Specialist, Strategic Sourcing

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CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

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At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist — Engineered Equipment is a developing individual contributor who executes defined category work within the engineered equipment portfolio with appropriate oversight, building toward independent category management. The engineered equipment portfolio encompasses power transformers, autotransformers, distribution transformers, switch gear (circuit breakers, reclosers, switches), and wire, conductor, and cable categories — all characterized by long procurement lead times, capital program dependency, and technically complex supplier engagement.

The Specialist manages sourcing events for assigned categories or sub-categories, maintains supplier relationships at a working level, administers contracts and agreements, and develops the commercial and analytical skills required to progress to Senior Specialist-level independence. The Specialist operates with clear performance expectations, delivers defined work products with increasing quality and consistency, and escalates decisions and risks with context rather than as raw problems.

Sourcing Event Execution

• Develop and execute RFQ/RFP packages for assigned engineered equipment sub-categories (e.g., distribution transformers, reclosers, wire/cable SOW renewals) with Procurement Manager or Senior Specialist oversight, including scope of work, technical requirements, commercial terms, and evaluation criteria.
• Manage the supplier Q&A and clarification process for assigned sourcing events, maintaining competitive integrity and information parity across all participating manufacturers.
• Conduct bid evaluation for assigned categories including weighted scoring, price comparison, and basic total cost of ownership analysis. Produce evaluation summaries for Senior or Lead Specialist review that are complete and internally consistent.
• Draft award recommendation documentation that is complete, documented, and requires review but not reconstruction by the Procurement Manager.
• Support multi-round negotiation processes including preparation of bid summary comparisons, price reduction request documentation, and counter-offer tracking.
• Manage working-level supplier relationships for assigned engineered equipment categories, tracking performance against contract requirements and raising supply risk signals proactively.
• Assist in development and maintenance of supplier performance scorecards for the engineered equipment supply base, collecting delivery, quality, and service data from internal stakeholders and supplier reports.
• Participate in supplier coordination calls and QBRs for assigned categories, managing follow-up action items and tracking resolution without prompting.
• Escalate supplier performance issues and supply risk signals — including lead time extensions, capacity constraints, and quality holds — with a clear summary of the issue, impact, and recommended path.

• Monitor supply market conditions for assigned categories including lead time dynamics, manufacturer capacity utilization, commodity price movements (copper, aluminum, GOES for transformers), and tariff and trade developments affecting the engineered equipment supply base.
• Develop spend analysis, supply base assessments, and sourcing event packages with increasing independence as category knowledge and…