Senior Purchaser

Jobtailor; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Houston, TX is seeking a Senior Purchaser to lead procurement across North America, shaping strategies for the Service Crane category and crane services to support turbine repair and projects. You will collaborate with global teams to secure best-value solutions for Vestas and customers, emphasizing cost, quality, and on-time delivery.

The role requires a bachelor degree in SCM or related field, 5+ years in procurement, strong Excel and negotiation skills, and proven ability to

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in global supply chain management, engineering or related business field.
• 5+ years of procurement or related supply chain experience.
• Experience gathering market intelligence on global markets and material trends.
• Ability to build business cases and strategies for a category or business unit.
• Advanced MS Excel skills and data analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Regionally manage suppliers in North America.
• Collaborate with global colleagues to procure competitive solutions for Vestas and customers.
• Deliver procurement strategies focusing on cost, quality and on-time delivery.
• Shape and execute the procurement strategy for the Service Crane category.
• Act as crane subject matter expert for crane services supporting turbine repair and projects.
• Manage global initiatives at the RPO level.
• Lead the RFP process from specification development to supplier selection and contract development.
• Attend weekly sales management calls and translate contracts into procurement actions.
• Provide weekly status reports on contract progress and future projects.
• Interpret technical specifications and develop business cases with total cost of ownership.
• Build global supplier partnerships via regional and internal stakeholder relationships.
• Create reporting materials and present findings to stakeholders.
• Develop supplier market intelligence and maintain supply base data.
• Manage supplier development, contracting and buy-to-pay processes and risk management.
• Serve as primary escalation point for scope-related supplier issues.
• Guide suppliers to meet Vestas business requirements and mentor other Purchasers.

Education

Bachelor's degree in global supply chain management / engineering / related business studies

5+ years procurement experience

Strategic purchasing

Negotiation

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Market intelligence

Cost optimization

Presentation skills

Reading drawings/engineering concepts

Tools

Excel (Pivot tables, VLOOKUP)

Job description

Responsibilities

• The Senior Purchaser is regionally responsible for managing suppliers in North America
• Collaborating closely with our global colleagues to procure the most competitive solutions for Vestas and our customers
• Working with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver high-performing procurement strategies while improving cost, quality and on time delivery
• Directing the business priorities to shape, define and execute the procurement strategy for the Service Crane category
• Acting as crane subject matter expert in procuring crane services to support turbine repair, maintenance, and special projects
• Managing and representing global initiatives at the RPO level
• Managing the RFP process from specification development, quote process, supplier selection, contract development, stakeholder management and business awards
• Attending weekly sales management calls and translating potential contracts into procurement activities
• Providing weekly reports on all contract's status including future projects to align stakeholders with customer expectations
• Understanding and interpreting technical specifications
• Developing business cases with total cost of ownership financial analysis to enable decisions based on technical requirements
• Directly managing new and existing regional supplier relationships and leveraging internal stakeholder/category relationships to build global supplier partnerships
• Professionally managing strategic purchasing initiatives and developing reporting materials (power point presentations, business cases, etc.)
• Building supplier market intelligence and ensuring that supply base data is available to support business decisions
• Implementing and managing all aspects of the supplier development, contracting and buy to pay processes, including proper risk management
• Being the primary point of escalation and resolution for scope related supplier issues
• Guiding change with Suppliers to meet Vestas business requirements
• Mentoring other Purchasers in RPO

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in strategic purchasing and supplier management, with a strong focus on developing procurement strategies that enhance cost efficiency and quality. Proficient in advanced contract management, negotiation, and market intelligence to support decision-making in the renewable energy sector.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in global supply chain management, engineering or other related business studies
• 5+ years' work experience in procurement or other related supply chain management field
• Significant experience gathering market intelligence (understanding/interest in global markets, material trends, politics, etc.)
• Significant experience building business cases or strategies (for a category, commodity, piece of the supply chain or for a business unit, etc.)
• Advanced MS Excel (minimum of pivot tables, v-look up, etc.)
• Advanced contract management experience
• Advanced negotiation experience for supplier negotiations (Lead negotiation experienced)
• Industry experience (renewables, energy, manufacturing/factory environment, etc.) is desired
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Solution oriented, problem solver
• Cross cultural skills (will work as part of an international team)
• Ability to prioritize in tight deadlines
• High level business acumen (understanding of financial statements, cash flow, EBIT, inventory, etc.)
• Project management skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Advanced ability to create and deliver presentations and business cases
• Ability to lead a cross-functional team
• Aptitude for construction, transport of large goods or technology (basic understanding of construction, engineering or manufacturing concepts ie. ability to read drawings or knowledge of machining, forging, casting, welding, assembly, etc.)
• Candidate needs to be self-motivated, find opportunities and have ability to make sound decisions
• Must have strategic purchasing experience, not only operational procurement/buying.