Procurement Specialist

This role leads sourcing strategy and execution for defined categories and sub-categories, with a strong focus on data center construction and long-lead electrical and mechanical procurement. The Procurement Specialist partners closely with senior stakeholders, represents supply chain in project meetings, and manages the end-to-end sourcing process from requirements gathering through contract award and change orders. The position requires deep procurement expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to drive cost-effective, compliant, and timely sourcing decisions in a complex project environment.

Responsibilities

• Engage with internal stakeholders to understand business and project requirements and translate them into clear sourcing strategies for goods and services.
• Define, develop, and implement category and sub-category strategies, including detailed plans, sourcing pipelines, and process improvements.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of business drivers and demonstrate how procurement strategies support and enhance the overall business strategy.
• Act as a subject matter expert on procurement policies, processes, and best practices, providing guidance and advice to business areas and project teams.
• Manage key sourcing activities for business and construction projects, ensuring timely delivery, adherence to budgets, and appropriate risk management.
• Lead RFQ and RFP execution, including bid preparation, supplier communication, proposal evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Perform cost analysis and other commercial evaluations to support negotiation strategies and supplier selection decisions.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with key strategic suppliers, while identifying and qualifying potential new partners.
• Monitor and promote compliance with the organizations sourcing and procurement processes, acting as an internal consultant at each stage of the sourcing lifecycle.
• Oversee purchase order management, including creation, tracking, and follow-up to ensure on-time delivery and accurate documentation.
• Represent supply chain at on-site project meetings, providing procurement insights, status updates, and risk mitigation recommendations.
• Support the project change management process by helping establish entitlement, preparing and issuing awards for new scope, and managing change orders.
• Focus on data center construction procurement, particularly electrical and mechanical long-lead items, to ensure availability in line with project schedules.
• Use data analysis tools, including Power BI and standard office applications, to monitor performance, track spend, and report on procurement activities.
• Prepare and maintain materials, reports, and documentation for management review and decision-making.

Essential Skills

• 10+ years of experience in procurement or purchasing, including significant experience in purchase order management and sourcing execution.
• Proven experience in data center construction procurement, with a focus on electrical and mechanical long-lead items.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a track record of building and maintaining strategic supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, including experience performing cost analysis and evaluating commercial proposals.
• Solid understanding of procurement and sourcing techniques, category management, and supply chain management principles.
• Hands-on experience with RFQ/RFP execution and managing competitive bidding processes.

Work Environment

This position is based on-site in Columbus, OH, with an estimated schedule of approximately 40 hours per week. The role involves regular attendance at project meetings and close collaboration with project, engineering, and supply chain teams in an active construction and data center environment. The work requires the use of standard office software tools such as Word, Excel, and Power BI, as well as specialized project tools such as Bluebeam and P6 when applicable. The environment includes time spent in field or construction areas where safety is a priority. Required personal protective equipment includes a monitor, keyboard, headset, and mouse for office work, and a Class 2 safety helmet, Class 2 or higher safety vest, cut and impact resistant gloves, ANSI Z87.1 or higher safety glasses or visor, composite toe work boots made of leather or leather alternative that extend a minimum of four inches above the ankle (no low-cut or sneaker style), and a Class 2 or higher reflective jacket suitable for cold and wet weather when in the field. Travel may occasionally be required for training, with a modest travel allowance provided when needed.

This is a Contract position based out of Lebanon, OH.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $51.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract position based out of Lebanon, OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Lebanon,OH.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.