IT Procurement Specialist

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main's 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

Job Summary

Ensure that the IT supply chain needs of the business are met by ensuring transactional procurement functions are performed to reduce costs, ensure supply continuity, mitigate risk, and increase efficiency. This role is responsible for the fulfillment of orders via direct purchasing or via our procurement catalog for standard IT good and services. The IT Procurement Specialist reviews costs, develops relationships with vendors and suppliers, and makes recommendations. This position requires a good understanding of business operations and process improvement. Additionally, the IT Procurement Specialist must have strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills, as they work with a diverse number of people, such as executives, suppliers, vendors, and supply chain managers. They are responsible for research, cost analysis, and negotiating contracts and will have a strong partnership with the IT Asset Management team.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities

• Maintain excellent communication with all business stakeholders
• Working with VARs and technology vendors and partners
• Analyze purchase and offer proposals and negotiate accordingly
• Leverage alternate suppliers for competitive sourcing, inventory shortages, and logistics pricing
• Contract negotiations to reduce purchasing costs and shipping fees
• Monitoring the performance of suppliers and serve as a resource to resolve common issues and problems
• Generate new or revised purchase orders from an approved purchase request; verifying vendor product information, shipping information, delivery dates, budget codes, taxes and other related information
• Request quotes from a variety of vendors and monitor price changes
• Assist in asset management procedures as required (life cycle management)
• Outstanding knowledge of software license terms and regulations
• Understand technical hardware specifications and conduct industry research to understand available options
• Verify and reconcile invoices
• Review and audit existing contracts
• Track and report key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness
• Negotiate with external vendors to secure advantageous terms
• Finalize purchase details of orders and deliveries
• Maintain accurate records of all IT accounting records
• Oversee the procurement and fulfillment of all necessary IT goods and services.
• Understanding shipping and logistics within the hardware and software solutions

Procurement and vendor management skills - Proven ability to source, evaluate, and manage hardware and software vendors to support IT operations while ensuring cost-effective purchasing aligned with organizational policies and standards. Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing procurement requests for proper categorization, pricing, coding, and data accuracy in both the items database and request catalog
• Managing daily IT hardware and software purchase requests, issuing Purchase Orders (POs), and tracking order fulfillment through delivery
• Evaluating sourcing requests for completeness and accuracy, and escalating or clarifying as needed to ensure efficient processing
• Obtaining competitive quotes, comparing vendor options, and negotiating pricing to support cost savings and procurement efficiency
• Building and maintaining relationships with key technology vendors, while ensuring adherence to internal sourcing procedures and policies
• Utilizing procurement platforms, ERP systems, and vendor portals to manage transactions and maintain organized, auditable records
• Collaborating across multiple communication channels, including shared email aliases and ticketing systems, in a high-volume workflow
• Supporting ad-hoc reporting and spend analysis to inform purchasing strategies and budget tracking

Experience with procurement and asset management systems - Proficient in the use of enterprise procurement platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa), asset management systems, and vendor management tools to streamline purchasing and ensure alignment with IT asset tracking.

Certifications - Preferred certifications include Certified in Procurement and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or ITIL Foundation.

Contract and licensing knowledge - Familiarity with software licensing models, hardware agreements, and vendor contracts, with the ability to evaluate and track contractual terms to ensure compliance and lifecycle cost optimization.

Education - Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, or a related field is preferred.

Requirements

• 3+ years in IT Procurement (Preferred)
• Experience in industry procedures, costs, and terms
• ServiceNow - Procurement Catalog, CMDB, Asset Management
• Strong math, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Aptitude in decision-making and working with financial records
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
• Able to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Aptitude in decision-making and working with financial records

Core & Main is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment at Core & Main is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Core & Main does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship, or any other basis protected by law.

None of the questions in this application are intended to elicit information regarding any protected characteristics, nor imply any limitation, illegal preferences or discrimination based upon non-job-related information or protected characteristics.

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