Technical Procurement Analyst — Water & Wastewater Infrastructure

Let’s get specific. Can you do the following?

Role context

Company: Thompson Pipe Group – Pressure | Location: Grand Prairie, TX 75050 | Department: Central Purchasing

Reporting line: Vice President of Purchasing | Team leadership: None (individual contributor)

**FLSA Status:
**Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Core challenges (yes/no?)

• Yes to turning AWWA/ASTM/ANSI specifications and detailed engineering drawings into exact purchasing requirements for concrete, steel, and FRP pressure pipe projects?
• Yes to evaluating alternates that fully meet technical/quality standards while improving cost, availability, and lead time?
• Yes to sourcing and qualifying vendors for steel, cement, aggregate, resin, gaskets, coatings, and outsourced components—and maintaining an approved supplier base?
• Yes to negotiating pricing, payment terms, lead times, and volume deals that protect schedules, cost targets, and margin objectives?
• Yes to building supplier relationships, conducting performance reviews, and resolving disputes constructively?
• Yes to supporting high-volume project purchasing across multiple plants?
• Yes to reading engineering buyout lists, verifying against drawings, and fixing discrepancies between documents?
• Yes to using ERP (IFS) and the Purchasing Tracker to analyze daily demand, identify shortages, and drive next actions?
• Yes to coordinating with Production, Engineering, Receiving, and Project Management to eliminate material bottlenecks?
• Yes to issuing POs, confirming acknowledgments, tracking supplier schedules, and ensuring on-time delivery?
• Yes to watching commodity markets (steel, cement, resin, and more) and adjusting strategy accordingly?
• Yes to maintaining accurate records, reporting cost savings, and improving purchasing processes?

What you’ll need to say “yes” confidently

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and industry standards (AWWA/ASTM/ANSI) tied to pressure pipe manufacturing.
• Proven negotiation skills for price, terms, and lead time optimization.
• Experience qualifying alternative materials/suppliers and managing ongoing vendor relationships.
• Analytical problem solver with attention to detail and strong organization.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving manufacturing environment with multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across teams and levels.
• Microsoft Office (especially Excel) proficiency; ERP exposure (IFS or similar) preferred.
• Self-starter mentality with a collaborative mindset.
• Knowledge of water/wastewater markets and commodities (steel, cement, resin, aggregate) is a plus.

Background that helps

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 2–3 years of purchasing/procurement work, ideally in manufacturing.
• Experience buying engineered concrete, steel, or FRP pipe—or comparable capital/industrial products—strongly preferred.
• Comfort with reading engineering drawings/specs and pipeline/pressure pipe terminology is a plus.

How we work

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, generally 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (varies by facility).
• After-hours as business needs dictate.
• Occasional Saturday work.