Colonial Pipeline

Sr Buyer

Colonial Pipeline • $95K — $115K *
Energy & Utilities
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related field preferred.
  • 5+ years of experience in procurement or supply chain management, ideally in energy, pipeline, construction, or manufacturing.
  • Proven experience in negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships effectively.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop sourcing strategies that provide a competitive edge.
  • Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills essential for collaboration.
  • Highly analytical with problem-solving skills focused on cost reduction and efficiency.
  • Experience with procurement software, such as Oracle, and proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement procurement strategies for materials and services.
  • Negotiate long-term agreements and purchase orders to support operations.
  • Analyze supplier quotes, ensuring alignment with budgets and project timelines.
  • Monitor supplier performance for compliance with contract terms and quality standards.
  • Ensure procurement activities adhere to company policies and industry regulations.
  • Facilitate collaboration with engineering and operations to meet business needs.
  • Resolve vendor performance issues and discrepancies in collaboration with relevant departments.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to contribute to national energy needs.
  • Supportive team environment focused on collective success.
  • Highly competitive benefits, available through Colonial's Total Rewards.
Full Job Description
About the Senior Buyer Position

The Senior Buyer plays a strategic role in supporting Colonial Pipeline Company by managing up to $150 million in annual strategic purchase orders and coordinating structured bidding and procurement activities for a broad range of materials and services. This position partners regularly with senior management, functional leaders, district operations, project managers, subject matter experts, third-party contractors, suppliers, and vendors to deliver timely, cost-effective, and high-quality procurement solutions.

In this role, you will source, negotiate, purchase, and manage the goods and services needed to operate and maintain pipeline infrastructure and operations. You will also negotiate contracts and develop category strategies in partnership with Strategic Sourcing and Category Managers, with a strong focus on risk mitigation, cost savings, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and supplier performance.

You will conduct your work in compliance with Colonial's safety policies and procedures while demonstrating our core values of Respect, Accountability, Innovation, Safety, and Excellence, or R.A.I.S.E.

What You Get to Do
• Develop and implement procurement strategies, evaluate suppliers, and negotiate the best possible pricing, delivery schedules, and commercial terms for materials and services.
• Negotiate long-term agreements and purchase orders that support pipeline projects and ongoing operations.
• Strategically evaluate supplier quotes and bids, vet suppliers, analyze market trends, pricing, and product quality, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with budgets and project timelines.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance to confirm compliance with contract and purchase order terms, service expectations, and product quality requirements.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, industry standards, and applicable safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with engineering, operations, project management, senior leadership, and other stakeholders to meet business and operational needs.
• Resolve delivery delays, quality concerns, vendor performance issues, and invoice discrepancies in collaboration with the appropriate departments.
• Serve as a Procurement subject matter expert and provide guidance, mentoring, and training to Buyers and Associate Buyers.
• Travel to work sites, including construction zones and remote locations as well as travel to supplier facilities.
• Support the business in emergency response efforts when assigned, which may include training, short-term travel, or backfill duties.

What You Bring to the Table
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Five or more years of experience in procurement or supply chain management, preferably within the energy, pipeline, construction, or manufacturing industries.
• Experience negotiating contracts, managing vendor relationships, and conducting market analysis with demonstrated favorable results.
• Experience developing and implementing sourcing strategies that deliver a competitive advantage to the business.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on cost reduction and process efficiency.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with procurement software, such as Oracle or a similar platform, and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel approximately 10%.

Skills That Set You Apart
• Master of Business Administration degree.
• General knowledge of energy pipeline operations, materials, and procurement processes related to the energy sector.
• Experience in the pipeline or broader energy industry.
• Professional certification in procurement, supply chain, or project management, such as CPSM or APICS.

Advantages of Working at Colonial Pipeline Company
• Getting to work for a company that helps to meet our country's energy needs and keeps us moving!
• Team members who care about each other while accomplishing remarkable things.
• Highly competitive benefits - Check out Colonial's Total Rewards.

Are you up to the challenge? What are you waiting for? Apply today!

About Colonial Pipeline

Colonial Pipeline is a company that operates the largest pipeline system for refined oil products in the United States. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. Colonial Pipeline's pipeline system spans over 5,500 miles and transports over 100 million gallons of fuel per day. The company's pipeline system runs from Houston, Texas to Linden, New Jersey, and serves customers in the Southern and Eastern United States. Colonial Pipeline has faced several challenges in recent years, including a cyberattack in May 2021 that caused a shutdown of the pipeline system.
Learn more about Colonial Pipeline
Size
2,600 employees
Industry
Founded
1962

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