Lead Specialist, Materials Management Optimization

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Optimization Specialist provides advanced analytical and optimization support for Electric Transmission & Substation (ET&S) Materials Management. The position develops dashboards, analytical models, and data-driven recommendations that improve material readiness, identify supply risk, and optimize material-planning decisions in support of the Transmission Portfolio Office (TPO), Large Customer Projects (LCP), and Project Management Office (PMO).

A primary focus is providing early visibility to material risk and supporting the ET&S Material Assurance program. The role evaluates supplier commitments, lead times, material availability, project need dates, and other supply-chain indicators to identify exceptions and support risk-based surveillance prioritization. The position also recommends improvements to lead times, economic order quantities, forecast translation, safety stock, reorder points, and related planning processes.

Essential Functions

Material Risk Analytics and Dashboards
• Develop and maintain dashboards and decision-support tools that identify ET&S material risks, exceptions, trends, and emerging constraints.
• Analyze purchase orders, supplier commitments, material availability, project need dates, inventory positions, and other supply-chain data to provide early visibility to material-readiness risk.
• Develop risk indicators, thresholds, and exception methodologies that prioritize materials requiring attention.
• Develop and maintain analytical methodologies supporting risk-based surveillance tiers for long-lead and critical equipment.
• Provide actionable reporting on material and supplier risk trends and continuously improve dashboard logic, data quality, and effectiveness.

Lead-Time and Planning Parameter Optimization
• Analyze SAP planned lead times against actual purchase-order, supplier-commitment, and receipt performance.
• Evaluate lead-time trends by material, supplier, and material category to identify risks and opportunities to improve planning assumptions.
• Develop recommendations for lead-time and related planning parameters based on demonstrated performance and supply risk.
• Perform economic order quantity and replenishment analysis to improve order quantities and ordering frequency.
• Develop safety-stock and reorder-point recommendations using demand behavior, lead-time performance, material criticality, and service requirements.
• Apply appropriate material segmentation and statistical methods to support differentiated planning strategies.

Material Planning Analytics
• Analyze consumption, inventory, reservations, project requirements, forecasts, purchasing activity, and other demand signals to support material-planning decisions.
• Support translation of ET&S forecasts into actionable material requirements and planning insights.
• Identify significant disconnects among forecast requirements, SAP demand, inventory, purchasing activity, and expected material availability.
• Develop repeatable analytics that improve planning accuracy and reduce reliance on manual analysis.
• Partner with Materials Management, Demand Planning, Procurement, Engineering, the Transmission Portfolio Office (TPO), Large Customer Projects (LCP), the Project Management Office (PMO), and other stakeholders to translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Education Description

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Experience

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in materials management, supply planning, inventory management, supply-chain analytics, procurement operations, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing dashboards, analytical models, or decision-support tools using Power BI, advanced Excel, SQL, SAP analytics, or comparable platforms.
• Working knowledge of SAP Materials Management, MRP, inventory planning, and replenishment concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets, identify trends and exceptions, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with SAP ECC and/or SAP S/4HANA Materials Management.
• Advanced experience with Power BI, Excel, SQL, data modeling, or comparable analytical tools.
• Experience with long-lead equipment, capital project materials, Material Assurance, or supply-risk analytics.
• Experience with lead-time analysis, EOQ, safety stock, reorder points, material segmentation, demand analysis, or forecast translation.
• ASCM/APICS CPIM or CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, or comparable supply-chain or analytical certification.

Physical Requirements

Working Conditions

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: 11/06/2026​
Posting End Date: 02/01/2027

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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