Strategic Sourcing Specialist I or II

Job Description

Job Specifications

With guidance, identify, organize, negotiate, and manage goods and services sourcing and procurement for the Company. Negotiate and complete construction, services and purchasing contracts. With guidance, develop and implement strategies to reduce the total cost of ownership of goods and services purchased while maintaining or improving quality and reducing exposure to risk. Assist in developing and managing strategic vendor relationships.

SALARY RANGE/GRADE: (Determined by the knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant.)

• Level I: $60,350 - $90,600 / Grade 12 
• Level II: $71,550 – $107,400 / Grade 14

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Manager, Strategic Sourcing

LOCATION: This position can be located in Council Bluffs, Iowa or Lincoln, Nebraska.

• Relocation financial assistance is available, amount may vary based on individual circumstance.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Source and procure goods and services for the Company through the use of requests for proposals and other strategic sourcing methodologies to support business units and key capital projects.
• With guidance, understand and negotiate complex purchasing and service agreement.
• Synthesize bid proposals and specifications and present recommendations on purchases requiring business unit approval.
• With guidance, interpret and draft contract provisions and review contracts for accuracy and changes prior to execution and renewal.
• Provide liaison between vendors, contractors, and company managers.
• With guidance, develop and implement best practice strategic sourcing and supplier management processes across businesses and geographies.
• With guidance, negotiate contract terms and conditions, completing contract documents and process in accordance with corporate policies, including appropriate cyber terms and conditions, deliverables and KPIs.
• Assist with interfacing with key stakeholder executives across other businesses and geographies to understand requirements and constraints which may impact contract request. 
• Create and maintain open and timely lines of communication with all stakeholders.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work cooperatively with company and vendor employees.
• Represent the corporation at various community, business and industry functions.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Level 1:

• Minimum of (3) three years of purchasing/arbitration/negotiation experience required.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Finance, Engineering or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, required.

Level II: 

• Minimum of (5) five years strategic sourcing, commodity management, purchasing or arbitration/negotiation experience required.  
• Law degree and/or Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of strategic sourcing methodology and approaches.
• Ability to learn contract law.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Motivated self-starter with ability to work in a dynamic utility. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with managers and employees at all levels.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and MS Project.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to business problems. 
• Goal and deadline oriented.
• Ability to lead and participate in cross-functional teams.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
The mental and physical descriptions are representative of the activities an employee in an office job performs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mental description: Understand, remember, apply oral and/or written instructions or other information, and communicate routine factual information. Apply common sense in performing job functions, usually within a set of rules or guidelines.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee continuously accesses, inputs, and retrieves electronic information and communicates regarding the information.  Employee frequently moves about the office space. Employee must be able to operate routine office equipment including computers and similar equipment. Must be able to routinely perform this work for an average of 6-8 hours per day and occasional extended hours as necessary. Must be capable of regular, reliable, and timely attendance.

Specific lifting abilities required by this job include: Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or continuously to lift, carry, push, pull or sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if moving about is only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work environment: Routinely perform work indoors in climate-controlled shared work area with moderate noise level. Willing to travel up to 15% (e.g. 3.5 days/month) by automobile (as driver and passenger), commercial airlines, rental vehicles and public transportation and be able to lodge in public facilities. Travel will be necessary to conduct the duties of this job and the employee must have proper licensing to operate a motor vehicle.

This description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties, and requirements for employees in this position. Job descriptions may and do change periodically. Where positions are covered by a collective bargaining unit agreement, the terms and conditions of the agreement will apply.

About our Company: We are a customer, growth and safety focused utility company that is dedicated to our communities. We improve life with energy as an energy partner of choice. Our diverse culture fuels unique perspectives, opening doors to new insights and possibilities. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, we have over 3000 employees and serve 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states (South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Arkansas).

Enjoy our Comprehensive Benefits Package!  Annual discretionary bonuses, 401(k) (6% company match and up to 9% company retirement contribution), tuition reimbursement, generous paid time off benefits, including paid holidays and parental leave, company paid life insurance and disability benefits (short and long term), an employee assistance program and well-being benefits, and competitive medical, dental and vision insurance.

Candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check. 

Black Hills Energy does not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.