Senior Sourcing Specialist OR Sourcing Specialist

Duke Energy Corporation•Charlotte, NC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a position in the Sourcing classification hierarchy, with the hiring manager potentially filling it at either the Senior Sourcing Specialist or Sourcing Specialist level depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications. The role develops and implements strategic sourcing plans for assigned spend categories, develops innovative ideas to enhance sourcing strategies, and supports transformational or strategic company initiatives. At the senior level, the specialist assesses opportunities, internal supply chains, and supply markets; develops, executes, and institutionalizes sourcing strategies; and leads complex, high-value sourcing and negotiation activities. The role acts as an internal procurement and strategic sourcing consultant, leads teams and larger projects, and drives cost savings. The position requires prioritizing work, navigating ambiguity, building consensus across organizational groups, and delivering results with minimal oversight. The specialist is expected to challenge existing practices, foster and implement new ideas, gain stakeholder support, and develop processes and governance. The role applies business operations, legal, risk, and total-cost-of-ownership knowledge to evaluate procurement options and channel strategies. The specialist manages category strategy, competitive sourcing, bid evaluation, contract development and negotiation, supplier and contract management, financial and risk analysis, and change management in partnership with business units and cross-functional teams. The role also supports and cross-trains sourcing personnel. Work is performed in a hybrid arrangement after onboarding, with an average of three full workdays per regular workweek at an assigned Duke Energy facility and the remainder potentially remote. Employees must live within a reasonable commute of the designated facility, no more than 50 miles one way. The work is primarily in an office setting and includes some travel for plant and vendor visits, conferences, and visits to other Duke facilities and territories.

Requirements

Senior Sourcing Specialist: Bachelor’s degree and five years of related work experience; alternatively, an associate degree and seven years of work experience, or a high school diploma/GED and nine years of related work experience.
Sourcing Specialist: Bachelor’s degree and two years of related work experience; alternatively, an associate degree and four years of work experience, or a high school diploma/GED and six years of related work experience.
Ability to prioritize, work through ambiguity, build consensus, and deliver actionable results with minimal supervision.
Ability to work independently, challenge established practices, develop and implement ideas, gain stakeholder buy-in, and communicate across organizational levels.
Knowledge of business operations, legal concepts, risk evaluation, and total-cost-of-ownership analysis.
Must possess all basic/required qualifications to be considered.
Must be able to work lawfully in the United States without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.
Must live within a reasonable commute of the designated Duke Energy facility, no greater than 50 miles one way, and report onsite as required by the manager, averaging three full workdays per regular workweek after onboarding.

Nice To Haves

Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) and/or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
Graduate degree.
Finance background through work experience and/or education.
CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) certification.
Experience with executive deal briefings.
Demonstrated business and financial expertise.
Excellent negotiating skills.
Contract management skills.
Strong planning and organizational skills.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Cost and financial analysis skills.
Good business acumen.
Strong working knowledge of electric utility plant operations.
Previous sourcing and contracting experience.
Good project management experience.
Demonstrated interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills.
Experience with e-sourcing tools such as PowerAdvocate and ERP systems such as CAS and Maximo.

Responsibilities

Develop and enhance category management through strategic analysis of assigned categories, including identifying business-unit demand, needs, issues, cost-reduction opportunities, SWOT analyses, spend, total cost of ownership, and short- and long-term risks.
Collaborate with internal subject-matter experts and, when needed, Legal, Security, Tax, and Credit to control risk; monitor commodities, sources of supply, corporate responsibility opportunities, industry practices, and market conditions; document and retain category plans using procurement tools and grid/relays.
Develop sourcing strategies with business-unit partners and cross-functional teams for complex, high-value materials, equipment, or services, including regional and enterprise-wide initiatives.
Lead competitive bidding and objective, criteria-based bid evaluation with cross-functional groups; recommend awards to Supply Chain and business-unit leadership; develop terms and conditions; negotiate strategic contracts; integrate contracts with internal systems; and manage ongoing supplier and contract support.
Use data-driven analysis, historical spending, pricing fluctuations, market trends, and indices to develop should-cost models, assess net working capital impacts, negotiate pricing and other competitive differentiators, and deliver cost savings or avoidance through negotiations and process efficiencies.
Communicate transaction risks and potential mitigations to business units, executive leadership, and committees; review supplier financial statements and assess supplier viability; identify contractual and deal-structure risks and communicate them to business partners.
Apply sourcing, commercial, and legal expertise to redline and negotiate complex terms and conditions, engaging Legal when advanced issues arise.
Develop change-management strategies with business-unit partners and cross-functional teams to support implementation of sourcing strategies.
Manage strategic supplier relationships and interfaces with internal business partners, external customers, and suppliers; manage post-award activities, settlements, claims, and disputes.
Maintain purchase orders and agreements, including resolving invoice mismatches, price changes, amendments, and change orders; collaborate with business units to monitor contract compliance and supplier performance; resolve escalated business-unit and supplier issues as needed.
Provide assistance and cross-training to sourcing personnel on procurement tasks.