CenterPoint Energy, Inc

Lead Specialist, Long Lead Equipment

CenterPoint Energy, Inc$110K — $130K *
Energy & Utilities
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree preferred in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Operations, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
  • 7+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, materials management, or capital projects.
  • Experience managing post-order execution activities for critical equipment.
  • Familiarity with OEM suppliers, EPC contractors, and project teams.
  • Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.

Responsibilities

  • Lead proactive supply assurance activities, identifying critical equipment and developing sourcing strategies.
  • Oversee EPC procurement activities to ensure alignment with project objectives and supply assurance.
  • Serve as project representative for critical equipment and materials delivery assurance.
  • Identify and mitigate risks affecting manufacturing schedules and supplier performance.
  • Provide leadership-ready reports on equipment status and supplier performance.

Benefits

  • Paid training and benefits eligibility beginning on the first day.
  • Flexible work schedules with paid holidays and paid time off.
  • Access to wellness programs and fitness club discounts.
  • Professional development opportunities including tuition reimbursement.
  • 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
Full Job Description
Supply Assurance & Capacity Management: Lead proactive supply assurance activities including early identification of critical and long-lead equipment requirements, development of sourcing and capacity strategies, negotiation and management of supplier manufacturing commitments, oversight of EPC procurement performance, and ongoing governance of supplier execution through final delivery and project completion.

EPC Oversight & Leadership: Lead oversight of EPC procurement activities across the full equipment lifecycle, ensuring procurement plans, sourcing strategies, supplier engagements, purchase order execution, expediting, inspection, logistics, and delivery performance align with CenterPoint's project objectives, supply assurance requirements, and contractual commitments.

Supplier Delivery Execution: Serve as CenterPoint Energy's project representative for post-award execution of critical long-lead equipment and strategic materials supporting capital projects. Lead equipment delivery assurance activities from purchase order award through engineering, manufacturing, testing, shipment, delivery, and project handoff to ensure supplier commitments support project schedules and business objectives.

Risk Management & Escalation: Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate risks related to manufacturing schedules, supplier performance, testing milestones, logistics constraints, labor shortages, documentation requirements, and delivery commitments before they impact project execution.

Executive Visibility: Provide leadership-ready reporting on critical equipment status, supplier performance, manufacturing progress, delivery forecasts, risk exposure, mitigation actions, and recovery plans.

Essential Functions
  • Partner with Strategic Sourcing, Engineering, Project Management, and EPC organizations to define procurement strategies, lead-time assumptions, required-on-site dates, and supply risk mitigation plans during project development and planning phases.
  • Lead the early identification, assessment, and prioritization of critical and long-lead equipment, materials, and constrained-supply components necessary to support capital project portfolios and system reliability objectives.
  • Establish and maintain forward-looking visibility of supplier capacity constraints, manufacturing lead times, market conditions, and demand forecasts to proactively mitigate schedule and supply chain risks.
  • Coordinate cross-functional efforts required to negotiate, secure, and maintain supplier manufacturing capacity reservations, production slots, allocation agreements, and delivery commitments for critical equipment and strategic materials.
  • Facilitate and coordinate equipment releases, call-offs, scheduling activities, and fulfillment actions associated with CenterPoint capacity reservations, volume commitments, framework agreements, and other strategic supply arrangements.
  • Provide governance, oversight, and performance management of EPC procurement activities to ensure alignment with CenterPoint sourcing strategies, negotiated supplier agreements, capacity commitments, and delivery objectives.
  • Monitor and evaluate EPC procurement execution, supplier engagement practices, expediting effectiveness, and schedule performance, driving accountability for achieving equipment and material delivery commitments.
  • Ensure EPC contractors maintain appropriate visibility, reporting, documentation, and follow-up actions necessary to support successful equipment delivery.
  • Challenge supplier and contractor commitments when production schedules, resource availability, manufacturing capacity, logistics conditions, or delivery forecasts create elevated project risk.
  • Maintain ongoing accountability for supplier and EPC performance following purchase order award, ensuring contractual deliverables, manufacturing commitments, delivery milestones, and corrective actions remain on track through project completion.
  • Lead recurring performance reviews with EPC contractors and strategic suppliers to evaluate schedule adherence, manufacturing capacity utilization, recovery actions, and overall execution effectiveness.
  • Drive resolution of supplier and EPC performance issues through structured escalation, corrective action plans, executive engagement, and continuous performance monitoring until risks are resolved.
  • Establish and maintain delivery assurance plans for critical equipment including power transformers, breakers, switchgear, substation equipment, steel structures, conductor, cable, controls, and other strategic materials.
  • Escalate significant supplier and EPC performance concerns with clear business impacts, recommended actions, decision requirements, and recovery alternatives.
  • Monitor factory acceptance testing schedules, inspection activities, quality hold points, release-to-ship milestones, and shipment execution activities for critical equipment.
  • Validate supplier delivery forecasts against project schedules, construction milestones, and required-on-site dates.
  • Develop and maintain executive-level dashboards and reports that provide visibility to critical-path equipment, manufacturing status, delivery risk, supplier performance, and recovery actions.
  • Capture lessons learned and recommend improvements to supplier governance, expediting processes, delivery assurance methodologies, risk management practices, and project readiness programs.
  • Comply with all applicable company policies, regulatory requirements, safety standards, procurement procedures, and project governance processes.
  • Keep informed of industry developments, supplier capacity constraints, manufacturing challenges, and logistics risks that could impact project execution or supply certainty.
  • Comply with applicable company, safety, regulatory, supply chain, procurement, and project governance policies and procedures.

