Lead Specialist, Materials Management Optimization

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

2d

About The Position

The Optimization Specialist provides advanced analytical and optimization support for Electric Transmission & Substation (ET&S) Materials Management. The role develops dashboards, analytical models, and data-driven recommendations to improve material readiness, identify supply risk, and optimize material-planning decisions in support of the Transmission Portfolio Office (TPO), Large Customer Projects (LCP), and Project Management Office (PMO).

A primary focus is providing early visibility into material risk and supporting the ET&S Material Assurance program. The role evaluates supplier commitments, lead times, material availability, project need dates, and other supply-chain indicators to identify exceptions and support risk-based surveillance prioritization. It also recommends improvements to lead times, economic order quantities, forecast translation, safety stock, reorder points, and related planning processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in materials management, supply planning, inventory management, supply-chain analytics, procurement operations, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing dashboards, analytical models, or decision-support tools using Power BI, advanced Excel, SQL, SAP analytics, or comparable platforms.
• Working knowledge of SAP Materials Management, MRP, inventory planning, and replenishment concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets, identify trends and exceptions, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SAP ECC and/or SAP S/4HANA Materials Management.
• Advanced experience with Power BI, Excel, SQL, data modeling, or comparable analytical tools.
• Experience with long-lead equipment, capital project materials, Material Assurance, or supply-risk analytics.
• Experience with lead-time analysis, EOQ, safety stock, reorder points, material segmentation, demand analysis, or forecast translation.
• ASCM/APICS CPIM or CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, or comparable supply-chain or analytical certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain dashboards and decision-support tools that identify ET&S material risks, exceptions, trends, and emerging constraints.
• Analyze purchase orders, supplier commitments, material availability, project need dates, inventory positions, and other supply-chain data to provide early visibility to material-readiness risk.
• Develop risk indicators, thresholds, and exception methodologies to prioritize materials requiring attention.
• Develop and maintain analytical methodologies supporting risk-based surveillance tiers for long-lead and critical equipment.
• Provide actionable reporting on material and supplier risk trends and continuously improve dashboard logic, data quality, and effectiveness.
• Analyze SAP planned lead times against actual purchase-order, supplier-commitment, and receipt performance.
• Evaluate lead-time trends by material, supplier, and material category to identify risks and opportunities to improve planning assumptions.
• Develop recommendations for lead times and related planning parameters based on demonstrated performance and supply risk.
• Perform economic order quantity and replenishment analysis to improve order quantities and ordering frequency.
• Develop safety-stock and reorder-point recommendations using demand behavior, lead-time performance, material criticality, and service requirements.
• Apply appropriate material segmentation and statistical methods to support differentiated planning strategies.
• Analyze consumption, inventory, reservations, project requirements, forecasts, purchasing activity, and other demand signals to support material-planning decisions.
• Support translation of ET&S forecasts into actionable material requirements and planning insights.
• Identify significant disconnects among forecast requirements, SAP demand, inventory, purchasing activity, and expected material availability.
• Develop repeatable analytics that improve planning accuracy and reduce reliance on manual analysis.
• Partner with Materials Management, Demand Planning, Procurement, Engineering, TPO, LCP, PMO, and other stakeholders to translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs
• Access to an on-site wellness center at the Houston headquarters
• Professional growth and development programs
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan with company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of employee contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior