Junior Project Buyer

Job Title: Project Buyer Job Description
The Project Buyer plays a key role in supporting complex construction projects by leading end-to-end procurement activities, building strong supplier relationships, and ensuring materials and services are sourced at the best overall value. This role partners closely with project teams to develop profitable purchasing strategies, manage procurement logs, and streamline processes that support high-impact projects across sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and sports facilities. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative, safety-focused culture with strong support for employee development and long-term career growth.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers by soliciting bids, analyzing quotations, interviewing prospective suppliers, and selecting suppliers based on quality, cost, and delivery performance.
- Evaluate supplier performance on an ongoing basis, focusing on quality, cost competitiveness, and adherence to delivery timelines.
- Work closely with leadership to develop profitable purchasing strategies that deliver value, reduce risk, and support project and organizational objectives.
- Propose and implement procurement solutions that improve efficiency, enhance margin, and mitigate supply chain risks.
- Create, update, and maintain detailed procurement logs for each supported operating group project to ensure accurate tracking of orders, deliveries, and supplier commitments.
- Negotiate and prepare purchase agreements and purchase orders, ensuring all contractual terms and conditions are clearly defined and enforced, including timeliness and quality standards.
- Negotiate with suppliers to secure materials, equipment, and services at the most favorable price while maintaining required quality, quantity, and specification standards.
- Analyze individual markets regularly, manage budgets, and identify opportunities to increase margin through strategic purchasing decisions.
- Monitor trends in purchasing habits and market conditions to inform procurement strategies and improve cost effectiveness.
- Track order status from placement through delivery, proactively address delays or issues, and communicate updates clearly and promptly to project teams.
- Collaborate with project teams to understand material and equipment needs, resolve procurement-related challenges, and support project schedules.
- Visit project sites to gain a deeper understanding of project team challenges, operational realities, and material requirements.
- Develop and implement streamlined procurement processes based on insights from project sites to improve efficiency and reliability.
- Ensure all procurement activities follow established purchasing processes and procedures and align with organizational policies and standards.
- Use strong organizational and planning skills to prioritize purchasing activities, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet critical deadlines.
- Apply analytical skills to evaluate bids, compare supplier proposals, and make data-driven purchasing recommendations.
- Demonstrate strong customer service orientation by supporting internal stakeholders, responding to requests, and maintaining clear, professional communication.
- Practice active listening and effective communication to incorporate diverse input and feedback from project teams, suppliers, and colleagues into procurement decisions.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in business, supply chain management, construction management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of technical training and related experience.
- Approximately 4 years of relevant experience in procurement or a similar role, including at least 2+ years of hands-on procurement experience.
- Current and valid drivers license.
- Knowledge of construction processes, equipment, and materials, as well as purchasing processes and procedures.
- Strong negotiating skills with the ability to secure favorable terms while maintaining quality and service levels.
- Excellent organizing and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines across various projects.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills for interacting with suppliers, project teams, and internal stakeholders.
- Strong customer service orientation, with a focus on supporting internal clients and building collaborative relationships.
- Solid analytical skills to evaluate bids, analyze quotations, manage budgets, and track trends in purchasing habits.
- Active listening skills and effective communication style that reflects openness to diverse input and feedback.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in business, supply chain management, construction management, or related field is strongly preferred.
- Project management experience is preferred and beneficial for coordinating procurement activities across complex projects.
- Understanding of the construction industry, including typical project lifecycles and stakeholder needs, is preferred.
- Experience with construction-related equipment and materials procurement is an advantage.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented, safety-focused environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build long-term supplier relationships that support quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Interest in contributing to high-impact projects in sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and sports facilities.
- Motivation to grow within an organization that invests in employee development and fosters long-term careers.
Work Environment
This role operates in a hybrid work environment, with three days per week in the office and two days working from home. There is potential for flexibility as needed to support project requirements and team collaboration. The work setting is collaborative and safety-focused, with a strong emphasis on innovation, employee development, and involvement in complex, high-impact construction projects. Employees work closely with project teams, visit project sites when necessary to understand on-the-ground challenges, and use standard office technology and project documentation tools to manage procurement activities. The culture encourages open communication, diverse input, and long-term career growth within a family- and employee-influenced organization.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $68000.00 - $92000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. A few benefits offered include:

(for Non-Craft & Non-Union Craft working 25+ hours / week)

Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
Dental plan
401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
No-Cost mental health tool and concierge with extensive work-life resources
Tuition reimbursement
Adoption Assistance
Gym Membership Discount Program
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Minneapolis,MN.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.