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Position

Purchasing and Procurement Agent

Reports To:

Director of Project Management

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, driven, and results-oriented Purchasing and Procurement Agent to lead the purchasing and vendor management efforts for the company. This role is responsible for engaging and managing vendor relations, assisting the estimation team with vendor pricing during the project estimation process, acts as the purchasing funnel during project fulfillment, maintains positive vendor relationships, and ensures that we receive the best value from our purchases and our suppliers. The ideal candidate has experience in procurement and navigating project timelines, understands negotiation, and excels in relationship-building and vendor coordination. The position reports to the Director of Project Management.

responsibilities

Vendor Management, Sourcing and Evaluation

Build and maintain long-term relationships with suppliers, and resolve issues regarding shortages or defective materials.
Research potential suppliers and vendors for unique items and materials.
Evaluate vendor quotes and offerings, and work with the estimation and project management team to compare to the project specifications and budgets.
Analyze price, quality of products, and lead-times amongst all vendors.

Negotiation and Procurement

Negotiate best pricing with our vendors/suppliers, including establishing volume pricing for our inventory items.
Negotiate payment terms with vendors/suppliers to align with the best interests of the business and the project receivables.
Coordinate deliveries with the appropriate Downtown FabWorks team members.

Record Keeping and Analysis

Build and maintain our preferred vendor list.
Maintain accurate databases of vendor purchases and pricing.
Manage purchasing projections in conjunction with project managers, operations, and accounts payable.
Directly coordinate with our craft department heads on material inventory minimums and maximums.
Directly coordinate with our estimation department on materials and cost of goods pricing.

Key Attributes

Efficient Communicator - Able to communicate effectively with external and internal communications. Able to liaise between vendors/suppliers and our team.

Team Leader - This position requires gathering information from peers and vendors. The person who fills this role needs to be patient and communicative while understanding how to drive procurement forward with urgency when required.

Problem Solving - This is a growing business and there are always unforeseen challenges. Being able to troubleshoot and communicate through a problem with peers is critical toward this role.

Efficient Operator - Understands the value of everyone’s time. The person who fills this position needs to make sure that goals are achieved in a timely manner and manages their workflow accordingly.

Organized and Able to Scale - Understands the importance of administrative organization, including file and document management, time management, and software to achieve administrative scale.

Emotional Intelligence — Has the ability to read people, adapt your approach, and work effectively with a diverse team of skilled craftspeople and creative professionals.

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years experience in purchasing/procurement and/or project finance management.
Contract literacy — comfortable reviewing and analyzing agreement terms and identifying key obligations and risk factors.
A detailed ability to manage time and expectations.
A Bachelor's degree or higher.
This is a full-time, salaried exempt in-person position based out of our New Orleans office. Travel to meet with vendors and/or for educational purposes may be required.
Well-versed in the following software:
- Excel and/or Google Sheets
- Slack
- Asana
- Time management software, including Google Calendar and all of its functionality
- Familiarity with project management software preferre
^‍

Compensation

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000 annual salary based on experience and fit
401(k) Retirement plan
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off: Accrued PTO (up to 20 days per year), and 10 Paid Holidays
Vision insurance

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Disclaimer

Downtown FabWorks firmly believes that Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is not only a legal requirement under our nation’s laws, but also an imperative. It is a critical component of our effort to develop the most qualified, diverse workforce possible, with a strong belief that an individual shall succeed based on talent, merit, work ethic, passion, and commitment to the company vision.

It is the policy of Downtown FabWorks that all employees and applicants for employment be afforded equal opportunities without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity including transgender status), national origin, religion, age (40 or over), genetic information, disability, or retaliation for engaging in an EEO-protected activity. As part of its program of equal opportunity, Downtown FabWorks prohibits discrimination or harassment based on any of these categories. In addition, it is also our policy to prohibit discrimination or harassment based on marital status, status as a parent, and past, present, and future military service, or lack thereof.

Ryan McDonald

Senior Creative Producer, RED VELVET

Downtown FabWorks was a standout partner for our brand activation at Tales of the Cocktail. From the start, their team was collaborative, communicative, and deeply invested in bringing our vision to life with smart tech integration and seamless execution. Their onsite crew was not only skilled, but also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, making install a breeze. The final result was high-quality, on-brand, and a true showstopper.

Jordan Schwartz

Owner, Primetime Innovations

A+ job and A++ team. Every single crew member was extremely helpful, very respectful to all on site, and willing to help wherever and however without any complaints. Amazing group…next project, I am going to request that exact crew! Thank you. You killed it.

Paul Utterback

Business Development, Crystal Clear Imaging

A model company for design and fabrication. If you can dream it, Downtown FabWorks can do it.

Mike Cassesi

Owner, CASSESI Commercial Construction

Dan and his team are true professionals who are in a league of their own. When it comes to creativity, quality, and skill, Downtown FabWorks is a company that we know we can trust. Dan is down-to-earth, responsive, hardworking, and a true pleasure to work with every time.

Scott Beelman

Partner, Katapult Events

In the world of live events—where things often change on a whim—it's great to have a fabrication partner who understands our business and exceeds our expectations every single time.

Irina Gusin

Independent Exhibitions Producer

Dan and his team at Downtown FabWorks were able to fully produce and execute a large-scale structure thoughtfully and in record time when my project's deadline was threatened by Hurricane Ida. I couldn't be more appreciative of Dan's professionalism and hard work during a very stressful and uncertain time. Dan and his team were a joy to work with!

Kristen Kain

Owner, Kristen Kain: Marketing + Events

Downtown FabWorks is a great group to work with on any event project. They are experienced in all things related to scenic fabrication and installation, and they are flexible and accommodating as the needs of the project are developing. Having a reliable scenic partner is crucial to the success of the project—and Downtown FabWorks does not disappoint.