Lead Specialist, Strategic Sourcing

CenterPoint Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Paid training

Benefits from day one

Transit subsidies

Flexible schedule & PTO

Wellness center at HQ Houston

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) match & company contribution

Job summary

CenterPoint Energy in Houston seeks a Contracts Lead - Capital Projects to source, draft, negotiate and administer EPC contracts across a portfolio of capital projects. You will coordinate contract documents, support project teams, and ensure alignment with schedules and procurement goals.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Business, IT, or Supply Chain and at least five years of capital project contracting experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, IT, or Supply Chain is required.
• Minimum five years of capital project contracting and supply chain experience.
• Experience with EPC/Construction contracts bidding and negotiation.
• Experience with source-to-pay software (Coupa, SAP Ariba, or Ivalua) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in sourcing and contracting for EPC projects across multiple capital programs.
• Coordinate with project controls to process changes to Exhibits and Attachments.
• Document meeting outputs, action items, and contract commitments.
• Maintain correspondence registers, logs, and status reports for contracts.
• Identify commercial risks and advise on mitigation actions for projects.

Skills

Contract management

Supply chain

EPC contracting

Negotiation

Project coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, IT, or Supply Chain

Tools

Coupa

SAP Ariba

Ivalua

Job description

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Contracts Lead - Capital Projects is responsible to source, draft, negotiate and administer work scopes for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contracts across a portfolio of capital projects. This role is part of the portfolio EPC Contracting team, serving multiple project teams during pre-award, kickoff and execution phases.

The role coordinates a variety of contract commitment documents, and supports company teams to organize and track progress and completion of both company and EPC documents, deliverables and correspondence to ensure effective project delivery.

Essential Functions

• Support project team to develop and finalize baseline EPC documents to source and award new work scopes in the program with select EPC Partner(s)
• Coordinate with project controls to process change and revisions to core Exhibits and contract Attachments (Deliv Lists, Milestones, Targets etc)
• Participate in ongoing project status meetings; document and take responsibility for sourcing and contracting action items
• Maintain effective correspondence register, meeting notes, action logs
• Identify and advise needed actions for commercial risks and provide immediate support for individual projects to mitigate priority issues
• Proactively engage EPC partners to identify issues early, and collaborate with project leadership to ensure corrective action, recovery plans where needed
• Provide contracting progress / status reports to project leadership; accountable to drive formation of project scopes and supporting documents to ensure Kick-Off of EPC services to meet project schedule.
• Partner with Legal to structure and finalize complex commercial agreements and mitigate contract risk. Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and company policy.
• Lead market quotation, qualification and bidding processes and tasks in compliance with company procedures, systems and policies.
• As part of the EPC implementation process, work with suppliers and support company enablement activities - coordination with company supply chain.
• Prepare and track required evaluations, award recommendations, selection decisions and contract commitment approvals per company requirements.
• Monitor and drive contract completion and related closeout activities.
• Coordinate with EPC and company procurement requirements, related to EPC performance of purchasing and materials management scope of work.
• May perform other job duties as assigned.

Education Description

• Bachelor's degree in Business, IT, or Supply Chain or equivalent work-related experience is required.

Experience

• At least five years of capital project contracting and supply chain experience.
• Thorough understanding of EPC and construction services contract bidding and negotiation
• Background or experience with capital projects, plant and site services.
• Experience working collaboratively with program EPC partners; integrated project management teams, open book purchasing/subcontract is strongly preferred.
• Experience with electrical / power projects and equipment preferred.
• Experience with critical services (Turnarounds, Outages, Commissioning) a plus.
• Certifications in Project Management, Sourcing or Procurement a plus.
• Experience/Certification with source to pay software (Coupa, SAP Ariba, or Ivalua) strongly preferred.

We want you to know

Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including 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

Job Type: Full Time Posting Start Date: 08/27/2026 Posting End Date: 09/11/2026

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR * 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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