Procurement Specialist

Solar Turbines•Newport Beach, CA

7d•$112,704 - $169,056•Onsite

About The Position

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management, including purchase order placement and follow-up, issue resolution, communicating demand and forecasts, preparing contracts, and leading negotiations to resolve a wide range of issues. The role develops commercial strategies for product and/or service contracts, manages supplier relationships and performance metrics, and communicates and mitigates risks that could affect Solar’s ability to meet its business plan. The position provides timely support to internal and external customers, works in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies, and primarily oversees strategic or complex suppliers. It has no direct reports and works within a team that typically includes a Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Coordinator/Planner, Supplier Technical Engineer, and Supplier Development Engineer. The role reports directly to a Site Sourcing Manager or Supply Chain Manager and is expected to participate in and lead projects from conception through maturity in support of organizational objectives. The role is performed onsite in the office five days per week. The listed annual summary pay range is $112,704.00–$169,056.00. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
5–7 years of experience.
Commercial experience, supplier management, and contract negotiation experience.
Experience with ERP software.
Proficiency with MS Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio.
Fluent written and spoken Business English.
Well-developed interpersonal skills for handling sensitive issues and reaching consensus.
Ability to influence and persuade suppliers and internal clients toward effective solutions.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field.
Supply Chain certification from a professional institution such as APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, or ISM.
Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
6-Sigma Black Belt Certification.

Responsibilities

Practice and demonstrate safety and adherence to Caterpillar’s Values in Action.
Evaluate, improve, and sustain supplier performance in areas including quality, cost, delivery, lead time, bid and proposal turnaround, and project and field support.
Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities, use cost-modeling techniques, and analyze total cost of ownership to ensure value to Solar.
Manage supplier relationships at both day-to-day and strategic levels, including purchase order issuance and maintenance, issue resolution, business review meetings, and strategic supplier direction.
Develop internal and external networks to improve responsiveness and service levels.
Lead commercial negotiations and take accountability for contract execution and maintenance, including NDAs, GPs, PSAs, and JDAs.
Promote cross-functional collaboration in supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement.
Support new product introduction, global strategic sourcing, and supplier selection to ensure flexible capacity and consistent supply from qualified suppliers.
Lead projects from conception to maturity that support organizational objectives.
Communicate and mitigate risks that could affect Solar’s ability to meet its business plan.