Procurement Analyst

Procurement Analyst / BuyerNorfolk Southern Corporation — Contract (Onsite • Atlanta, GA 30308)LocationAtlanta, GA, United StatesOnsite Flexibility0% Remote (Onsite)Position TypeContract (Long-term)Start Date11/11/2025Role SummaryNorfolk Southern seeks a data‐driven Procurement Analyst / Buyer to execute end‐to‐end purchasing operations, optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), and strengthen supplier performance for critical materials and services. You will leverage SAP (ECC/S4, SRM, Ariba), advanced Excel, and analytics to place and manage purchase orders, negotiate within delegated limits, mitigate supply risk, and produce clear dashboards and insights for leadership. The ideal hire is organized, proactive, and collaborative, with the judgment to recommend solutions independently once trained.Key Responsibilities• Analyze procurement data to identify trends, savings opportunities, and compliance gaps; build dashboards and leadership reports.• Mitigate supply risks and ensure timely delivery while reducing TCO and meeting quality/spec specifications.• Create and place purchase orders using current pricing, purchase agreements, and negotiated terms and conditions.• Manage PO updates, outline agreements, supplier communications, and data integrity in SAP.• Negotiate materials and services within delegated limits; escalate higher‐value approvals to the Manager.• Track and evaluate supplier performance via KPIs, scorecards, and service‐level metrics; drive corrective actions.• Execute procurement in line with corporate policy and applicable laws (e.g., antitrust) and controls (e.g., Sarbanes‐Oxley).• Support inventory optimization to maintain service levels while minimizing corporate investment.• Provide independent, well‐reasoned recommendations to management after initial training period.• Serve as liaison between procurement, business units, and suppliers to align expectations and resolve issues.• Collaborate on process improvements, automation, and efficiency initiatives across the source‐to‐pay cycle.• Leverage data and analytics in purchasing decisions; ensure accuracy in financial and TCO evaluations.• Develop strong partnerships with business stakeholders to improve material availability, cost control, and competitiveness.• Maintain market intelligence on strategic suppliers, categories, and emerging products to inform decisions.• Ensure efficient use of SAP tools (SRM, ECC, and upcoming Ariba/S/4 conversion); streamline admin and optimize catalogs.• Uphold the highest ethical standards in all negotiations and ensure objective, fair supplier evaluation and selection.Required Qualifications• Minimum 3 years in sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain roles.• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel proficiency; experience with data‐driven or financial projects.• Hands‐on familiarity with SAP ECC or S/4HANA procurement; exposure to SRM and/or Ariba preferred.• Demonstrated negotiation and purchasing experience; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.• Excellent written and verbal communication; effective collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.• Composed, decisive, and proactive under pressure; demonstrates leadership and ownership.• Proven ability to drive change, implement process improvements, and adopt new technologies.• Positive, energetic, and forward‐thinking mindset.Education• Bachelor's degree required (Business, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field preferred).• Master's degree is a plus.• Coursework or certification in Supply Chain Management strongly preferred (e.g., APICS/ASCM, ISM).Key Attributes• Organized, detail‐oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities.• Curious, analytical, and comfortable with ambiguity; proactive problem solver.• Strong communicator who promotes collaboration and continuous improvement.Tools & Technologies• SAP ECC / S/4HANA, SRM, Ariba (preferred)• Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, modeling)• Data visualization (dashboards/scorecards), KPI tracking