Sr. Construction Purchasing Agent

Hill International is seeking a Sr. Construction Purchasing Agent to support a client’s military construction project needs in Austin, Texas

As Sr. Construction Purchasing Agent, the candidate will support trade partner outreach, bid solicitation, bid leveling, buyout, subcontract negotiation, and vendor coordination for complex Design-Build projects. The ideal candidate will bring strong construction purchasing experience, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to work effectively with client, project, design, and field teams. Experience with federal construction requirements, including FAR, DFARS, DoD, UFC, and UFGS standards, is preferred. This position is based in Austin, TX and reports through the designated project leadership structure.

Trade Engagement, Bidding & Subcontracting

• Manage construction procurement activities from early trade engagement through subcontract award and execution.
• Prepare and issue RFPs, bid packages, scopes of work, and subcontract documents that clearly define project requirements, trade responsibilities, schedule expectations, and commercial terms.
• Evaluate trade partner bids for completeness, constructability, cost competitiveness, scope alignment, exclusions, assumptions, and compliance with project requirements.
• Negotiate subcontract pricing, scope inclusions, alternates, allowances, and risk allocations to support project budget, schedule, and delivery objectives.
• Ensure subcontract documents include appropriate contract provisions, flow-down requirements, reporting obligations, and compliance language for each project.
• Maintain clear and accurate procurement documentation to support internal reviews, client requirements, and potential government audits.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with qualified trade partners capable of supporting complex construction, military, and federal project requirements.
• Work with field operations to help monitor subcontractor performance related to schedule, quality, safety, and scope execution.

Procurement Process & Compliance

• Apply established procurement procedures, contract requirements, and project controls to support compliant subcontracting execution.
• Coordinate with client, legal, finance, and project management stakeholders to help ensure subcontract terms meet contractual, regulatory, and insurance requirements.
• Help maintain efficient approval workflows, document controls, and procurement records that promote transparency and accountability.
• Support the development of standardized subcontract templates, procurement checklists, and compliance review processes for military and federal construction work.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure government contract requirements are properly reflected in subcontracting documents when applicable.

Resource Planning & Forecasting

• Manage the pipeline of inbound bidding and subcontracting requests to ensure timely procurement and contract execution across active and upcoming MILCON projects.
• Create and maintain project buyout demand forecasts, analyzing workload trends and future project requirements.
• Recommend additional staffing, consultant support, or outsourcing when needed to maintain client commitments and project deadlines.
• Coordinate with program, project management, and design teams to align procurement timing with project milestones and funding cycles.

Cost Management & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with client project management and finance teams to ensure subcontractor pricing aligns with project budgets and applicable cost structures.
• Track and analyze subcontractor performance data, bid competitiveness, and cost trends across the client’s MILCON project portfolio.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to monitor procurement KPIs, vendor utilization, and cost performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen subcontracting efficiency, compliance, and transparency for client projects.
• Identify and onboard new trade partners with capabilities suited for federal and military work, expanding the qualified vendor base available to support client projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in construction procurement, purchasing, buyout, subcontracting, or contract administration for commercial, industrial, military, or federal construction projects.
• Strong working knowledge of construction procurement processes, including bid package development, scope review, bid leveling, subcontract negotiation, vendor management, and procurement documentation.
• Experience with FAR, DFARS, DoD, UFC, UFGS, or USACE/NAVFAC procurement and construction standards is preferred for federal or MILCON projects.
• Proven experience developing, negotiating, and managing subcontracts for complex, schedule-driven construction projects.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, scopes of work, and cost structures.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, execute, and manage subcontracts under tight schedule constraints.
• Proficiency with procurement or project management platforms such as Procore or similar systems.
• Excellent communication, organization, and documentation skills with high attention to detail.
• Eligibility for security clearance, Secret or higher, depending on the project.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites and supplier facilities as required.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Prior experience with FAR, DFARS, DoD, UFC, UFGS, USACE/NAVFAC, or other federal construction procurement requirements.
• Experience building or managing procurement workflows within a Design-Build or self-performing general contractor environment.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting standards, contract compliance, and supplier diversity programs.
• Familiarity with advanced construction technologies.
• Certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), NCMA CPCM/CFCM, or PMP.
• Track record of building and managing vendor networks for specialized federal construction trades.

Depending upon your employment status, Hill’s comprehensive benefits may include, Medical, Dental, Vision, Employer Paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurances, Business Travel Accident Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Commuter Benefits, Legal Assistance, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Auto & Home Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Voluntary Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. Paid Time Off (PTO), Holidays, 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Referral Program, Professional Certification Incentive Program, Hill University Learning and Development, Tuition Reimbursement, EAP, Years of Service Awards Program.