Procurement Specialist

Supply Technician / Procurement Specialist / Buyer R&D Maintenance Services, Inc Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Project (Columbus MS)

R&D Maintenance Services, Inc. provides operations and maintenance services on U.S Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout the southeast - since 1980. We are the Operations and Maintenance Contractor for the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Project providing facility, infrastructure, machinery and site maintenance and repair on several hundred miles of waterway, multiple recreation areas, and 10 locks/dams/spillways on the system. R&D is an EEO Employer.

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for the acquisition of materials, repair parts, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) items, janitorial supplies, and commodity materials. These items are required for the execution/delivery of operational and maintenance services across facilities, infrastructure, and navigation assets, including locks and dams, for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Project. These materials are a direct component of service delivery via Work Orders.

This role ensures timely, cost-effective, and compliant procurement of goods and services while maintaining adherence to federal, contractual, and company policies. The Procurement Specialist collaborates closely with operations management, maintenance teams, vendors, and other project personnel to ensure uninterrupted support of services delivery to our customer.

• Process purchase requirements and convert them into purchase orders in accordance with company procedures.
• Work closely with the Operations and Work Order teams to identify requirements and acquire necessary repair items, MRO items, and other materials necessary for execution and completion of work orders across the project.
• Source materials and supplies including:
  • MRO items (tools, lubricants, mechanical/electrical components).
  • Repair parts for equipment and infrastructure systems.
  • Janitorial and facility supplies.
  • Commodity materials for ongoing maintenance and operations.
• Identify qualified vendors and obtain competitive quotes to ensure best value procurement.
• Evaluate supplier pricing, lead times, quality, and reliability.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and service providers.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, and terms and conditions.
• Monitor vendor performance and resolve issues related to quality, delivery, or discrepancies.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with Internal procurement policies and procedures.
• Maintain proper documentation and audit‑ready files for all procurement transactions.
• Coordinate with warehouse and field teams to maintain adequate inventory levels.
• Track orders, shipments, and delivery schedules to ensure timely availability of materials.
• Assist in inventory control processes including cycle counts, reorder points, and usage analysis.
• Monitor procurement expenditures against budgets.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through bulk purchasing, supplier consolidation, and alternative sourcing.
• Generate procurement reports and metrics.
• Maintain accurate records in purchasing systems.
• Ensure proper coding of expenses, materials, and job cost allocations.

• Principles and practices of purchasing, sourcing, and supply chain management.
• MRO procurement processes and industrial supply chains.
• Basic understanding of mechanical, electrical, and facility systems used in facility, infrastructure and industrial maintenance environments.
• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and process management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite:
  • Excel (intermediate to advanced; pivot tables, data analysis).
  • Word (documentation and reporting).
  • Outlook (communication and scheduling).
• Experience with procurement or ERP systems.
• Analytical skills for cost comparison, supplier evaluation, and spend analysis.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, operations‑driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data entry.
• Ability to interpret…