Project Procument Specialist

ABOUT ZEPPELIN SYSTEMS USA

Zeppelin Systems USA is a leading provider of bulk material handling systems and solutions for industrial, chemical, plastics, and food processing sectors. Part of the global Zeppelin Group, our Houston-based team designs and delivers complex, custom-engineered projects across North America. Supply chain is a strategic driver of project performance, cost competitiveness, and on-time delivery.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Project Procurement Specialist is a strategic individual contributor at the core of the Supply Chain Management organization and a trusted partner to the Project Execution Team. This role leads procurement from sales engagement through logistics closeout — owning supplier strategy, commercial negotiation, and supply performance across a dynamic project portfolio. The ideal candidate brings equal command of tactical precision, technical commodity knowledge, strategic supplier thinking, and data-driven execution.

TACTICAL: Precision execution across the full procurement cycle

TECHNICAL: Deep commodity fluency in BMH systems and components

STRATEGIC: Supplier strategy, SRM, and commercial leadership

DATA DRIVEN: Analytics-led decisions, reporting, and process improvement

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. End-to-End Procurement Ownership

▪ Own the full procurement lifecycle for assigned projects — from scope review and supplier selection through PO execution, expediting, and logistics closeout, coordinating across Project Management, Engineering, and Logistics.

▪ Hard Skills: RFQ Development, SAP PO Administration

▪ Soft Skill: Ownership Mentality

2. Commodity Procurement – Bulk Material Handling

▪ Source and procure across core BMH categories — conveying systems, dust collection, structural fabrications, electrical and instrumentation, and mechanical equipment — evaluating supplier proposals for technical scope conformance.

▪ Hard Skills: Technical Bid Evaluation, Vendor Pre-Qualification

▪ Soft Skill: Technical Credibility

3. Commercial Negotiation

▪ Negotiate pricing, delivery, payment, Incoterms, and warranty terms with suppliers across the project portfolio, administering purchase orders through execution and closeout in SAP.

▪ Hard Skills: Commercial Term Negotiation, Contract Administration

▪ Soft Skill: Composure Under Pressure

4. Supplier Relationship Management

▪ Maintain active supplier performance visibility across the project portfolio — tracking OTD, PO accuracy, and quality — and lead corrective action where performance is at risk.

▪ Hard Skills: Supplier Scorecarding, Performance Escalation Management

▪ Soft Skill: Accountability-Driven Relationship Building

5. Data Analytics and Procurement Reporting

▪ Build and maintain procurement analytics across the project portfolio — spend visibility, OTD performance, open commitments, and cost variance — delivering structured reporting for project teams and SCM leadership.

▪ Hard Skills: Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, Dashboards), SAP Data Extraction

▪ Soft Skill: Decision-Ready Communication

6. Logistics Coordination

▪ Coordinate inbound logistics for project materials — managing freight mode selection, delivery scheduling, and import/export documentation to align material arrivals with project execution windows.

▪ Hard Skills: Inbound Freight Management, Trade Documentation

▪ Soft Skill: Proactive Risk Identification

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration

▪ Participate actively in project planning sessions and schedule reviews with Sales, Engineering, Project Management, and Finance, positioning SCM as a strategic partner across the project lifecycle.

▪ Hard Skills: Stakeholder Alignment, SAP Workflow Coordination

▪ Soft Skill: Professional Influence

8. Process Improvement

▪ Identify and drive procurement process improvements — SAP workflow, supplier onboarding, and data quality — aligned to the SCM Target Operating Model and organizational efficiency goals.

▪ Hard Skills: Process Mapping, SAP SCM Optimization

▪ Soft Skill: Continuous Improvement Mindset

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

▪ Business Acumen: 5–8 years of procurement or supply chain experience in an industrial or project-based environment with demonstrated understanding of scope management, cost tracking, and commercial risk.

▪ Data Analytics: Advanced Excel proficiency — pivot tables, dashboards, spend and OTD analysis — with ability to structure procurement data into decision-quality outputs for project and leadership stakeholders.

▪ SAP Proficiency: Proficient in SAP SCM modules — Procurement (MM) and Logistics — including PO creation, GR/IR processing, vendor master management, and operational data extraction.

▪ Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to operate across Project Management, Engineering, Finance, and Logistics — translating requirements into procurement scope and aligning supply timelines to execution.

▪ Supplier Relationship Management: Hands-on experience managing supplier portfolios across technical commodity categories — performance monitoring, escalation handling, and commercial relationship development.

▪ Technical Commodity Knowledge: Working knowledge of bulk material handling systems and components sufficient to evaluate supplier proposals for technical scope conformance.

▪ Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to negotiate pricing, delivery, Incoterms, payment, and warranty terms across varying spend levels and complexity.

▪ Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and directly relevant procurement experience considered.

Pay: From $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Supply chain: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person