Job Description
About KB Home
KB Home is one of America's largest and most trusted homebuilders, with nearly 700,000 quality-homes built over our more than 65-year history. Operating across 21 divisions in 9 states, we don’t just build houses we create places where families can make a lifetime of memories. At KB Home, our foundation is our people. We foster genuine relationships with our customers throughout their homebuying journey, while our employees bring passion and purpose to work every day. Our shared culture of customer obsession drives our mission to make homeownership attainable for all.
The Opportunity
The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations of the Purchasing Department, driving profitability, efficiency, and process excellence. This role partners closely with Operations to ensure trades meet schedule and quality expectations, while implementing purchasing strategies and action plans that deliver measurable results.
Key responsibilities include vendor and trade partner negotiations, cost management and reductions, budgeting and reporting, and team leadership (based on division size). This role also collaborates with Corporate National Contracts to ensure alignment on pricing and program execution.
Key Responsibilities
Purchasing Strategy
- Implement purchasing policies and execute action plans to achieve business objectives
- Establish and monitor purchasing goals aligned with the division’s business plan
- Identify process improvement opportunities and lead implementation of solutions
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with Sales, Marketing, Studio, Construction, Customer Service, and Operations teams
Direct Cost Reduction
- Partner with Purchasing and Operations leadership to reduce direct costs
- Manage and review monthly cost budgets and ensure accuracy
- Oversee rebate tracking, reporting, and submission
- Ensure accuracy of take-offs to support value creation (VC) improvements
- Identify issues with take-offs and implement corrective solutions
Contract Administration & Negotiations
- Recruit, evaluate, and expand a high-performing vendor and trade partner base
- Analyze proposals and negotiate contracts to meet or exceed cost and margin targets
- Establish cost benchmarks for products and services
- Conduct market analyses to ensure competitive labor and material pricing
- Maintain scopes of work and ensure contract accuracy and compliance
- Confirm trades understand scheduling, staffing, and quality expectations
Vendor & Trade Partner Relations
- Build and maintain strong relationships with trade partners
- Support Construction teams in resolving vendor-related issues
- Manage and resolve escalated vendor or trade concerns efficiently
Communication & Reporting
- Monitor and report on trade and material budgets monthly
- Develop cost projections for pro forma and new community planning
- Ensure accurate pricing for base homes and options
- Analyze performance reports (e.g., VC data) and identify improvement opportunities
- Provide regular updates and insights to senior leadership
ESC Management
- Oversee ESC data submissions for “as-built” and “design” HERS ratings
- Stay current on regulatory updates and ensure compliance
- Share product and program updates with Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, and Studio teams
- Support implementation of ESC-related initiatives
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of purchasing professionals
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance team environment
- Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Construction, Studio, and Finance
- Participate in hiring and onboarding processes
- Conduct performance reviews, provide ongoing feedback, and oversee training and development plans
- Implement corrective actions when necessary
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 5+ years of purchasing experience, preferably in residential homebuilding or a related industry
- 2+ years of leadership experience managing small to mid-sized teamsProven experience managing major trades and vendor relationships
- Strong understanding of market and industry trends
- Demonstrated leadership with the ability to motivate, develop, and drive results
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skillsCustomer-focused mindset with the ability to deliver practical solutions
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
- Ability to lead and deliver effective training
- Collaborative team player who values diverse perspectives
- Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Requirements
- The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to stand or sit for extended periods.
- Ability to move about work location.
- Ability to drive/travel as needed to tour KB Home communities.
- Ability to walk up and down stairs.
- Ability to observe details at close range and communicate information so others will understand.
- Ability to transport and move up to 20 lbs and move as needed (for roles in Construction/Customer Service/IT/Land/Marketing/Sales/Studio).
- Periodically works in outdoor weather conditions (for roles in Construction/Customer Service/Land/Sales).
- Position is located on-site at the division office. #LI-onsite
Compensation Details and Benefits
Other rewards may include bonuses or role-specific awards.
KB Home provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays, sick time and vacation.
Pay Range
The KB Home Difference
Join us and become part of a team where innovation, sustainability, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction drive everything we do — and where people truly matter.
As a KB Home team member, you’ll experience:
• A culture defined by customer obsession and collaboration.
• The satisfaction of helping families achieve their dream of homeownership.
• Opportunities for growth and development within a nationally recognized company.
Visit our career site to learn more about working at KB Home and joining our team.
KB Home wants prospective employees to protect themselves from fraudulent activity. Legitimate communication will only come from email addresses ending in @kbhome.com or through our applicant tracking system, iCIMS, using @icims.com or @talent.icims.com domains.
KB Home and its affiliates do not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies in response to job postings.
KB Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer