Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialist

MSC USA - Charleston

Job Summary/Key Responsibilities

The Procurement Specialist will be a key member of the North America Regional Office Procurement Organization, based in Charleston. The role supports procurement activities across multiple business functions within a complex, matrixed multinational environment. The Specialist is responsible for executing sourcing and purchasing activities, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring value creation through cost, quality, service, and risk optimization. Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, effective stakeholder engagement, and a results-driven mindset, with continuous interaction across business units and regional/global procurement teams.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Execute day-to-day purchasing and sourcing activities in line with company procurement policies, compliance requirements, and delegated authorities
• Support sourcing initiatives, negotiations, and supplier selection processes to achieve cost savings, value creation, and service continuity
• Operate effectively within a matrix organization, collaborating with regional, global, and functional procurement teams
• Maintain constant and proactive interaction with internal stakeholders, including Operations, Finance, Legal, and Business Units, to understand needs and align procurement strategies
• Provide support in tender and bidding processes
• Coordinate with Legal and Finance on contracts
• Manage supplier performance, including delivery, quality, service levels, and commercial terms
• Monitor and report on procurement KPIs and metrics (e.g., savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, cycle time, compliance)
• Prepare and analyze data to support negotiations, sourcing decisions, and management reporting
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the procurement organization
• Ensure accurate documentation, contract compliance, and proper use of procurement systems and tools
• Gain exposure to the sourcing process by supporting related procurement activities
• Provide support to supplier coordination across procurement activities
• Ensure compliance with procurement procedures in daily tasks
• Presence required on-site 5 days per week
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, or a related field
• 2-3 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain within a multinational or complex corporate environment
• Demonstrated experience working in a matrix organization with multiple stakeholders and reporting lines
• Familiarity with procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, and supplier management
• Experience using ERP and procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Ariba or similar)

Required Skills

• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze spend, cost drivers, and performance data to support informed decision-making
• Negotiation Skills: Proven ability to support or lead negotiations with suppliers to achieve commercial and operational objectives
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate clearly and build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers at all levels
• Results Orientation: Strong focus on delivering measurable outcomes, meeting deadlines, and achieving procurement targets
• Stakeholder Management: Ability to balance competing priorities and expectations in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Procurement Metrics & KPIs: Solid understanding of procurement performance indicators and experience tracking and reporting against them
• Team player: advanced
• English: expert
• Knowledge of MS Excel with the ability to learn new software

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in a regional or global procurement organization
• Exposure to multiple spend categories (direct, indirect, services, or logistics preferred)
• Continuous improvement mindset with attention to process efficiency and value creation

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time
• Must be able to commute to the designated office location
• Presence required on-site 5 days per week

Work Authorization

• Authorization to work in the U.S

This role requires working on-site in the office for five days a week, from Monday to Friday. There is no option for fully remote or hybrid work in this role, unless required off-site duties are being performed.

What We Offer

• Health Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance: one-time annual salary up to $50,000
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Business Travel Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts - (Health, Dependent Care, Transit/Parking)
• Supplemental Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Plans

You will also have access to additional benefits effective day one:

• Short Term Disability Insurance
• 401K Plan – 3% Safe Harbor Contribution with option for additional 3% employer match.
• Wellness Program initiatives / Free MSC Partner Subscriptions with Calm
• Partner Discount Programs with MSC Cruises, Apple, Dell, Nissan, Whirlpool, AT&T, Pets Best and others.

About Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global leader in transportation and logistics, privately owned and founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte. As one of the world's leading container shipping lines, MSC has 675 offices across 155 countries worldwide, with the MSC Group employing over 200,000 people. The company has evolved from a one vessel operation into a globally respected business with a fleet of 800 vessels that provides timely delivery of goods and services to customers of all industries and sizes. With access to an integrated network of road, rail, air, and sea transport resources which stretches across the globe, the company prides itself on delivering global service with local knowledge. MSC's shipping line sails on 300 trade routes and calls at 520 ports, carrying some 22.5 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually.