Mission
Build a dependable supplier and subcontractor network that keeps pilot projects supplied with compliant materials, equipment, and services when and where the field team needs them.
Responsibilities
- Identify, qualify, and maintain relationships with local and regional suppliers, rental providers, haulers, and specialty subcontractors.
- Request and compare quotes based on quality, compliance, availability, service, and delivery needs.
- Coordinate purchase orders, lead times, delivery schedules, substitutions, and documentation with field operations.
- Confirm that proposed products and vendors meet approved project specifications and applicable requirements before commitment, with technical review by engineering when needed.
- Maintain organized supplier records, certificates, warranties, product documentation, and points of contact.
- Track availability risks and develop practical backup sources for critical categories.
- Support responsible local purchasing and durable supplier relationships where feasible.
- Monitor vendor performance and resolve delivery, quality, or service issues professionally.
Ideal background
Construction procurement, civil infrastructure, wastewater, utilities, excavation, building materials, equipment rental, logistics, or supplier account management. Strong candidates understand both purchasing discipline and real-world field conditions.
Must-haves
- Demonstrated vendor sourcing, quote comparison, negotiation, and order-tracking ability.
- Strong organization and follow-through across multiple suppliers and deadlines.
- Ability to read basic specifications and coordinate technical questions with engineering and field leaders.
- Clear written documentation and comfort with spreadsheets or purchasing systems.
- Professional, fair, relationship-oriented vendor communication.
- Familiarity with Hawaiʻi Island logistics or a demonstrated ability to learn them quickly.
Nice-to-haves
- Established relationships with Hawaiʻi construction, wastewater, equipment, aggregate, hauling, or plumbing suppliers.
- Experience managing island freight, constrained inventories, or long-lead materials.
- Knowledge of certificates of insurance, warranties, submittals, and vendor compliance records.
- Experience supporting public, grant-funded, or environmentally regulated projects.
- Familiarity with supplier-diversity and locally owned business partnerships.
What success looks like in the first 90 days
- Establishes a qualified supplier and service-provider roster for priority purchasing categories.
- Creates a clear process for quotes, approvals, purchase documentation, delivery coordination, and vendor records.
- Confirms dependable primary and backup sources for critical pilot needs.
- Supports early projects without avoidable procurement-related schedule disruptions.
- Builds constructive supplier relationships and a simple vendor-performance review process.