Associate Sourcing Project Specialist / Sourcing Project Specialist

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.
Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.
Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.
This position may be filled at either the Associate Sourcing Project Specialist or Sourcing Project Specialist level, depending on the selected candidate’s background and years of experience.
Associate Sourcing Project Specialist ($73,700-$104,633)
Position Summary
Provides sourcing direction and performs sourcing activities and leverages supply chain resources to effectively support projects. Negotiates with suppliers representing internal stakeholders, executes contracts and monitors supplier performance to optimize project success.
Essential Responsibilities
SOURCING - Sources for goods and services in support of significant company projects (up to $5M). Coordinates the process for defining technical bid requirements and specifications and specialized terms and conditions required by individual capital projects. Executes bidding events and coordinates bid evaluation teams to analyze proposals and award business. Seeks opportunities for cost savings and cost avoidance.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Creates and coordinates a project plan for the sourcing of goods and services and engages the necessary supply chain resources in support of the plan. Interacts with business unit personnel to integrate the sourcing and business project plans. Maintains relationships with key business unit stakeholders and communicates sourcing project status. Establishes metrics for evaluating and documenting specific supplier services and contractual requirements and monitors performance.
NEGOTIATIONS - Negotiates contracts representing company interests in significant project purchases associated with projects. Coordinates the resolution of disputes and contract adjustments with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT - Monitors supplier performance to ensure supplier commitments and progress milestones are met and project value has been achieved. Collaborates with a category manager to support project needs with key suppliers in alignment with category strategies.
RISK CONTAINMENT - Applies understanding of underlying principles of contract law to administer all project contract agreements and contractual forms. Defines and manages the risk elements of the contract and assembles all necessary documentation for obtaining project specific insurance. Limits company liability by ensuring all required documents and have been obtained and are satisfactory.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Project Management, Business, Finance or equivalent experience required.
Requires three plus years of supply chain experience or five plus years experience in company operations with significant exposure to supply chain processes.
Basic contract knowledge, negotiation and project management skills required.
Willing and able to pursue Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or equivalent.
Must be results-oriented and customer focused. Strong interpersonal and relationship skills are required.
Up to 10% domestic travel is required.
Associate Sourcing Project Specialist is an entry level role incorporating a two year developmental plan that, upon completion, will allow for promotional consideration to Sourcing Project Specialist. Failure to complete the developmental plan within two years can result in removal from the position.
Preferred Requirements
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and experience with purchasing and sourcing systems strongly preferred.
SAP COUPA experience
Sourcing Project Specialist ($84,900-$120,567)
Position Summary
Provides leadership and direction for large, complex projects. Develops negotiation strategies and leads negotiations with suppliers representing all internal stakeholders. Executes contracts and monitors supplier performance to optimize project success. Mentors, coaches and oversees development of associate sourcing project specialists.
Essential Responsibilities
SOURCING - Sources for high-value, complex goods and services in support of significant company projects (up to $50M). Leads the process for defining technical bid requirements and specifications and specialized terms and conditions required by individual capital projects. Leads bidding events and bid evaluation teams to analyze proposals and award business. Seeks opportunities to consolidate sourcing activities to encourage supplier competition. Seeks opportunities for cost savings and cost avoidance
PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Creates and manages a project plan for the sourcing of goods and services and controls the necessary supply chain resources in support of the plan. Interacts with business unit personnel to integrate the sourcing and business project plans. Maintains relationships with key business unit stakeholders and communicates sourcing project status. Establishes metrics for evaluating and documenting specific supplier services and contractual requirements and monitors performance.
NEGOTIATIONS - Develops negotiation strategies and leads negotiations representing company interests in major project purchases associated with capital projects. Facilitates the resolution of disputes and contract adjustments with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT - Establishes and oversees the process to track and monitor supplier performance, commitments and progress milestones to ensure full value of the project has been achieved. Identifies opportunities in collaboration with a category manager to support project needs with key suppliers in alignment with category strategies. Manages tier I and II supplier relationships as assigned
RISK CONTAINMENT - Applies understanding of underlying principles of contract law to administer all project contract agreements and contractual forms, Defines and manages the risk elements of the contract and assembles all necessary documentation for obtaining project-specific insurance. Limits company liability by ensuring all required documents and notices have been obtained and are satisfactory.
. MENTORING - Mentors associate project specialist in sourcing event management, negotiation strategy, program standardization, supplier management, project management and risk containment.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Project Management, Business, Finance or equivalent experience required.
Requires five of purchasing, sourcing or logistics experience.
Project management experience is a plus.
Significant contract knowledge, negotiation and project management skills required.
Requires considerable knowledge and expertise in sourcing and supply chain management principles.
Must pursue and maintain Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification or equivalent.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and significant experience with purchasing and sourcing systems is required.
Must be results-oriented and customer focused.
Strong interpersonal, relationship, and presentation skills are required.
Up to 20% domestic travel is required.
Preferred Qualification
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and experience with purchasing and sourcing systems strongly preferred.
SAP COUPA experience
Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.
Our Values
Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe
Our Employee Commitments
Work that makes a difference
A team you can count of
Opportunities to grow
Rewards that help you thrive
Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this p