The Purchasing Agent is a key member of our Supply Chain team, responsible for sourcing and procuring electrical-related materials that support our Mission Critical, Electrical, and Energy projects. From evaluating competitive vendor pricing and service to negotiating contracts and managing purchase orders, this role ensures that every project has the right materials, delivered on time and at the best value.

You’ll work closely with project teams, vendors, and internal stakeholders to track back orders, manage submittals, and maintain compliance with contract and company standards. Your ability to balance cost, quality, and schedule while maintaining accurate records and vendor relationships directly impacts project profitability and success.

Purchasing Agents are valued for their attention to detail, strong negotiation skills, and commitment to operational excellence. Their work keeps supply chains efficient and projects moving forward, making them an essential part of delivering high-performance electrical and energy solutions.

RK Overview

RK Industries (RK) is a second-generation family-owned business built on hard work and strong values. Led by brothers Rick and Jon Kinning, we take pride in delivering a wide range of hands-on services including construction, manufacturing, custom fabrication, and building services. With seven specialized business units working in close coordination, we ensure every job is done right from start to finish. Our proven methods, focus on safety, and commitment to quality help bring our customers’ biggest ideas to life.

Position Summary

Purchasing evaluates competitive vendor pricing, service, and product availability to procure material and equipment as requisitioned.

The Purchasing Agent will procure the required material and equipment for all projects and shop operations in an ethical, value-conscious, timely and organized fashion.
 

Role Responsibilities

• Procure multiple prices on orders to ensure the best pricing, delivery, and value on most orders.
• Ideally, procuring three bids for all requisitions.
• Utilizing spreadsheets for analysis and best purchasing decisions.
• Ensure contract compliance for all materials and equipment.
• Support project teams with submittals and contract compliance packages.
• Meet reasonable timelines to reduce non-productive field product shortages.
• Enter purchase orders accurately into Company management systems (Viewpoint).
• Line-item identification.
• Timely pricing and interface of purchase orders.
• Proper identification of materials and accuracy is imperative.
• Liaise and rectify purchase order errors or corrections with Accounts Payable.
• Ensure the accuracy of purchase orders to allow purchase discounts with vendors.
• Negotiate product returns after project completion to minimize all inventories and maximize project profitability.
• Relieve yard inventory by running requisitions through Yard Manager to reduce overall Company inventories.
• Negotiation of site storage, product releases and any other ideas to reduce material handling.
• Track and ensure credits are applied to the account.
• Track and manage all back orders to ensure timely delivery of all material and equipment.
• Purchase equipment and rough-in materials for projects.

• Request and forward submittals to meet deadlines.
• Purchase raw materials required for fabrication.
• Must have thorough understanding of purchasing process.
• Ensure all buying agreements are being followed.
• Contact vendors to follow up and expedite purchase order items.
• Verify and report on price changes on purchase orders.
• Update vendor information files.
• Assisting AP with PO to invoice by matching and correcting problems.
• Maintain the goal of zero long-term inventories.

Qualifications

• College/University graduate with 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination of skills and experience generally expected for specified technical roles. 
• Liaison to groups within and outside of his/her organization with responsibility to act independently regarding matters pertaining to his/her function.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, formulas) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills; able to present data in a clear, actionable format.
• Makes decisions independently regarding complexities and methods.

What Sets RK Industries Apart

• Safety: Our unmatched culture of safety is our foremost core value, guiding everything we do each day: Health, Safety, & Environmental
• Awards: Whether in Construction, Manufacturing, Fabrication, or Service, RK Industries is highly recognized and accredited throughout the industry: Accreditations & Recognition
• Benefits: RK Industries offers competitive benefits to support your growth and well-being: Benefits & Rewards
• Philanthropy: RK Industries not only builds our community through our projects, but also invests in it by supporting local services for over a decade through the RK Foundation: RK Foundation 
• Development: Through RK University, we provide hands-on training and development opportunities that empower employees to advance their careers and grow within the company, to include leadership and technical learning opportunities, we well as our accredited apprentice program: RK University & RK Apprenticeship Program

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.