Senior Buyer/Payables

Worley; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Worley in Houston, TX is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead complex purchasing for energy and industrial projects. You will own hands-on strategy through execution, aligning with project teams, suppliers, engineering, and contracts to secure essential materials and equipment on schedule.

This senior role requires strong procurement expertise, commercial judgment, and the ability to influence across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Typically 7+ years of procurement experience.
• Experience with complex projects in energy/chemicals/EPC.
• Ability to lead through influence and mentor others.
• Strong negotiating and commercial skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead purchasing activities for complex project and company requirements.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies.
• Review project requirements and select purchasing approaches.
• Manage sourcing, bid preparation, supplier engagement, negotiations, PO placement and follow-up.
• Identify and address risks; provide procurement solutions.
• Provide market insights to project teams and leadership.
• Lead supplier evaluations and competitive bidding activities.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Project Controls, Contracts, Construction and other functions.
• Monitor purchasing activities and escalate risks with practical solutions.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Supplier evaluation

Negotiations

Purchase order management

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Supply Chain/Procurement/Engineering

Tools

Procurement systems

Procurement tools

Job description

About Us

Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today's needs and transition to more sustainable solutions.

About Us

Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today's needs and transition to more sustainable solutions.

Purpose of the role

Play an integral role in the success of our projects by leading complex purchasing activities and supporting the development and execution of procurement strategies. As a Senior Buyer, you will manage a wide range of materials and equipment, including both engineered and non-engineered items, while ensuring procurement activities align with project requirements, commercial objectives, schedule commitments, and Worley standards.

You will be responsible for taking ownership of complex purchasing assignments from strategy through execution. You will work closely with project teams, suppliers, engineering, project controls, contracts, and other stakeholders to identify supply opportunities and risks, develop practical procurement solutions, and ensure materials and equipment are secured when needed.

This is a senior-level role for someone who brings strong procurement expertise, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to lead through influence.

You may act as a Lead Buyer or technical expert, providing guidance to other procurement professionals and helping project teams navigate complex purchasing requirements.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead purchasing activities for complex project and company requirements, including engineered and non-engineered materials and equipment.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies that support project objectives, commercial requirements, schedule commitments, and supply chain priorities.
• Review project requirements and identify appropriate purchasing approaches based on scope, specifications, schedule, cost, supplier capability, and market conditions.
• Manage the complete purchasing process, including sourcing, bid preparation, supplier engagement, commercial evaluation, negotiations, purchase order placement, and follow-up through delivery.
• Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify and address potential supply, cost, quality, schedule, and commercial risks.
• Provide procurement and supply market insight to project teams and leadership to support informed decision-making.
• Lead or support supplier evaluations, competitive bidding activities, commercial negotiations, and supplier selection.
• Review supplier quotations and commercial information, ensuring purchasing decisions are aligned with project requirements and procurement strategy.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Project Controls, Contracts, Construction, Quality, Expediting, Logistics, and other functions to resolve procurement issues and maintain project progress.
• Monitor purchasing activities and supplier commitments, escalating risks and developing practical solutions when requirements, schedules, or commercial conditions change.
• Lead functional project teams or complex procurement assignments and provide direction to other Buyers and procurement team members as needed.
• Serve as a senior advisor and technical resource, sharing procurement knowledge and helping others resolve complex purchasing issues.
• Support the identification and implementation of process improvements that strengthen procurement performance, efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder experience.
• Prepare and deliver procurement proposals, presentations, reports, and other communications for project teams, management, and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate procurement documentation and ensure activities comply with applicable Worley policies, procedures, processes, and project requirements.
• Use procurement systems, processes, and tools effectively and provide support or troubleshooting assistance to other team members when required.

What you’ll bring to the role

You will bring advanced procurement knowledge and a strong understanding of purchasing practices within complex project environments. You will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, working with limited direction, and making sound decisions when requirements or conditions are not straightforward.

Key Qualifications And Skills Include

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically 7+ years of relevant procurement or purchasing experience.
• Strong experience purchasing materials and equipment for complex projects, preferably within the energy, chemicals, resources, EPC, or industrial sectors.
• Demonstrated experience managing both engineered and non-engineered equipment and materials.
• Strong understanding of procurement strategy, sourcing, competitive bidding, supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, and purchase order management.
• Experience identifying and managing supplier and supply chain risks, including cost, schedule, quality, capacity, and availability considerations.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, understand commercial terms, and support effective negotiations.
• Ability to interpret technical specifications, project requirements, and commercial information and translate them into practical procurement actions.
• Strong understanding of procurement systems, processes, tools, and controls, with the ability to assist others and troubleshoot issues.
• Ability to lead procurement activities and functional project teams while working collaboratively across multiple disciplines.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against project objectives and deadlines.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to project teams, management, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with suppliers, project teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a pragmatic approach to resolving complex procurement and supply issues.
• Ability to work independently, establish priorities and take ownership of assignments from strategy through execution.
• Experience providing technical guidance, mentoring, or job-related direction to other procurement professionals is preferred.
• Strong commitment to ethical procurement practices, compliance, quality, and continuous improvement.

Moving forward together

We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. So, our focus is on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We're building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. Creating a space where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, and are heard.

And we're not just talking about it; we're doing it. We're reskilling our people, leveraging transferable skills, and supporting the transition of our workforce to become experts in today's low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Whatever your ambition, there's a path for you here.

And there's no barrier to your potential career success. Join us to broaden your horizons, explore diverse opportunities, and be part of delivering sustainable change.