Purchasing Officer – Residential Construction Company (Hybrid Role)
Location: Cobh (3 days office / 2 days WFH)
Employment Type: Permanent
Level: Experienced (3+ years in procurement, construction or residential development preferred)
About the Opportunity
A highly successful and expanding residential developer in Cork is seeking a Purchasing Officer to join the business in a newly created role. This is a rare opportunity to build the purchasing function from the ground up, shaping systems, processes, supplier relationships, and procurement strategy as the company scales.
You will play a central role in ensuring cost‑effective, timely, and high‑quality procurement of materials, subcontract services, and project support items across multiple live and upcoming housing developments.
If you’re a proactive, commercially minded procurement professional who enjoys autonomy, process creation, and driving best‑practice standards — this is the perfect next step.
Key Responsibilities
Building the Purchasing Function
- Develop and implement procurement systems, workflows, templates, and policies from day one.
- Introduce purchasing controls, approval pathways, coding structures, and reporting tools.
- Support the future rollout of digital procurement or ERP‑linked systems.
Procurement & Purchasing
- Source, select, and negotiate with suppliers and subcontractors across key residential trades and materials.
- Prepare and issue purchase orders, ensuring accuracy in specifications, timelines, and pricing.
- Manage supplier pricing, discounts, lead times, and framework agreements.
- Assist with tendering for packages where required.
- Build and maintain a strong supplier database.
Commercial & Cost Control
- Monitor cost trends and identify value‑engineering opportunities.
- Work closely with QS, site teams, and project managers to ensure budgets and procurement plans align.
- Support cost forecasting and procurement reporting for senior management.
Supplier Management
- Develop strong working relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
- Track supplier performance, quality, delivery reliability, and compliance.
- Address queries, discrepancies, or delivery issues.
Internal Collaboration
- Liaise with site managers to ensure material delivery schedules support programme timelines.
- Collaborate with finance to ensure accurate invoicing, reconciliations, and payment processing.
- Communicate clearly between design, commercial, and construction teams regarding material choices, specifications, and alternatives.
About You
Essential Experience
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain (construction/residential preferred).
- Proven ability to set up and improve procurement processes.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and cost‑control skills.
- Excellent accuracy, organisation, and attention to detail.
Desirable
- Experience with residential building materials and subcontractor procurement.
- Familiarity with purchasing or ERP systems.
- Strong Excel skills and comfort working with data and reporting.
Personal Attributes
- Self‑starter with the confidence to take ownership of a new function.
- Strong communicator and relationship builder.
- Commercially savvy and solutions‑focused.
- Enjoys autonomy, structure creation, and continuous improvement.
