Specialist, Strategic Sourcing

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

8d

About The Position

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist — Engineered Equipment is a developing individual contributor who executes defined category work within the engineered equipment portfolio with appropriate oversight, building toward independent category management. The engineered equipment portfolio encompasses power transformers, autotransformers, distribution transformers, switchgear (circuit breakers, reclosers, switches), and wire, conductor, and cable categories — all characterized by long procurement lead times, capital program dependency, and technically complex supplier engagement. The Specialist manages sourcing events for assigned categories or sub-categories, maintains supplier relationships at a working level, administers contracts and agreements, and develops the commercial and analytical skills required to progress to Senior Specialist-level independence. The Specialist operates with clear performance expectations, delivers defined work products with increasing quality and consistency, and escalates decisions and risks with context rather than as raw problems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience with demonstrated involvement in sourcing event execution for technical, capital, or materials categories.
• Demonstrated ability to support or execute RFQ/RFP events including document development, bid evaluation, and award recommendation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and SAP or equivalent ERP.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent commitments across active sourcing events and supplier relationships without supervision of each.
• Clear written and verbal communication with professional presentation quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute RFQ/RFP packages for assigned engineered equipment sub-categories (e.g., distribution transformers, reclosers, wire/cable SOW renewals) with Procurement Manager or Senior Specialist oversight, including scope of work, technical requirements, commercial terms, and evaluation criteria.
• Manage the supplier Q&A and clarification process for assigned sourcing events, maintaining competitive integrity and information parity across all participating manufacturers.
• Conduct bid evaluation for assigned categories including weighted scoring, price comparison, and basic total cost of ownership analysis. Produce evaluation summaries for Senior or Lead Specialist review that are complete and internally consistent.
• Draft award recommendation documentation that is complete, documented, and requires review but not reconstruction by the Procurement Manager.
• Support multi-round negotiation processes including preparation of bid summary comparisons, price reduction request documentation, and counter-offer tracking.
• Manage working-level supplier relationships for assigned engineered equipment categories, tracking performance against contract requirements and raising supply risk signals proactively.
• Assist in development and maintenance of supplier performance scorecards for the engineered equipment supply base, collecting delivery, quality, and service data from internal stakeholders and supplier reports.
• Participate in supplier coordination calls and QBRs for assigned categories, managing follow-up action items and tracking resolution without prompting.
• Escalate supplier performance issues and supply risk signals — including lead time extensions, capacity constraints, and quality holds — with a clear summary of the issue, impact, and recommended path.
• Monitor supply market conditions for assigned categories including lead time dynamics, manufacturer capacity utilization, commodity price movements (copper, aluminum, GOES for transformers), and tariff and trade developments affecting the engineered equipment supply base.
• Develop spend analysis, supply base assessments, and sourcing event packages with increasing independence as category knowledge and proficiency develops.
• Maintain accurate lead time data for assigned equipment categories, updating the team tracker when manufacturer-reported timelines change.
• Manage working-level stakeholder relationships with Engineering, Construction, Project Management, and Operations for assigned category needs, resolving routine coordination issues before they require Procurement Manager involvement.
• Communicate proactively on supply risk, lead time changes, and sourcing timelines for capital project-critical equipment without waiting to be asked.
• Administer contracts for assigned categories including PO issuance, change order processing, SOW and MSA compliance tracking, and documentation governance in SAP or equivalent systems.
• Track contract expiration calendar for assigned engineered equipment categories, raising renewal triggers to the Procurement Manager with appropriate lead time given the long-lead nature of the supply base.
• Ensure PO, contract, and spend documentation is accurate, audit-ready, and consistently maintained.
• Support execution of Master Service Agreements and Statements of Work for assigned manufacturers, coordinating Legal review routing and signature management under Procurement Manager oversight.

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
• On-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

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