Sr. Specialist, IT Procurement (Software & Technology)

KBR Careers; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR in Houston seeks a Senior IT Procurement Specialist to lead strategic sourcing, software licensing, SaaS and cloud service negotiations, and supplier management for enterprise software and technology needs across the organization.

You will collaborate with IT, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal and Enterprise Architecture to maximize commercial value, mitigate risks, mentor procurement staff, and drive continuous improvement in governance, processes, and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• 5–8 years of IT procurement, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, software licensing, or supplier management.
• Experience negotiating enterprise software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology services agreements.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and complex commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of software licensing models, subscription-based services, cloud consumption agreements, and technology procurement practices.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams and enterprise technology initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management for IT software, SaaS, cloud services, and related IT categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies, conduct market intelligence, supplier evaluations, and RFI/RFQ/RFP processes.
• Negotiate software licensing, SaaS subscriptions, cloud consumption, and maintenance agreements.
• Manage relationships with major technology providers and evaluate licensing structures and pricing.
• Collaborate with Legal, Cybersecurity, Finance, and stakeholders to assess risk and ensure compliant agreements.
• Mentor procurement specialists and drive continuous improvement in procurement governance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Software licensing

SaaS agreements

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Information Technology, or related discipline

Tools

Deltek

SAP

Oracle

Ariba

Coupa

ServiceNow

Job description

Title: Sr. Specialist, IT Procurement (Software & Technology)

The Sr. Specialist, IT Procurement is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, procurement, negotiation, and supplier management of enterprise software, SaaS applications, cloud services, technology platforms, cybersecurity solutions, and other IT-related products and services. This position serves as a trusted advisor to Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal, Enterprise Architecture, Digital Transformation, and business stakeholders to ensure technology investments deliver maximum commercial value while minimizing financial, contractual, operational, and compliance risks. The role requires deep expertise in software licensing models, SaaS agreements, cloud consumption contracts, maintenance and support renewals, subscription-based services, and technology supplier negotiations. The individual will manage complex sourcing initiatives from initial business requirements through contract execution and ongoing supplier relationship management. Working with limited supervision, the Sr. Specialist applies advanced procurement knowledge, commercial acumen, analytical expertise, and negotiation skills to optimize spend, improve supplier performance, support technology transformation initiatives, and ensure alignment with corporate procurement and governance requirements. The position also provides mentorship, guidance, and quality oversight to procurement specialists and junior sourcing professionals while supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the procurement organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Management: Lead strategic sourcing and category management initiatives for enterprise software, SaaS, cloud services, cybersecurity, hardware, telecommunications, technology consulting, and related IT categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and technology roadmaps; conduct market intelligence, benchmarking, supplier evaluations, and competitive RFI/RFQ/RFP processes.
• Evaluate supplier offerings, commercial models, and licensing structures to identify best‑value solutions and cost optimization opportunities.
• Software & Cloud Licensing Management: Negotiate software licensing, SaaS subscriptions, cloud consumption, maintenance and support renewals, and technology services agreements.
• Manage commercial relationships with major technology providers, including Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce, Broadcom, Adobe, ServiceNow, Workday, and engineering software providers such as Ansys, Autodesk, Bentley, Aveva, and AspenTech.
• Evaluate licensing structures, usage rights, subscription models, user metrics, consumption‑based pricing, and contractual commitments.
• Partner with Software Asset Management, IT, and Finance to optimize license utilization, reduce redundant spend, consolidate suppliers, and support license compliance.
• Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management: Lead complex negotiations covering pricing, discounts, volume incentives, service levels, renewal protections, benchmarking, price increases, audit rights, intellectual property, data ownership, liability, termination, and other commercial terms.
• Collaborate with Legal, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Risk, Finance, and business stakeholders to assess contractual risk and ensure agreements meet business, regulatory, security, and operational requirements.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Manage strategic technology supplier relationships and serve as the primary procurement contact for assigned suppliers.
• Conduct supplier performance and business reviews; resolve disputes, service issues, invoicing discrepancies, licensing concerns, and delivery failures.
• Negotiate corrective actions, service credits, refunds, remediation plans, and performance improvements while driving continuous supplier improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership: Partner with IT leadership, project managers, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, Finance, and business stakeholders throughout the technology acquisition lifecycle.
• Lead requirements gathering, market analysis, sourcing strategy, supplier selection, negotiations, and contract execution.
• Translate business requirements into effective sourcing and contracting strategies and support technology budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning.
• Procurement Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with procurement policies, delegated authority, financial controls, cybersecurity standards, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain accurate procurement and contract documentation and support internal and external audits.
• Ensure suppliers meet security, insurance, contractual, and policy requirements while promoting procurement best practices and process standardization.
• Analytics & Continuous Improvement: Analyze technology spending and identify cost reduction, efficiency, and process improvement opportunities.
• Support procurement technology, workflow automation, sourcing tools, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Recommend improvements that enhance efficiency, controls, stakeholder experience, and business value.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor procurement specialists and less experienced sourcing professionals and provide quality oversight of sourcing activities, commercial analyses, contract documentation, and negotiations.
• Share best practices, support professional development, and serve as a subject matter expert in IT procurement and software licensing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Information Technology, or a related discipline. Experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.
• Minimum 5-8 years of progressive experience in IT procurement, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, software licensing, or supplier management.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating enterprise software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering software, and technology services agreements.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and complex commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of software licensing models, subscription-based services, cloud consumption agreements, and technology procurement practices.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams and enterprise technology initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of technology sourcing and procurement experience.
• Experience supporting large global organizations and multi-business-unit environments.
• Experience with software asset management (SAM), cloud financial management (FinOps), or IT vendor management programs.
• Knowledge of enterprise procurement and ERP platforms such as Deltek, SAP, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa, ServiceNow, or similar systems.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPSD, CPM, CSCP, ITAM, SAM, FinOps Certified Practitioner, or equivalent.
• Experience negotiating agreements with major technology suppliers such as Microsoft, Oracle, AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce, Broadcom, Adobe, ServiceNow, Workday, IBM, and engineering software providers including Ansys, Autodesk, Bentley, Aveva, and AspenTech.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

KBR — Delivering Solutions, Changing the World. KBR brings together the best and brightest to deliver science, technology and engineering solutions that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most critical missions and objectives. In everything we do, we are guided by our ONE KBR Values: We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential. We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology-led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business. We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision-makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed. We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company. We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals. Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.