DRIVE. GROW. EXCEL.
At Steelcon, we’re not just building structures. We’re building some of the most complex and challenging steel projects in the industry. Behind every project is a supply chain that makes sure our teams have the right material, at the right price, and when they need it.
We’re looking for an experienced Buyer to join our Supply Chain team. This role is focused heavily on the procurement of structural steel and requires someone who knows the steel market, understands the demands of project-based construction, and can make strong commercial decisions in a fast-moving environment.
Position Overview
As a Buyer at Steelcon, you will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing structural steel and other materials, products, and services required to support our fabrication and construction operations.
Working closely with Estimating, Project Management, Engineering, Operations, and suppliers, you will translate project requirements into effective purchasing strategies, secure material in line with project schedules and specifications, and manage supplier performance from award through delivery.
Success in this role requires strong knowledge of structural steel procurement, established supplier relationships, commercial judgment, and the ability to balance cost, quality, availability, lead time, logistics, and project risk.
What You’ll Do
Steel Procurement & Strategic Sourcing
- Lead the sourcing and procurement of structural steel and other assigned materials, products, and services.
- Manage significant and high-value purchases from RFQ and bid evaluation through negotiation, purchase order, delivery, and issue resolution.
- Source steel based on project requirements, including material grade, section, size, quantity, specification, availability, and required delivery dates.
- Evaluate supply options based on price, availability, lead time, quality, logistics, and overall project requirements.
- Monitor steel pricing, market conditions, mill availability, lead times, and supply constraints to support purchasing decisions.
- Identify and qualify new sources of supply to improve competitiveness, availability, and supply continuity.
- Develop sourcing strategies for critical, long-lead, high-value, or price-sensitive material.
- Support forward purchasing and material planning based on project requirements and anticipated demand.
Negotiation & Commercial Management
- Lead supplier negotiations to secure competitive pricing, commercial terms, delivery commitments, and overall value.
- Develop negotiation strategies using market intelligence, supplier quotations, historical purchasing information, and project requirements.
- Negotiate purchase orders, supply agreements, and longer-term arrangements with key suppliers.
- Evaluate total purchasing cost, including material pricing, freight, delivery, availability, and commercial risk.
- Identify and deliver cost-saving and cost-avoidance opportunities without compromising material requirements, quality, or project schedules.
- Resolve pricing discrepancies, commercial issues, and supplier claims as required.
Supplier Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with steel mills, service centres, distributors, and other key suppliers.
- Assess supplier capability, capacity, competitiveness, quality, responsiveness, and delivery performance.
- Hold suppliers accountable for agreed pricing, specifications, quality, documentation, and delivery commitments.
- Proactively address material shortages, late deliveries, quality concerns, and other supply issues that could affect fabrication or construction.
- Develop alternate sources of supply and contingency plans for critical materials.
- Monitor supplier performance and address recurring service or performance issues.
Project & Operational Support
- Work closely with Estimating, Project Management, Engineering, Fabrication, Construction, and other internal teams to understand current and upcoming material requirements.
- Translate project schedules, material requirements, and bills of material into purchasing plans and priorities.
- Identify long-lead, high-risk, or price-sensitive material requirements early and recommend an appropriate procurement approach.
- Coordinate purchasing and delivery requirements with fabrication schedules, construction schedules, and project priorities.
- Provide current market pricing, lead-time, availability, and supplier information to support estimating and project planning.
- Escalate potential supply, cost, or schedule risks early enough for the business to respond.
Procurement Performance & Risk
- Track purchasing activity, market pricing, supplier performance, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Maintain accurate purchase orders, pricing information, supplier records, commercial terms, and supporting documentation.
- Monitor market and supplier risks that could affect pricing, material availability, or continuity of supply.
- Ensure purchased materials meet project specifications, quality requirements, and applicable Steelcon procurement processes.
- Support continuous improvement of purchasing practices, supplier management, and procurement processes.
What You Bring
- Significant experience procuring structural steel for construction, structural steel fabrication, or steel erection is required.
- Extensive knowledge of the structural steel supply market and demonstrated experience working with steel mills, service centres, distributors, and other steel suppliers.
- Strong knowledge of structural steel products, including structural shapes, plate, material grades, specifications, and common fabrication requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing significant purchasing volumes and high-value procurement commitments.
- Proven ability to negotiate steel pricing, commercial terms, freight, delivery requirements, and supply agreements.
- Strong understanding of the factors that influence steel pricing, availability, lead times, and supply risk.
- Experience supporting project-based construction or fabrication environments where material procurement must align closely with production and construction schedules.
- Ability to understand material take-offs, bills of material, specifications, and other technical information used to procure structural steel.
- Strong commercial judgment with the ability to evaluate cost, availability, schedule, logistics, quality, and risk when making purchasing decisions.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent supplier relationship management and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple high-value and time-sensitive purchasing requirements simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in purchase orders, pricing, quantities, specifications, and commercial terms.
- Experience working with ERP, purchasing, or materials management systems.
- Post-secondary education in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction, Engineering, or a related discipline is an asset.
- A supply chain or procurement designation such as SCMP or CPSM is an asset.
