Purchasing Manager

Summary:

This position works closely with the Project Management, Drafting, Pre-Construction, and Shop teams to ensure materials are purchased accurately, competitively, and in alignment with project specifications and schedules.

The goal of this role is to streamline the procurement process, relieve workload from Project Managers, and strengthen communication between departments — ensuring all materials are approved, competitively sourced, and delivered on time to support both shop production and field installation.

Kovach’s Mission and Values:

Our Mission: Kovach's mission is crystal clear: to cultivate a thriving and profitable company that stands as a beacon of growth and opportunity. We are steadfastly dedicated to fostering an environment where individuals not only succeed but flourish. In doing so, we aim to strike a harmonious balance between robust financial health and a nurturing space for all our team members.

Employee Ownership (ESOP):

At Kovach, we believe in sharing our success with the people who make it possible. Our employees are the driving force behind everything we achieve, which is why we proudly offer an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This program allows you to become an owner of the company, giving you a direct stake in its growth and prosperity. As the company continues to succeed, so does the value of your shares, offering you a powerful opportunity to build wealth and benefit from our long-term success. With an ESOP, your contributions directly impact both your future and the company’s future, creating a true partnership in our continued growth.

Our Core Values:

• Positivity: Easy to work with, trusting, team player, and good communicator.
• Own it: Reliable, responsible, follows through, trustworthy, thorough.
• Expertise: Intelligent, innovative, and coachable.
• Grit: Tough, strong work ethic, and finds a way to get it done.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• On-site Presence and Reliability: Arrive at the job site promptly at the required start time as indicated by the Supervisor.
• Quality Assurance: Regularly review the work completed to ensure it meets Kovach's high-quality standards.
• Safety and Communication: Strictly adhere to Kovach's safety protocols, job site-specific requirements, and reporting injuries. Immediately communicate any safety concerns to the Supervisor.
• Work Ethics: Motivated to work hard, productive, and efficient on the job.
• Good Listener: Able to follow simple directions and communicate effectively.
• Problem Identification: Proactively identify and report potential problems to the Supervisor.
• Team Collaboration: Ensure the well-being of fellow employees on-site, promoting a team-first environment.
• Continuous Learning: Demonstrate initiative in the tasks performed and continually seek to grow in knowledge and understanding of Kovach’s scope of work.

Key Responsibilities

Material Procurement & Coordination

• Collaborate with Project Managers and Drafters to plan and manage material release schedules based on approved submittals, fabrication timelines, and project milestones.
• Review project specifications to ensure materials meet all technical and aesthetic requirements.
• Obtain and evaluate competitive pricing from qualified vendors to ensure best value for the company.
• Confirm all approvals are in place prior to releasing or issuing any purchase orders.
• Verify all necessary components are included in each PO (extrusions, panels, gaskets, fasteners, anchors, etc.).
• Coordinate with the Drafting team to ensure material takeoffs align with fabrication drawings and quantities.
• Track lead times and coordinate release dates to align with shop and field needs.

Vendor & Pre-Construction Coordination

• Work closely with the Pre-Construction team to align on vendors that should be utilized for each project, ensuring continuity between estimating and purchasing.
• Utilize vendors that have already provided quotes through Pre-Con and meet project specifications and performance expectations.
• Maintain communication with Pre-Con on preferred or approved vendor lists to ensure consistency and compliance across all projects.
• Support evaluation of new or alternative vendors in collaboration with Pre-Con and Operations to improve pricing and delivery reliability.

Shop Coordination & Material Management

• Partner with the Shop team to ensure material deliveries align with production schedules and installation sequencing.
• Confirm delivery dates, packaging methods, and staging requirements to avoid delays or re-handling.
• Work with the shop to identify and utilize any in-stock materials that can be applied to active projects to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Track all deliveries and coordinate closely with vendors to ensure on-time and complete shipments.
• Maintain awareness of current material inventory to minimize duplicate orders and improve material utilization.

Purchase Order Execution & Tracking

• Prepare, issue, and manage purchase orders for all major materials in accordance with company standards.
• Maintain a centralized material tracking log that records PO status, vendor confirmations, shipping dates, and delivery milestones.
• Work with Accounting to resolve discrepancies between invoices and purchase orders.
• Communicate procurement updates regularly to PMs and Drafting teams.

Process Improvement & Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal departments to continually refine the procurement process and improve cross-departmental communication.
• Help develop SOPs for purchasing and procurement tracking to ensure consistency, accuracy, and accountability.
• Participate in weekly project or production meetings to provide updates and identify potential procurement risks.
• Support lessons-learned initiatives to enhance efficiency and accuracy on future projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing or procurement experience in construction or façade systems (glass, metals, or panels preferred).
• Strong understanding of curtain wall, storefront, and metal panel system components.
• Proficiency with Sage, Autodesk Build, and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and submittals.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organization skills.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work across multiple departments and deadlines.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Procurement Accuracy: <1% PO error rate (specification, quantity, or pricing).
• Schedule Adherence: 95% of material deliveries meet project schedule requirements.
• Cost Efficiency: Regular benchmarking and competitive bidding to maintain best-value pricing.
• Process Compliance: 100% of POs verified against approved submittals and specifications.
• Interdepartmental Alignment: Positive feedback from PM, Drafting, Pre-Con, and Shop teams regarding coordination and workload reduction.

• About Kovach: Founded on robust client and vendor relationships, Kovach boasts a unique and influential organizational culture. Housing approximately 350 employees, our family extends across multiple states. We're not just about professional growth; we emphasize having fun while making an impact. Our annual sales touch approximately $90 million, with growth expected in the years ahead. Our partnerships with the region's biggest general contractors have adorned Phoenix with iconic buildings, ranging from the Phoenix Airport and ASU campuses to the Talking Stick Resort and Casino.

  Job Type: Full-time

  Benefits Offered:

  • ESOP
  • 401(k) matching
  • Comprehensive dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Generous paid time off
  • Vision insurance

  Kovach is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusivity in its workforce. We invite candidates who are keen to grow, contribute, and be a part of our success story.