Procurement Specialist

Talentify; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Talentify is seeking a Category Manager (Staff Procurement Specialist – P3) to lead strategic procurement across complex categories in a hybrid Portland setting. You will own end-to-end category strategy, conduct market analysis, and drive supplier negotiations to create value.

You will partner with stakeholders to translate needs into actionable procurement plans, drive contracts and performance reviews, and ensure governance and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, or finance.
• Minimum five years in supply chain, category management or strategic sourcing.
• Experience with ERP/ procurement systems and workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of comprehensive bid packages (RFP/RFQ/RFI) and define scope, pricing, evaluation criteria, and terms for complex sourcing.
• Drive end-to-end sourcing events, run cross-functional evaluations, analyze risks, and lead supplier negotiations for best total value.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage contracts across a range of complexity levels with alignment to strategy and risk standards.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management including renewals, amendments, and terminations for audit readiness.
• Maintain contract documents and governance to support regulatory and internal controls.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiations

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

ERP systems

Procurement policies

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management

Tools

PeopleSoft

SharePoint

Oracle ERP

Job description

Supplier Bill Rate: ***
Job Title: Procurement Specialist- Category Manager
Duration: 6 months
Work Hours: 8-5 M-F
Job Location: Hybrid 3 times a week at WTC; Open to remote candidates located in PST or MST timezones
Job Posting Title: Staff Procurement Specialist - Category Manager

Job Overview

As a Category Manager (Procurement Specialist – P3), you will lead strategic procurement initiatives across complex and high‑impact categories. In this role, you will own category strategy development end‑to‑end—conducting market analysis, shaping long‑term sourcing roadmaps, and driving value creation across the enterprise. You will manage sophisticated sourcing events, lead advanced negotiations, develop supplier relationship strategies, and ensure alignment with broader business objectives. You will serve as a strategic advisor to the business, influencing stakeholders, guiding spend decisions, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and innovation. Your work directly advances organizational goals by elevating procurement maturity, strengthening supplier partnerships, and enabling scalable, sustainable category strategies

Responsibilities – Category Manager (Staff Procurement Specialist – P3)

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Administration

• Lead development of comprehensive bid packages (RFP/RFQ/RFI), including scope definition, pricing structures, evaluation criteria, and commercial terms for complex sourcing initiatives.
• Drive end-to-end sourcing events, facilitating cross-functional evaluations, analyzing commercial and risk factors, and leading supplier negotiations to achieve optimal total value.
• Draft, negotiate, and finalize contracts across a range of complexity levels, ensuring alignment with sourcing strategy, risk mitigation standards, and business objectives.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management, including renewals, amendments, and terminations, ensuring timely execution, system workflow compliance, and audit readiness.
• Maintain rigorous contract documentation and governance standards to support regulatory and internal controls.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Serve as strategic point of contact for suppliers, managing commercial relationships and ensuring alignment with performance expectations and contractual obligations.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, financial stability, and risk exposure as part of sourcing and ongoing performance management.
• Lead performance reviews, address service or delivery gaps, and implement corrective action plans in partnership with Category Managers and business stakeholders.
• Support supplier onboarding and ensure compliance with governance, safety, and operational standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership

• Collaborate with senior business stakeholders to define requirements, assess demand, and translate operational needs into sourcing and contracting strategies.
• Provide expert guidance on procurement methods, market dynamics, and contracting approaches to drive informed decision-making.
• Influence stakeholders through data‑driven insights, cost modeling, and risk analysis to support strategic outcomes.

Procurement Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with enterprise objectives, market conditions, and risk tolerance.
• Apply advanced knowledge of procurement methodologies, contract structures, and negotiation strategies to solve complex or recurring business challenges.
• Ensure full compliance with procurement policies while identifying opportunities to enhance processes, improve efficiency, and optimize total cost of ownership.

Education/Experience/Certifications

Education: Requires a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, finance or other related field or equivalent experience.

Experience: Typically five or more years in supply chain, category management/strategic sourcing or related field.

Preferred Experience

• 6 years in procurement, sourcing, or contract management.
• Experience developing strategies, managing RFx and negotiating contracts for complex categories.
• Strong experience with ERP/Procurement systems and procurement workflows

Functional Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of inventory control practices and systems (depending on area of specialization)
• Advanced knowledge of contracting and procurement methods, standards, procedures and processes
• Intermediate knowledge of business practices and market conditions applicable to program and technical requirements sufficient to evaluate bids, contractor responsibility and contractor performance
• Intermediate skills in formulating sourcing strategies that accomplish performance and savings goals, anticipate potential threats or opportunities and are consistent with company goals and policies
• Intermediate skills in negotiating contracts for goods and services
• Intermediate computer skills using Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and enterprise resource‑planning systems and record systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, SharePoint, eRecords)
• Preferred Certifications: CPSM, CIPS, or similar procurement credentials.

Can you give a high‑level overview of your team size, roles, its initiatives/deliverables, and any tool/technologies specific to your team/department/project they will be supporting:

The organizational structure is such that the position will report directly to the Senior Manager with one immediate peer. However, the position is located within the Supply Chain department with a headcount of approximately 100 individuals. The initiative/deliverable involves the analysis of supply chain contracts, negotiating and maintaining relationships with suppliers, and maintaining electronic systems with supplier data.

What would you say is the top priority for the worker over the first few weeks/months?:

For this position to be successful, they must have a proficiency relating to the analysis of supply chain contracts, negotiating and maintaining relationships with suppliers, and maintaining electronic systems with supplier data on day 1 and will need to ramp up familiarity with PGE contracts and electronic systems quickly.

Utlities Experience required: No

Top 3 Must-Haves (Hard and/or Soft Skills)

• Execellent organizational work management skills
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Suply chain procurement and contracting experience

Top 3 nice‑to‑haves

• Utility experience
• Familiarity with the Oracle software system
• Project management experience

EEO

Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of – Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans.