Purchasing Agent - IT Contract Specialist

Korn Ferry; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym on-site

Covered parking

Cafeteria

Health clinic

Credit union

Tuition assistance

Dependent scholarships

Employee discounts

Leadership development programs

Paid vacation

Sick leave

9/80 work schedule with every other Fr

One work-from-home day per week

Job summary

Korn Ferry is partnering with a large U.S. refining and energy company in Houston to fill an IT Contract Management Specialist role within Procurement – IT Strategic Sourcing.

You will own end-to-end IT contract administration, from requisition to renewal, working closely with IT, Legal, Risk, and Accounts Payable. The ideal candidate has 2–3+ years IT contract management experience, SAP or similar ERP familiarity, and strong negotiation and collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• Must have IT contract management experience.
• 2-3+ years direct contract management experience, specifically managing IT contracts.
• Experience negotiating and administering software, SaaS, cloud, and technology services agreements.
• Strong understanding of legal terms and conditions, indemnification, insurance requirements, and commercial risk mitigation.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems required.
• Experience with GEP SMART or similar e-Procurement platforms preferred.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to manage contracts independently from beginning to end.
• Oil & Gas industry experience not required, IT contract expertise is the priority.
• Strong communication skills with ability to collaborate across multiple departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle IT contract management from requisition through execution, change orders, renewals, and closeout.
• Negotiate, execute, and administer IT contracts including software licenses, SaaS, cloud services agreements, hardware purchases, and Master Service Agreements.
• Process and manage purchase orders and outline agreements within SAP (or similar ERP systems).
• Partner cross-functionally with IT, Legal, Risk Management, Accounts Payable, and business stakeholders to ensure contracts meet commercial, legal, security, and compliance standards.
• Leverage strategic sourcing tools and best-in-class procurement practices to evaluate vendors, solicit bids (RFP/RFQ), and negotiate pricing and terms.
• Conduct market analysis and vendor evaluations to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and service reliability.
• Monitor contract performance, validate pricing adjustments, track KPIs, and administer change orders throughout the agreement lifecycle.
• Ensure IT security, data privacy, insurance, and indemnification provisions are properly addressed in all agreements.
• Manage vendor onboarding, compliance vetting, and performance evaluation processes.
• Resolve procurement-related issues including invoice disputes, performance concerns, and out-of-scope contract matters.
• Identify opportunities for strategic sourcing, cost savings, and long-term value creation.

Skills

IT contract management

Contract negotiation

Vendor management

Strategic sourcing

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Independent contract management

Tools

SAP

GEP SMART

Job description

Korn Ferry is partnering with our client in their search for a Purchasing Agent – IT Contract Specialist.

Company Overview:

• Our client is a large, well established U.S. refining and energy supply organization with multiple refineries, terminals, pipelines, and related infrastructure assets across the United States
• Headquartered in Houston, TX, the company operates a significant crude refining footprint and employs several thousand professionals across refining, supply and trading, commercial, and corporate functions
• The organization is known for its strong operational discipline, long term stability, and commitment to values such as safety, integrity, accountability, and collaboration
• The company continues to invest in modern technology platforms, including enterprise ETRM systems, to enhance data driven decision making, risk management, and financial analytics across the business

Role Summary:

• Title: IT Contract Management Specialist
• Department: Procurement – IT Strategic Sourcing
• Team Scope: Join a 3-person procurement team, partnering closely with an existing IT contract lead to support growing volume of IT agreements
• Primary Focus: Own and manage IT contract administration end to end, including negotiation, execution, compliance, vendor management, and ongoing lifecycle oversight

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead full lifecycle IT contract management from requisition through execution, change orders, renewals, and closeout
• Negotiate, execute, and administer IT contracts including software licenses, SaaS agreements, cloud services agreements, hardware purchases, and Master Service Agreements
• Process and manage purchase orders and outline agreements within SAP (or similar ERP systems)
• Partner cross-functionally with IT, Legal, Risk Management, Accounts Payable, and business stakeholders to ensure contracts meet commercial, legal, security, and compliance standards
• Leverage strategic sourcing tools and best-in-class procurement practices to evaluate vendors, solicit bids (RFP/RFQ), and negotiate pricing and terms
• Conduct market analysis and vendor evaluations to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and service reliability
• Monitor contract performance, validate pricing adjustments, track KPIs, and administer change orders throughout the agreement lifecycle
• Ensure IT security, data privacy, insurance, and indemnification provisions are properly addressed in all agreements
• Manage vendor onboarding, compliance vetting, and performance evaluation processes
• Resolve procurement-related issues including invoice disputes, performance concerns, and out-of-scope contract matters
• Identify opportunities for strategic sourcing, cost savings, and long-term value creation

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Must have IT contract management experience
• Minimum 2-3+ years of direct contract management experience, specifically managing IT contracts
• Experience negotiating and administering software, SaaS, cloud, and technology services agreements
• Strong understanding of legal terms and conditions, indemnification, insurance requirements, and commercial risk mitigation
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems required
• Experience with GEP SMART or similar e-Procurement platforms preferred
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and multitasking skills
• Ability to manage contracts independently from beginning to end
• Oil & Gas industry experience not required, IT contract expertise is the priority
• Strong communication skills with ability to collaborate across multiple departments
• Target base compensation range: $95K–$110K
• 10% annual performance incentive bonus
• High-visibility role within Procurement and IT
• Strong upward mobility and structured leadership development path
• Performance-driven culture that rewards high performers
• Competitive 401(k) with company match and pension plan
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and annual vacation incentive
• 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off and one work-from-home day per week
• On-site amenities including gym, covered parking, cafeteria, health clinic, and credit union
• Tuition assistance, dependent scholarships, employee discounts, and leadership development programs