Operational & Project Procurement Specialist II

Requisition Number: 28375 

A subsidiary of UGI Corporation, UGI Energy Services supplies and markets natural gas, liquid fuels, renewable natural gas, and electricity to 42,000 customer locations across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US. We are a supplier, marketer, and midstream services provider - one backed by 135 years of natural gas experience, plus our own expanding energy infrastructure. Along with buying and selling energy commodities at the wholesale level, UGIES owns and operates key midstream natural gas assets.

We offer comprehensive benefits, some of which are:

• Paid Vacation time starts with 3 weeks off

• 9 Paid Holidays

• Medical plan, prescription, dental, vision, life insurance

• Paid parental and volunteer time

• 401(k) matched savings plan

• Tuition Reimbursement  

Job Summary- 

The primary responsibility of this role is to work as the business unit owner for operational and project-based sourcing activities to achieve targeted savings across all Region/BU categories, negotiate local contracts, monitor supplier performance, and coordinate procurement activities for successful project delivery. Leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance procurement analytics, data extraction, and decision-making capabilities. Utilize Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies to optimize vendor partnerships and drive value. Manage daily activities within the purchasing process, serving as the primary interface with business owners, project teams, and supplier representatives. Facilitate sourcing for buyer-assisted requisition channels and provide procurement input to project and category contracting strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities-

Operational Procurement & Business Integration Support with Region/Business Unit (BU) Groups Served

• Support operational procurement leadership in integrating operational procurement in key business functions.
• Provide Business Unit Stakeholders with direction in navigating to the correct procurement team member.
• Perform day-to-day operational support for:
  • Demand management - analysis of business needs for supply and services
  • Supplier issue resolution - includes monitoring service requirements working with the business and supplier to resolve conflicts and discrepancies
  • Supplier Risk Management – leads BU supplier risk evaluations and compliance management activities as part of comprehensive SRM strategies
• Support supplier management and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, provide Region/BU support and pre-qualification of potential bidders as it relates to local, regional and/or global tenders.
• Support the planning of procurement priorities and projects and provide business context to Category management and collaborate on required categories.
• Support improvements in purchasing and procedure efficiencies and working capital, in collaboration with Region/BU leadership and field personnel.
• Support overall costs for Region/BU through negotiation and strategic initiatives.
• Assist in researching new sources of supply and possible alternate products/technologies.
• Support Region/BU Contract implementation, mitigate risk and ensure collaboration with the Law Department.
• Conduct Local BU bidding/RFx process execution through analysis, negotiation, award and implementation.
• Investigate possible customer solutions with assistance from others as needed.
• Leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to extract and analyze procurement data from purchase orders, contracts, and attachments to enhance decision-making and identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Support AI-driven procurement intelligence initiatives to improve spend visibility, supplier performance tracking, and predictive analytics capabilities.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships through SRM best practices, including performance scorecards, regular business reviews, and collaborative improvement initiatives.
• Conduct periodic site visits with offsite stakeholders and vendors to strengthen relationships and ensure alignment on procurement objectives.

Project Procurement Coordination & Execution

• Work with the Project Management, Construction and Engineering Teams and/or Category Management to deliver value through effective and efficient project sourcing activity, rigorous contract management using tactics within boundaries of relevant laws and regulations and approved budgets.
• Execute and manage performance of the project contract strategy elements pertaining to assigned scope.
• Accountable to the Project Management, Construction and Engineering Teams and/or Category Management for applicable procurement deliverables for each project milestone.
• Conduct/support contract negotiations as needed.

Execute Procure to Invoice Process

Scope of process

• Manage P-Card Program, if assigned
• PO Processing
• Spot Buying based on established thresholds
• PO Delivery Management
• Contract Maintenance
• Master Data Management
• Content Management
• Analytics and AI-enabled insights
• Reporting

Key Activities

• Convert assigned requisitions to a purchase order (PO); approve POs up to a specified amount.
• Verify purchase requisitions for accuracy, completion, required approvals, and contract compliance.
• Responsible for inbound tactical supply/replenishment; ensures order accuracy, ship method, payment terms, etc.
• Perform purchase order acknowledgement updates and processing, as well as resolve any exceptions to the PO terms and conditions, ensuring collaboration with Legal.
• Maintain purchasing compliance through maximizing the use of established agreements.
• Ensure products and services are obtained at budgeted prices

Internal Customer, Supplier, and Account Payable Management

• Support resolution of supplier issues impacting business activity.
• Respond to nonstandard requests from internal and/or external customers.
• Interact with business stakeholders to identify requirements and understand business drivers.
• Address and resolve inquiries, discrepancies and support expediting orders (e.g., missing items/order status of products from internal customers).
• Solve problems in straightforward situations; analyze possible solutions using technical experience and judgment and precedents.
• Ensure timely and accurate payment processing through collaboration with Accounts Payable and suppliers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-

Ability to work in a global, matrixed team environment

Experience with operational and project procurement across various channels

Experience with operational purchasing across various procurement channels (requisitions, change orders, expedited purchasing and company credit cards known as "P-Cards") desired; experience with purchase requisition and order management. Project procurement delivery experience and knowledge in application of strategic sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), supplier management and project execution.

Experience in the procure to pay processes, tools and philosophies

Familiarity with spend assessment (from both a technology and a methodology perspective)

Demonstrated contract administration experience

Effective in the demonstration of key competencies

• Collaboration and teamwork
• Conflict resolution skills
• Business acumen
• Analytical and measurement driven
• Process-driven
• Problem solving
• Attention to detail and ability to multi-task
• Oral and written communication skills
• Organization and time management skills
• Excellent project management skills

Exposure to eProcurement, eCatalogs, and contract management

Exposure to leading P2P technology practices and trends

Contract negotiation experience and notions of Legal principles

Experienced with Sourcing Systems and ERP

Strategic Sourcing experience, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), technical buying, eRFX and eAuction strategies and P2P technologies experience preferred

Hands-on experience in SAP Ariba including eProcurement, eCatalogs, eRFX and eAuction strategies and contract management technologies

Demonstrated success in gathering data, conducting analyses, and generating high-quality outputs

Experience with process, quality control, and workflow management and design preferred

Familiarity with AI-powered procurement tools and data analytics platforms for extracting insights from procurement documents, purchase orders, and unstructured data

Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal stakeholders across multiple disciplines across UGI and with suppliers

Comply with UGI's Procurement Controls Policy (PCP)

Execute compliance activities including audit resolution as applicable

Education and Experience-

Bachelor's Degree in Business (or other related degreed program) and/or Associate's Degree plus years of procurement experience preferred; or combined equivalent of education and experience considered

Minimum of 3 years in procurement operations; project procurement experience desired

UGI Energy Services, LLC  is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected class in its practices.