Job Details
Sector(s)
Component Manufacturing and Research & Development; Project Development; Construction; Operations & Maintenance
Median Pay
$77,030 per year
$37.03 per hour
Job Type
Entry- to Mid-Level
Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements
Associate’s or bachelor’s degree required, little to no experience required
Position Title
Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist
Alternate Titles
Logistics specialist, logistician, and industrial engineer
Job Description
Procurement and supply chain specialists manage supply chain logistics, including sourcing, transport, and management of hydropower equipment, materials, and products.
Education and Training Description
Procurement and supply chain specialists can be hired with an associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate, but a bachelor's degree is required for most positions. Procurement and supply chain specialists most often have a bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management, business, or a related field. Several certifications exist that can be beneficial to demonstrate knowledge of logistics (Association for Supply Chain Management and the International Society of Logistics), but a certification is not required.
Job Profile
Procurement and supply chain specialists keep business logistics efficient. They coordinate the sourcing, transport, and inventory of materials into hydropower manufacturing or construction sectors as well as the transport and delivery of equipment to consumers. Procurement and supply chain specialists coordinate with material suppliers, manufacturing teams, construction teams, and buyers to get materials and products where they need to be when they need to be there. Procurement and supply chain specialists often use sophisticated software programs to plan, manage, and track the movement of goods, sometimes for hydropower equipment that is large and requires complex trucking logistics to transport. Additionally, hydropower procurement and supply chain specialists may need to consider both on-land and in-water delivery logistics.
Procurement and supply chain specialists typically:
- Develop business relationships with material and component suppliers as well as buyers
- Understand buyer’s logistical needs and how to meet them
- Direct the transport, inventory, and warehousing of materials and final products
- Design strategies to minimize time required to move goods
- Review a business’ supply chain logistics and identify areas to increase efficiency
- Present logistical performance data and suggest improvements to management
- Stay up-to-date on advances in logistics technologies and incorporate new technologies into procedures.
Job Skills
Procurement and supply chain specialists typically need:
- Organizational skills. Procurement and supply chain specialists must be able to do several tasks at one time, keep detailed records, verify parts numbers between specifications and catalogs or inventories, and manage several projects at once in a fast-paced workplace.
- Computer skills. Procurement and supply chain specialists must be able to assess and update plant and system asset management databases with the appropriate software.
- Communication skills. Procurement and supply chain specialists need strong communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and do business with suppliers and customers.
- Critical-thinking skills. Procurement and supply chain specialists must develop, adjust, and successfully carry out logistical plans, and they often must find ways to cut costs and improve efficiency.
- Problem-solving skills. Procurement and supply chain specialists must handle unforeseen circumstances, such as supply chain or delivery problems, and adjust plans as needed to resolve the issues.
More Information
For more information on environmental science jobs, see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Logisticians.