Senior Procurement Specialist, US

Verda•Palo Alto, CA

7d•$120,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

Verda is building a full-stack AI cloud, from data centers and hardware to its own cloud platform. The Senior Procurement Specialist will be responsible for the US market, independently sourcing hardware, managing suppliers, coordinating logistics, and handling commercial agreements. This role requires a high degree of independence and the ability to drive procurement operations locally while collaborating with the central team in Finland. The ideal candidate thrives with ownership and possesses the judgment and drive to make things happen.

Requirements

5+ years in procurement, supply chain, or vendor management in a hardware, technology infrastructure, or data center environment
Hands-on experience procuring GPU servers, AI accelerators, or related data center infrastructure hardware, with familiarity with server ODMs/OEMs and the supply dynamics of this market
Proven ability to run end-to-end procurement independently, from receiving a purchase request through to delivery confirmation and invoice reconciliation
Strong negotiation skills: you've negotiated hardware supply agreements, volume pricing, and delivery terms and can evidence the outcomes
Comfortable with logistics coordination and international shipping, customs clearance, Incoterms, freight forwarding, and the practical reality of moving hardware across borders
Able to review and manage commercial contracts without routing everything through Legal first: you understand what you're signing and what exposure it creates
Comfortable with full-time office presence five days a week, given the operational nature of the role (on-site coordination, logistics, and hands-on procurement work). This isn't a remote or hybrid position
Professional proficiency in Chinese/Mandarin and English

Nice To Haves

Understanding of Asian supply chains, ODM and OEM procurement from Taiwan, Japan, or mainland China, including lead time and allocation dynamics
Experience in a scaling startup or high-growth environment where structure was still being built while work was being executed
Additional languages relevant to our supply chain: Japanese, or a major European language

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end procurement for US operations: sourcing components and servers, issuing RFQs, evaluating quotations, negotiating pricing, placing orders, and tracking delivery through to invoice reconciliation
Define and execute sourcing strategies for key hardware categories, identifying the right vendors, developing new supplier relationships, and building the supply options that give Verda flexibility and competitive pricing
Manage supplier relationships day-to-day: performance tracking, lead time management, issue escalation, and RMA coordination
Coordinate inbound and outbound logistics for the US data center, customs clearance, shipment tracking, and resolving delivery issues before they become operational problems
Support CAPEX planning and procurement forecasting in close coordination with the Finland-based procurement team and Finance
Review and manage procurement contracts and supply agreements, covering delivery terms, SLAs, liability, and price escalation, coordinating with Legal when escalation is needed
Maintain accurate procurement documentation: purchase orders, invoices, contracts, and supplier records
Develop new vendors and maintain a market view on hardware pricing, availability, and supply trends relevant to Verda's hardware categories