One of the nation’s most successful homebuilders — with a presence in more than a dozen states and frequent recognition for its management in the business press — is searching for someone to lead its purchasing in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The successful candidate will have the chance to apply his or her talent for value engineering to all aspects of the company’s construction in this market. That includes: assessing all hard construction costs for new plans; hiring, negotiating with and overseeing all subcontractors and suppliers; advising the company on cost reduction; tracking and helping to eliminate variances; the upkeep of unit cost data using internal software; lot-specific estimates for custom options; and the management of relevant staff. In summary, this executive will take charge of a wide range of efforts to help the company and its leadership establish budgets while reducing costs and boosting profitability.

The challenges of this position call for a minimum of five years of purchasing management experience, with some field construction experience. That should include proven ability to train and motivate a team while managing time to meet deadlines. The job also necessitates solid negotiation skills, as well as excellent oral and written communication. A college degree is required, and JD Edwards software experience is a plus.

Christopher Frederick Search Consultants, a trusted national executive search firm, has been retained to help this company add to its homebuilding talent. If you feel your knowledge and ambition would make a good fit, contact firm principal Chris Hingle at (713) 961-5582, email him at chingle@chrisfred.com or visit www.chrisfred.com.