Global Procurement Specialist

Job Description

We are a global law firm with a powerful strategic focus and real momentum. Our industry-focused strategy is seeing us take on pioneering work in places that others have yet to reach. Our shared values define our culture and our workplace. You will find us to be unusually collegial, team-oriented, and ready to innovate. We work seamlessly across practices, offices and around the world. This elimination of boundaries has allowed us to evolve into a law firm that works as hard for its culture as it does for its clients.

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for acquiring goods and services for the firm in a cost effective and efficient manner.  This role is crucial to ensuring that the firm has the necessary resources to operate effectively whilst maintaining budgetary constraints.  The role scope encompasses a wide range of activities, including onboarding new suppliers, negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships and ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement, negotiation skills, and a proven ability to drive efficiency and cost savings.

This position reports to the Manager, Procurement. This position is ideally located in Austin, Dallas, or Houston, Texas. The role will require presence in office from time to time pursuant to the firm’s hybrid work policy.  

Sourcing and Supplier Selection: conducting market research and identifying potential suppliers by evaluating their capabilities.  This involves issuing:

• Request for Information (RFI) to research a supplier’s business, offerings and solutions.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) which is used to evaluate responses to structured and formally documented project requirements, potentially leading to vendor selection.
• Request for Quote (RFQ) to compare pricing and product specifications.

Contract Negotiations: to secure favorable terms and conditions, including pricing and payment terms.

• Negotiate strong commercials, with cost savings and cost avoidance where possible.
• Negotiate strong contractual terms and conditions which fit within stakeholder requirements, and comply with relevant laws and regulations, by collaborating with General Counsel, NRF’s Data Protection Officer and Information Security team.
• Manage contract and vendor through life cycle.
• Liaise with stakeholders at all levels to ensure best outcome is achieved on all contracts.

Vendor and Contract Management: maintaining vendor contact details, related documentation and work with other Procurement colleagues to keep contract database updated.

• Acting as an advisor for stakeholders to ensure they understand what their contract does and doesn’t include.
• Help train and mentor technical staff to have a better commercial understanding.
• Running financial credentials checks.
• Work with manager to improve and implement procurement processes.
• Work with manager and stakeholders on strategic contract management.

Managing Supplier Relationships: building and maintaining strong relationships with vendors to ensure supply chain reliability.  Regularly communicate with suppliers to address issues, monitor supplier performance and explore opportunities to collaborate, leading to better services levels and innovation.

• Maintaining existing key vendor relationships and onboarding new suppliers as required.
• Run periodic contract governance meetings as required.

Compliance and Risk Management: ensure that all procurement activities comply with internal policies, procedures, and external regulations, including adhering to ethical standards, managing risks associated with supplier performance and ensuring contracts are legally sound.

Order Management: Liaise with vendors for quotations, ensuring they can meet all our requirements and ensuring prices are competitive.

• Liaise with internal stakeholders to ensure procurement processes are followed and deadlines are achieved.
• Follow governance processes to ensure correct approvals are obtained.
• Creating Purchase Orders that detail the items, quantities and pricing required.
• Issuing Purchase Orders to suppliers and confirming receipt to ensure that the order is acknowledged.
• Tracking Orders to monitor status, ensuring timely delivery and addressing any delays or discrepancies with supplier.

Cost Analysis and Budget Control: analyze costs associated with purchases to ensure that the firm operates within its budget whilst maximizing value.

• Help reduce costs where possible.
• Work with Finance teams to ensure contract costs are correct and in line with industry standards.
• Track savings and cost avoidance.
• Work with manager on strategic cost savings.

Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze data to identify trends and make informed decisions.

• Track spending, savings, evaluate supplier performance and generate management reports.

Special Projects

• Assisting Procurement Management with the implementation of a new procurement tool.
• Help where necessary with co-ordination of special projects, for example: Global Website refresh, Laptop upgrades, etc.

General Administration Tasks

• Dealing with queries in the Global Procurement and Vendor Management Team mailbox.
• Assist manager as required.
• Any other admin tasks which may be required.

Other duties: Please note this job description does not cover or contain all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, or vendor management, preferably within a legal or professional services environment.
• Ability to build strong trusting relationships with business partners and suppliers.
• Demonstrated experience in problem solving, consensus building, and negotiation.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with procurement software and systems, such as e-procurement platforms or contract management tools.
• Knowledge of contract law and IT Service Delivery Management (ITIL) preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite in particular data manipulation in Excel and presentation build in PowerPoint.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Benefit packages include access to three medical plans, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Employees can also access pre-tax benefits such as health savings and flexible spending accounts. Norton Rose Fulbright helps provide financial security by allowing employees to participate in a 401(k) savings plan and profit-sharing plans if eligible. Full- time employees are eligible to access fertility benefits designed to support fertility and family-forming journeys.

In addition to the Firm’s health and welfare benefits above, we offer a competitive paid time off plan, which provides a minimum of 20 days off based on your role and tenure with the firm. The firm offers a generous paid parental leave benefit allowing parents to take a minimum of 14 weeks of paid leave to bond with your newborn, or adopted child(ren). Employees are also entitled to 11 Firm holidays.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal laws and their implementing regulations that require the collection and recording of certain data and information. The information we receive will not be used to make any decision regarding employment and will be kept separate from your application. Similarly, self-identification information is kept confidential and used only in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Norton Rose Fulbright is committed to providing reasonable accommodation as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation to complete your application, please contact [email protected]. Please provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

Equal Employment Opportunity