Senior Purchasing Specialist (6080)

Are you looking for an opportunity with plenty of growth potential? Do you enjoy working in an exciting, fast-paced, collaborative environment? Are you interested in working with the world’s most innovative companies to create a more connected world?

Connecting Continents. Impacting Communities.

The backbone of the Internet is a series of high-tech subsea fiber optic cables deployed throughout the globe - SubCom has deployed over 50% of them. Our employees ensure data communications networks are engineered, manufactured, deployed to the highest standards, enabling faster and more reliable connectivity to communities worldwide. Every member of the SubCom team plays a role in an end-to-end process that is critical to enterprises, governments, big cities, and rural towns.

We encourage, expect, and value creativity, thoughtful risk taking, openness to change, and diverse perspectives. Whether you’re a seasoned applicant seeking a new and exciting challenge, or you’re new to the workforce and looking for a flexible, rewarding, and fast-paced position with an innovative and stable organization (since 1953), SubCom has opportunities to advance your career.

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Senior Purchasing Specialist to manage and coordinate the procurement of maritime supplies, spare parts, equipment, and services required for vessel operations. The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of maritime procurement practices, vendor management, and international shipping regulations. You will play a key role in ensuring timely, cost-effective, and quality procurement to support vessel maintenance and operational readiness.

Responsibilities

• Source and procure marine equipment, spare parts, consumables, and technical services for vessels in line with company and regulatory standards.
• Develop and maintain relationships with reliable suppliers and service providers worldwide.
• Ability to strategically negotiate annual sourcing agreements
• Review and analyze requisitions from vessels and shore-based marine departments.
• Request and evaluate quotations, negotiate pricing and delivery terms with vendors.
• Issue purchase orders (POs), confirm order acceptance, and follow up on order status and delivery timelines.
• Coordinate with logistics providers and ensure timely delivery of goods to vessels at various ports.
• Ensure all procured items comply with IMO, SOLAS, and other applicable maritime standards.
• Monitor supplier performance, handle non-conformities, and manage warranty claims or returns as necessary.
• Collaborate with vessel superintendents, technical managers, and port agents to ensure seamless procurement operations.
• Maintain accurate records of purchases, pricing, and delivery documentation in ERP or procurement software.
• Contribute to cost-saving, quality, performance, and procurement process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Maritime Studies, Marine Engineering, or related field.
• Experience:
  • Minimum 8 years of purchasing experience, in the maritime or shipping industry. Direct experience in Maritime Provisioning with a cruise ship operator, commercial vessel operator, or military preferred.
• Knowledge of:
  • Marine equipment, vessel types, and maritime terminology
  • International Sourcing and Logistics
  • Marine classification society requirements and safety standards
• Skills:
  • Strong negotiation, communication, and collaboration skills
  • Advanced cross-departmental and cross-functional management ability in a matrixed organization
  • Advanced organizational and time management abilities
  • Experience in process development, process management / improvement
  • Ability to mine data from disparate systems, pull into a useable format, present to impact decision-making
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision; a self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset
  • Proficiency in procurement software (e.g., ShipServ, ShipNet, Oracle, or similar systems)
  • Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Candidates for positions with SubCom must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Employment eligibility verification will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Our selection procedure is based on local, state and federal law.

Please be sure to attach a resume to your application. We are not able to consider applications without a resume.

BENEFITS

SubCom offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to: competitive salaries, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverages, FSA, HSA, generous vacation, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and a 401(k) plan with generous company match. Additionally, some positions may be eligible for shift differential.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITY

SubCom is committed to providing a work environment that prohibits discrimination based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristics protected by applicable law or regulation.

SubCom engineers, manufactures, and installs subsea fiber optic data cables - the unsung heroes of global communication. With an unrelenting focus on quality, reliability, and value, SubCom offers flexible end-to-end building blocks for the high-tech networks that are the backbone of the world's digital infrastructure. While the company's origins date back to the mid-19^th century, SubCom has deployed enough cable to circle the equator more than 25 times since its entry into the communications industry in 1955.

SUBCOM’S CORE VALUES

Quality - Accountability - Teamwork - Innovation