Purchase Engineer

Role & responsibilities

1. Technical Sourcing & Evaluation

• Review Technical Documents: Study structural blueprints, MEP drawings, Bill of Quantities (BOQ), and Material Take-Offs (MTO) to understand exact material needs.
• Issue Requests for Quotation (RFQ): Prepare and send clear RFQ packages to vendors, complete with technical datasheets, quality standards (e.g., IS, ASTM, or Eurocodes), and delivery timelines.
• Perform Techno-Commercial Analysis: Create detailed comparative statements evaluating bids not just on the lowest price, but on material grade, warranty terms, and compliance with project specs.

2. Negotiation & Procurement Operations

• Negotiate Commercial Terms: Finalize bulk discounts, favorable credit periods (e.g., 30, 45, or 60 days), freight costs, and loading/unloading liabilities.
• Generate Purchase Orders (PO): Create legally binding POs and work contracts inside ERP software (like SAP or Oracle) with precise clauses on delivery milestones and late penalties.
• Manage Change Orders: Negotiate price variations and process revised procurement orders when site engineers issue design changes mid-construction.

3. Logistics, Expediting & Site Coordination

• Align Deliveries with Construction Schedules: Coordinate closely with Project Managers to schedule material arrivals just-in-timesuch as syncing Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) deliveries with slab casting schedules.
• Expedite Critical Orders: Track high-value, long-lead procurement items like tower cranes, central HVAC units, passenger lifts, and specialized structural steel.
• Resolve Logistics Bottlenecks: Coordinate with transport vendors, customs brokers (for imported goods), and local authorities to ensure smooth transport to the site.

4. Quality Control & Inventory Audit

• Verify Compliance Documentation: Ensure all incoming materials arrive with corresponding Material Test Certificates (MTC), origin reports, and manufacturer warranties.
• Coordinate Inbound Inspection: Partner with site QA/QC engineers to inspect materials upon arrival for defects, damage, or quantity discrepancies before signing the Goods Receipt Note (GRN).
• Monitor Material Waste: Review site consumption reports against estimated quantities to flag excessive material wastage or inventory shrinkage.

5. Financial Reconciliation & Vendor Management

• Clear Vendor Invoices: Reconcile the original PO, the vendor's invoice, and the site's GRN to resolve pricing or quantity mismatches before forwarding them to accounts for payment.
• Evaluate Vendor Performance: Conduct periodic audits of suppliers based on delivery speed, quality consistency, and responsiveness to build an Approved Vendor List (AVL).