Global Procurement Specialist

Job Description

We are a global law firm with a powerful strategic focus and real momentum. Our industry-focused strategy is seeing us take on pioneering work in places that others have yet to reach. Our shared values define our culture and our workplace. You will find us to be unusually collegial, team-oriented, and ready to innovate. We work seamlessly across practices, offices and around the world.

This elimination of boundaries has allowed us to evolve into a law firm that works as hard for its culture as it does for its clients.

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for acquiring goods and services for the firm in a cost effective and efficient manner. This role is crucial to ensuring that the firm has the necessary resources to operate effectively whilst maintaining budgetary constraints. The role scope encompasses a wide range of activities, including onboarding new suppliers, negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships and ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement, negotiation skills, and a proven ability to drive efficiency and cost savings.

This position reports to the Manager, Procurement. This position is ideally located in Austin, Dallas, or Houston, Texas. The role will require presence in office from time to time pursuant to the firm’s hybrid work policy.

Sourcing and Supplier Selection: conducting market research and identifying potential suppliers by evaluating their capabilities. This involves issuing:

• Request for Information (RFI) to research a supplier's business, offerings and solutions.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) which is used to evaluate responses to structured and formally documented project requirements, potentially leading to vendor selection.
• Request for Quote (RFQ) to compare pricing and product specifications.

Contract Negotiations: to secure favorable terms and conditions, including pricing and payment terms.

• Negotiate strong commercials, with cost savings and cost avoidance where possible.
• Negotiate strong contractual terms and conditions which fit within stakeholder requirements, and comply with relevant laws and regulations, by collaborating with General Counsel, NRF's Data Protection Officer and Information Security team.
• Manage contract and vendor through life cycle.
• Liaise with stakeholders at all levels to ensure best outcome is achieved on all contracts.

Vendor and Contract Management: maintaining vendor contact details, related documentation and work with other Procurement colleagues to keep contract database updated.

• Acting as an advisor for stakeholders to ensure they understand what their contract does and doesn't include.
• Help train and mentor technical staff to have a better commercial understanding.
• Running financial credentials checks.
• Work with manager to improve and implement procurement processes.
• Work with manager and stakeholders on strategic contract management.

Managing Supplier Relationships: building and maintaining strong relationships with vendors to ensure supply chain reliability. Regularly communicate with suppliers to address issues, monitor supplier performance and explore opportunities to collaborate, leading to better services levels and innovation.

• Maintaining existing key vendor relationships and onboarding new suppliers as required.
• Run periodic contract governance meetings as required.

Compliance and

Risk Management:

ensure that all procurement activities comply with internal policies, procedures, and external regulations, including adhering to ethical standards, managing risks associated with supplier performance and ensuring contracts are legally sound.

Order Management: Liaise with vendors for quotations, ensuring they can meet all our requirements and ensuring prices are competitive.

• Liaise with internal stakeholders to ensure procurement processes are followed and deadlines are achieved.
• Follow governance processes to ensure correct approvals are obtained.
• Creating Purchase Orders that detail the items, quantities and pricing required.
• Issuing Purchase Orders to suppliers and confirming receipt to ensure that the order is…