Education Description
  • Bachelor's degree preferred in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Operations, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
  • Equivalent utility, construction, supply chain, expediting, or materials management experience may be considered where appropriate.

Experience
  • Requires 7+ years of experience in expediting, supplier performance management, procurement, supply chain, materials management, manufacturing, logistics, capital projects, or a related field.
  • Experience managing post-order execution activities for critical equipment, engineered products, or long-lead materials.
  • Experience working with OEM suppliers, EPC contractors, engineering organizations, project teams, and logistics providers.
  • Experience monitoring manufacturing schedules, supplier commitments, inspection activities, testing milestones, shipment readiness, and delivery performance.
  • Experience identifying and resolving supplier performance issues and implementing schedule recovery plans.
  • Experience presenting delivery risks, mitigation strategies, and performance metrics to leadership and project stakeholders.
  • Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems, project schedules, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and reporting tools.
  • Preferred utility, transmission, distribution, substation, generation, or large capital project experience.
  • Preferred experience with transformers, breakers, switchgear, protection and control equipment, structures, cable, conductor, and other critical electrical equipment.


We want you to know
Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you
  • Competitive pay
  • Paid training
  • Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
  • Transit subsidies
  • Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
  • Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
  • Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
  • 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution


Job Type: Full Time
Posting Start Date: 09/02/2026
Posting End Date: 09/18/2026

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc

CenterPoint Energy is a domestic energy delivery company. The Company’s business segments include Electric Transmission and Distribution, Natural Gas Distribution, Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services, Interstate Pipelines, Field Services and Other Operations. The Company serves metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns a 58.3% interest in a midstream partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. with operations in natural gas and liquids-rich producing areas of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Careers

Join the dynamic team at CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a pivotal leader in the energy sector, where innovation meets purpose. Our company is not just about providing energy solutions; it's about empowering futures through meaningful career opportunities.

Work You’ll Do

At CenterPoint Energy, Inc., you will engage in work that not only energizes communities but also fuels personal and professional growth. Our commitment to leadership in the industry is matched by our commitment to the people who make our success possible.

Transform Your Career

Embark on a journey of growth and leadership at CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Here, job opportunities abound, offering you the chance to influence the future of energy and infrastructure. With roles ranging from engineering to customer service, your professional path is here.

Innovate with Us

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is at the forefront of energy innovation. Our team is dedicated to developing solutions that not only meet today's energy needs but also set the standards for tomorrow. Join us and bring your unique skills to a place where innovation is standard.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s internship programs. Gain invaluable industry experience, enhance your resume, and build a network of professional contacts. Our internships offer a deep dive into the energy sector, providing a solid foundation for your career.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe diversity drives innovation. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee can thrive. Our diversity training ensures that everyone, from leadership to new hires, understands the value of differences.

Benefits and Culture

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your professional and personal life. Our culture is built on a foundation of respect and integrity, infused with a spirit of teamwork that encourages collaboration and continuous learning.

Join Our Team

Explore the numerous job opportunities at CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and find the position that best matches your skills and ambitions. We are hiring creative, solution-driven team players who are ready to make an impact.

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Learn more about CenterPoint Energy, Inc
Size
9,418 employees
Market Cap
$19.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$773 million
Founded
1866
5 Year Trend
+2.1%
Revenue
$7.4 billion
NASDAQ

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