Procurement Category Specialist – Indirect and IT

Rio Tinto • Boron, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Procurement Specialist Services Be part of a safety-driven team that values inclusion and respect. Join a leading company that offers outstanding personal development and global career opportunities. Rio Tinto Borates - Boron & Wilmington, CA Hybrid Role – Minimum 3 Days Per Week Onsite Band: I The salary range for this role in California is $125,440 - $172,480 About these Roles Rio Tinto Borates is hiring multiple Procurement Category Specialists to support California Operations (Boron and Wilmington). These positions report directly to the Site Procurement Manager and serve as category leaders within a defined portfolio. These roles offer exposure to site ownership, project management, and category strategy development within a global procurement framework. Working directly with Operations, Engineering, HSE, IT, and site leadership, the successful candidates will deliver strategic sourcing outcomes and commercial value. This is a hybrid role, however successful candidates will be required to work onsite at Boron CA or Wilmington CA a minimum of three days per week to ensure strong operational alignment and stakeholder engagement. Reporting to the Procurement Manager you will: Lead procurement strategy across indirect categories with emphasis on IT procurement. Scope includes: Software licensing and SaaS agreements Own lifecycle activities including renewal planning, true-ups, and license compliance tracking Negotiate commercials and terms (pricing models, user metrics, SLAs, audit rights, data handling) to reduce risk and maximize value IT hardware and digital systems Source end-user and site technology (devices, networking, peripherals) aligned to standards and total cost of ownership Coordinate with IT/OT stakeholders to validate scope, warranty/support, spares, and deployment timelines Managed service agreements Define service scope and performance measures (KPIs, response times, availability) with clear governance and escalation Manage contract performance, changes, and commercial levers to ensure delivery and continuous improvement Technology vendor negotiations Lead competitive sourcing and negotiation strategy, including benchmarking, BATNA development, and stakeholder alignment Secure favorable terms on pricing, implementation/support, liability, IP, and termination/exit to protect operational continuity Data security and compliance requirements Partner with IT Security/Legal to ensure contracts address privacy, cybersecurity controls, and incident notification obligations Drive supplier due diligence (risk assessments, SOC reports, data residency, access controls) and document compliance requirements Corporate indirect category management Align site needs to enterprise category strategies, preferred suppliers, and buying channels while identifying local gaps Maintain category pipelines, savings tracking, and stakeholder communications to support governance and audit readiness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, or related discipline preferred
• 2+ years of procurement or project management experience
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills
• Analytical and critical thinking capability
• Ability to challenge specifications and drive commercial value
• Strong health, safety, and ethical mindset

Nice To Haves

• SAP Materials Management experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as category lead within assigned portfolio
• Develop and maintain stakeholder-approved Category Strategies
• Lead RFI/RFQ/RFP processes
• Conduct commercial analysis and present sourcing recommendations
• Lead complex negotiations and secure strategic outcomes
• Draft and execute contracts and Master Service Agreements
• Ensure supplier qualification and compliance with Rio Tinto Procurement Policy
• Deliver measurable savings and value creation
• Partner closely with site leadership to support operational continuity.
• Transition selected category management responsibilities currently supported by corporate teams into the site organization
• Support separation activities including contract novation, supplier transitions, and procurement readiness planning as required.

Benefits

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment.
• Access to family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
• A 401(k)-matching program in which the company matches .35 per dollar up to 5% of your base pay.
• A generous employee share program which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program.
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program for you and your family to address educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to incentives to support your wellbeing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees