Job Description

General Manager / Purchasing Manager   Lumber & Building Materials

Looking for an experienced leader who understands both the business and operational side of the lumber and building materials industry. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys making purchasing decisions, leading people, building supplier relationships, and ensuring the business has the right products in place to support customers and profitability.

This position requires a hands-on manager who can oversee day-to-day operations while staying ahead of market trends, managing inventory, and developing long-term purchasing strategies. You'll play a key role in driving operational performance, supporting the sales team, and positioning the company for continued growth.

What You'll Do

• Direct the daily operations of the facility, including purchasing, inventory, warehouse, delivery, and overall branch performance.
• Purchase lumber, panels, engineered wood products, and other building materials while managing costs, availability, and inventory levels.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with mills, wholesalers, manufacturers, and distribution partners.
• Monitor market conditions, commodity pricing, and industry trends to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Develop inventory strategies that improve turns, reduce excess stock, and minimize shortages.
• Lead, coach, and develop employees while creating a positive, accountable team environment.
• Partner with inside and outside sales teams to support customers, secure opportunities, and drive profitable growth.
• Review financial performance, purchasing metrics, margins, and operating results to identify areas for improvement.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient operation while ensuring company policies and procedures are followed.
• Continuously look for ways to improve processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen overall business performance.

What We're Looking For

• Leadership experience within the lumber and building materials industry.
• Strong purchasing experience with dimensional lumber, panels, engineered wood products, and related building materials.
• Solid understanding of commodity markets, vendor negotiations, forecasting, and inventory management.
• Experience managing operations, inventory, purchasing, and customer service in a lumberyard or building materials environment.
• Ability to analyze financial reports, margins, purchasing data, and operational performance.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to motivate teams and develop employees.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building abilities.
• Experience using ERP, purchasing, or inventory management software.

Preferred Background

Experience as a General Manager, Branch Manager, Operations Manager, Purchasing Manager, or a similar leadership role within the building materials industry is highly desirable.

Knowledge of products such as dimensional lumber, treated lumber, engineered wood products, panels, roofing, siding, millwork, doors, windows, and specialty building materials is a strong plus.

This is more than a purchasing role, it's an opportunity to influence the direction of a successful operation. The right individual will have the autonomy to make strategic purchasing decisions, strengthen supplier partnerships, improve operational performance, and help position the business for long-term success.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy balancing purchasing, operations, leadership, and customer relationships, we'd like to hear from you.

Compensation: Competitive base salary, performance bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Resumes can be confidentially submitted to matt.schmidt@gogpac.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.