IT Procurement Specialist II

Arizona Public Service generates reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.

Summary

The IT Procurement Specialist II manages and executes operational IT procurement activities in support of the buying requirements of the IT Business Unit. Identifies IT procurement efficiencies and executes supply chain IT category strategies, targets and schedules in order to achieve goals and objectives for cost management, inventory management, supplier management including supplier diversity and process improvement. Manages IT Business Unit partnerships to deliver excellent customer service. Analyzes costs, redlines and negotiates legal terms and conditions for multi-million dollar IT contracts (software, software as a service (SaaS), IT services, IT hardware, IT projects), effectively communicates and presents to IT Business Unit leadership and Supply Chain leadership, and identifies strategies and solutions to help IT Business Unit partners to better manage costs with IT supplier engagements and IT supplier services/software/other information technology products/services. Executes IT RFx and Procure-to-Pay (P2P) process in an efficient and cost-effective manner while supporting continuous process improvement and customer satisfaction.

Minimum Requirements

• A four-year Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or other job-related discipline from an accredited college or university
• Plus three (3) years of procurement experience in materials or services positions.
• In lieu of bachelor's degree, seven (7) years of procurement experience in materials or services positions required.

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications:

• Exposure to strategic supply chain management.
• Experience using Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.
• Exceptional analytical, verbal and written communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in using analytical software tools such as Microsoft Excel and Access.

Major Accountabilities

1) Serves as primary IT procurement contact with IT Business Unit partners and IT suppliers to ensure a continuous flow of quality IT hardware/IT services/software/SaaS/PaaS to meet or exceed service levels at the lowest total cost.

2) Executes P2P process for IT hardware, software, SaaS, PaaS and IT services in an efficient and cost-effective manner to maximize value. Coordinates supply chain processes to achieve expected results. Monitors and measures performance, evaluates effectiveness, and communicates results. Executes IT RFx (request for information, request for proposal, request for quote, request for bid) process utilizing technology and other resources to source innovative IT suppliers for IT services, software, SaaS, PaaS, to ensure appropriate, proactive response. Leads the RFx bid evaluation, supplier technology proof of concept, IT product/solution demos, IT supplier negotiation and contracting of long-term IT master agreements and software contracts including key performance indicators (KPIs) up to $20M in spend with autonomous decision making with appropriate IT Business Unit partners.

3) Manages multiple internal and external stakeholders to influence key aspects of IT projects, budgets and orders including accelerating their overall progression. Acts as procurement value-added partner to the IT Business Unit at all levels of management on both routine and significant processes/concerns related to IT Procurement, IT Vendor and Asset Management Office (VAMO) and/or Materials Management to achieve a necessary result.

4) Develops, plans and leads negotiations with IT suppliers that include pricing along with contract terms and conditions on medium/high complexity multi-year and multi-million dollar IT contracts (e.g. SaaS contract, IT master agreements and IT standalone agreements). As the contract owner the Procurement Specialist also owns the process of coordinating internal contract review/redlining input from various internal company subject matter experts (contract analysts, legal, cybersecurity, data protection, insurance, tax, accounting and others). Involves IT business unit stakeholders to ensure the IT business partner's project plan is adhered to.

5) Develops comprehensive market and data driven negotiation plans to lead complex negotiations with IT suppliers in establishing enterprise contracts. Leads as a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) champion for key/critical and strategic IT suppliers. Builds strong working relationships with IT suppliers by negotiating expedited dates (for IT hardware) and negotiating best prices for IT services/software/SaaS, managing invoice discrepancies and adherence to contracts, and working through change orders. Utilizes MRP system for determining necessary resources (IT hardware, software and IT services) to meet IT Business Unit and IT project schedules.

6) Uses data analytics and information from IT business unit partners to identify procurement operational efficiencies and execute process improvements with cross functional collaboration between buying groups and IT Vendor and Asset Management Office (VAMO). Identifies and executes IT supplier efficiency opportunities. Drives development of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models to help derive optimal value of procurement solutions. Employs standard cost modelling including "should cost" and general "cost vs. benefit" models. Gathers data; identifies issues; relates and compares; identifies cause-effect; interprets different viewpoints; determines and takes a course of action after identifying and developing possible consequences.

Hybrid: Employees in hybrid roles work both in their home offices (virtually) and alongside their colleagues (in person).

In order for employees to build strong relationships and to promote meaningful in-person interactions, hybrid employees are expected to work about 40% of their time in-person at an APS or other (non-home office) location.

*Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).

*Working from a home office requires adequate technology and an appropriate ergonomic set up.

*Role types are subject to change based on business need.