Logistics Category Specialist V

Airswift; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking a Logistics Category Specialist in Houston, TX, to manage logistics spend across freight forwarding, road transport, warehousing, and related services. You will lead strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier performance initiatives to support capital projects and operations.

The role requires 5+ years in procurement or logistics, with strong skills in market analysis, cost modelling, and negotiation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement, category management, logistics, freight forwarding, project logistics, transportation, or supply chain experience.
• Experience managing logistics categories and suppliers across freight forwarding, road transportation, heavy haul, customs brokerage, warehousing, materials management, and third-party logistics services.
• Experience leading or supporting end-to-end sourcing activities: bid prep, supplier evaluation, negotiation, analysis, contract awards, and implementation planning.
• Experience supporting capital projects, business units, or operations with freight strategies, project logistics planning, and delivery planning.

Responsibilities

• Focus on logistics category management, strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier performance across freight forwarding, road transport, heavy haul, customs brokerage, warehousing, and third‑party logistics services.
• Support operations and capital projects through logistics strategy, commercial analysis, and procurement governance.
• Influence sourcing outcomes, improve supplier performance, and deliver sustainable value across a complex logistics portfolio.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align procurement activities with project timelines and budget constraints.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Contracting

Supplier management

Negotiation

Procurement governance

Market analysis

Cost modelling

Total cost of ownership

Commercial evaluation

Shipment planning

Incoterms

Contract writing

Project management

Stakeholder management

Presentation skills

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Job Title:

Logistics Category Specialist

Duration:

12 months assignment

Schedule:

9/80 (Fridays from home)

Location:

Houston, Texas

About Airswift

Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries. Airswift serves as a strategic partner to clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects by aligning with unique project needs. With over 1000 employees and 9,000 contractors operating in over 60 countries, Airswift's geographical reach and pool of talent available is unmatched in the industry.

Vacancy Overview

This opportunity focuses on logistics category management, strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier performance across freight forwarding, road transportation, heavy haul, customs brokerage, warehousing, materials management, and third-party logistics services. The role supports business operations and capital projects through logistics strategy, commercial analysis, and procurement governance in a technically demanding environment. This position offers the chance to influence sourcing outcomes, improve supplier performance, and help deliver sustainable value across a complex logistics portfolio.

Required Education

• High school diploma required.

Required Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in procurement, category management, logistics, freight forwarding, project logistics, transportation, or supply chain.
• Experience managing logistics categories and suppliers across areas such as freight forwarding, road transportation, heavy haul, customs brokerage, warehousing, materials management, and third-party logistics services.
• Experience leading or supporting end-to-end sourcing activities, including bid preparation, supplier evaluation, negotiation strategy, commercial analysis, contract award recommendations, and implementation planning.
• Experience supporting capital projects, business units, or operations teams with freight strategies, project logistics planning, transportation routes, delivery planning, and logistics risk management.

Required Skills

• Strong knowledge of category management, strategic sourcing, contracting, supplier management, negotiation, and procurement governance.
• Ability to conduct supply market analysis, benchmarking, cost modelling, total cost of ownership analysis, and commercial evaluation.
• Working knowledge of shipment planning, import/export processes, customs requirements, Incoterms, transportation risk, and supplier performance metrics.
• Strong commercial, financial, and analytical capability, including evaluation of supplier proposals, rate structures, surcharges, cost drivers, and savings opportunities.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, communication, influencing, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to write, review, and manage contracts, work orders, rate schedules, service level agreements, and commercial terms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics, business, engineering, commerce, or a related field.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with freight forwarding, customs brokerage, marine or road transportation, heavy haul, warehousing, third-party logistics, or materials management.
• Experience with procurement systems, e-procurement tools, SAP, data analytics, or reporting platforms.
• Availability to attend an in-person onsite interview is preferred, with virtual interview options available if needed.