. We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality, value, and customer satisfaction. With a focus on delivering superior craftsmanship and innovative design, we strive to create communities where families can thrive. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Purchasing to join our team in Austin, TX. The Director of Purchasing will play a key role in overseeing and optimizing the purchasing process for construction materials and labor, ensuring that our homes are built to the highest standards of quality while maintaining cost efficiency. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills, exceptional negotiation abilities, and a deep understanding of the Austin residential construction industry. Responsibilities include the following:

• Create and implement a strategic sourcing plan that produces quality and efficiency at or below the market rate for materials and labor. Use this plan to set team goals for how much improvement to expect on cost or cycle time and how quickly those tasks can be completed.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of market pricing, lead times, and the quality of current and potential trade partners.
• Actively look for material or labor shortages and supply chain issues that might increase lead times and be prepared with plans to mitigate or completely avoid those issues.
• Oversee the vendor evaluation and selection process, to ensure we are working with trade partners who will meet our quality standards, build times, and budgeted costs, enabling us to deliver the value our buyers deserve.
• Set the trade partners up for success when you are onboarding them by ensuring there is clear communication defining our plans, features, specifications, scopes of work, and expectations, so that their bids are complete and accurate.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with trade partners and foster open communication with them to ensure GFO is a builder they want to work with and give the best pricing and service to.
• Utilize internal resources, strategies, and company processes to maximize efficiency and get the best outcome.
• Work with Purchasing team colleagues to learn GFO policies and procedures. Ensure the divisions stay aligned and actively pursue the teamwork and communication that help the company as a whole.
• Work closely with management and the other departments to make yourself and your team the hub, and trusted support structure, that construction, sales, design, and finance can rely on.
• Be the example of interdepartmental communication. Stay aware of and be proactive on issues effecting other departments and how Purchasing can help resolve or improve the causes.
• Define and set timelines and expectations for the Purchasing team and other departments with a focus on prioritizing what tasks or projects are the most crucial to GFO’s overall success. Ensure purchasing activities align with project timelines and budgetary requirements.
• Conduct market research and stay abreast of industry trends to identify new suppliers, materials, and technologies that can enhance our product offerings and competitiveness.
• Analyze purchasing data and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement process enhancements to drive efficiency and cost savings.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing purchasing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning and growth.

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, or a related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive Purchasing experience in the Austin residential construction industry.
• Proven track record of successfully managing purchasing operations, negotiating contracts, and achieving cost savings targets.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute long-term procurement strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including experience managing and developing a team of purchasing professionals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with ERP systems; Hyphen Solutions Brix experience preferred.