Procurement Manager, IT & Cybersecurity
Non-Union Position Supply Chain Staff; Portland, Oregon (US-OR)
Hybrid schedule available for Oregon & Washington residents. Regular FT, Exempt Posting # 5435
About Us:
At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry.
In addition to environmental stewardship, we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility.
NOTE:
This hybrid position is based at our headquarters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the office or be willing to relocate to the Portland metropolitan area. Employees are required to work onsite Tuesdays through Thursdays each week, with remote work flexibility on Mondays and Fridays, subject to business needs. This schedule supports collaboration, connection, and team engagement while providing flexibility for focused remote work.
Position Summary:
NW Natural is transforming Procurement into a strategic business partner that delivers measurable value, strengthens supplier performance, manages risk, and helps the business make better commercial decisions.
You will serve as a strategic advisor to IT&S leaders. You will shape category and sourcing strategies across enterprise software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, hardware, managed services, artificial intelligence, system integration, and professional services. You will also lead complex commercial negotiations, strengthen supplier relationships, and develop a high-performing team capable of supporting the business from early demand planning through contracting and supplier management.
This role is well suited for a collaborative leader who combines technology procurement expertise, strong commercial judgment, and people leadership with influencing skills, the ability to develop a point of view and tell a compelling story to senior stakeholders.
What success looks like
- A trusted and influential procurement partnership with IT&S leadership.
- A clear, forward-looking technology sourcing and renewal pipeline.
- Measurable value through value creation, risk reduction, and improved commercial terms.
- A capable, engaged team with strong category, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing procurement team supporting IT&S, with clear priorities, accountability, performance expectations, and service standards.
- Build team capabilities in category management, strategic sourcing, negotiation, commercial analysis, contract management, stakeholder engagement, and technology procurement.
Category Strategy, Sourcing & Commercial Negotiation
- Own and execute multi-year category strategies across software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, hardware, telecommunications, managed services, artificial intelligence, system integrators, and technology professional services, aligned with IT&S roadmaps and business priorities.
- Drive market analysis, supplier discovery, competitive sourcing, and supplier rationalization, using business cases, commercial benchmarking, and total cost of ownership analysis to guide major technology investment decisions.
- Lead complex, high-value negotiations, applying a strong understanding of SaaS, software, and technology agreements to pricing and licensing models, subscription and consumption terms, statements of work, service levels, renewal and termination provisions, audit rights, data protection, and implementation terms.
Supplier Performance & Risk Management
- Build and manage strategic relationships with critical technology providers and service partners through supplier governance, performance reviews, escalation paths, and improvement plans.
- Oversee suppliers ensuring accountability for contractual commitments, service levels, and value realization, and resolve disputes effectively and efficiently.
Financial & Commercial Analysis
- Develop commercial analyses for multi-million-dollar technology investments, including CAPEX and OPEX impacts, lifecycle cost, savings, cost avoidance, pricing structures, utilization and consumption trends.
- Build performance reporting that demonstrates Procurement’s contribution to financial, operational, and risk-management objectives.
Process, Technology & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with IT&S business leaders and senior stakeholders to gain alignment and influence decisions, maintaining a forward-looking pipeline of technology requirements, sourcing initiatives, and renewals.
- Influence process improvement and workflow, promoting consistent, efficient, and compliant sourcing and contracting practices while simplifying the stakeholder experience.
- Monitor emerging technology and commercial models, including artificial intelligence and cloud services to help IT&S evaluate sourcing options, market dynamics, and associated risks, while contributing to broader transformation initiatives.
Key Relationships
- Information Technology and Cybersecurity (IT&S) leadership and project teams
- Legal, Risk, Finance, Accounting, and business-unit stakeholders
- Procurement leadership and category teams
- Strategic technology suppliers, service providers, and implementation partners
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, finance, information technology, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, or a related commercial function, including meaningful responsibility for technology categories.
- Demonstrated people-leadership experience, including coaching and developing others.
- Demonstrated success leading negotiations, with a strong understanding of SaaS, software, and technology agreements and contracting.
Preferred
- Experience in a regulated, utility, infrastructure, or similarly complex operating environment.
- Experience with SAP S/4HANA, SAP Ariba, or comparable enterprise procurement platforms, along with procurement analytics and reporting tools.
- Demonstrated knowledge of technology commercial models, including software licensing, subscriptions, cloud/token consumption, professional services, statements of work, and total cost of ownership.
- Ability to develop category strategies, lead competitive sourcing events, financial analysis, analyze complex proposals, and translate data into clear business recommendations.
What we offer:
Health & Wellness –
- Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
- Free access to an online wellness resources platform
Work Life Balance -
- Up to 23 Vacation Days
- 80 Hours of Sick Time
- 10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
- 3 weeks paid parental leave
- Be part of a workplace where your voice matters. Engage with our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups that support community and growth.
- 1500 sq foot exercise facility and secure bike room
Financial -
- Meaningful annual incentive bonus opportunity in addition to base salary
- Competitive 401K company contribution and match
- 15% discount on NW Natural stock through Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Up to $5250 a year in tuition reimbursement
- Wellness incentive program
Discounts -
- 20% off natural gas service
- Up to 30% discount at NW Natural Appliance Center
- TriMet Pass for all HQ employees
- Generous discounts with Verizon & AT&T Wireless
Base salary range: $110,250.00 - $157,100.00 per year, depending on qualifications
Annual Target Incentive: Manager, 15.0% target Targets are calculated using eligible earnings during plan year participation. Payout, if earned, is based on company and individual performance for each plan year and may range from 0% – 200% of target. Targets are subject to change in subsequent plan years. Must be employed by September 30 in order to receive any prorated payout.
Application Process: To be considered for this position, submit a complete electronic application including cover letter and resume via our website.
https://www.nwnatural.com/about-us/the-company/careers
Deadline: 11/26/26
Disclosure: We are a drug free workplace and we comply with Federal Drug Free Workplace Act and Department of Transportation regulations. NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
E-Verify Information NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
All applications must be submitted through NW Natural’s Electronic Application System. Resumes submitted via email, fax or mail will not be accepted in lieu of an electronic application.
NW Natural is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace our candidates’ diversity and take affirmative action to employ and advance individuals without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, marital status, genetic information, and all other legally protected characteristics. We forbid discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on any protected status or characteristic. A criminal history is not an automatic bar to employment with NW Natural. Instead, we make individualized assessments regarding qualifications and backgrounds. NW Natural is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation as part of the application process, please contact us at employment@nwnatural.com or (971) 979-6341.
NW Natural does not accept unsolicited submissions or assistance from search firms for posted positions. Resumes submitted by search firms working under a valid and current written contract with NW Natural valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from NW Natural HR/Employment will be deemed the sole property of NW Natural. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by NW Natural as a result of the referral or through other means.
