OPT Procurement Assistant Jobs
Procurement Assistant jobs on OPT involve sourcing suppliers, processing purchase orders, and supporting contract negotiations, work that ties directly to business operations degrees. Most roles fall under STEM OPT extension eligibility when housed within supply chain or operations functions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization.
Find OPT Procurement Assistant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 272+ Procurement Assistant jobs
See all 272+ Procurement Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Procurement Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
SUMMARY
The Procurement Category Manager will focus on establishing a long-term (1-3 year) strategic category plan for MRO initiatives across Simplot’s global manufacturing locations. He / She will be expected to drive value across the enterprise for the assigned category through stakeholder relationship management, sourcing activities, supplier relationship management, and savings targets. The strategy development work is done in partnership with various business unit stakeholders across all global manufacturing facilities. Category strategies include spend analysis/mapping, external market analysis, “should cost” analysis, and vendor and supply management. He / She will also lead sourcing projects based on the category strategy and on-demand projects from the respective stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop category plan for global MRO category with mid to high-level complexity.
- Build strong stakeholder relationships to prioritize and deliver on portfolio projects.
- Lead sourcing projects including RFI, RFP, RFQ.
- Lead negotiations and contract development.
- Manage strategic vendor relationships and performance to ensure delivery of service, quality, cost and supply commitments.
TYPICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4-year college or university
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- 3+ years of experience in MRO category management
- Knowledge/experience in a commercial/procurement role
- 3+ years of experience Category Management and Sourcing activities
- Knowledge working in business or functional unit supported by the category
- Good sales, presentation, negotiation, and market/data analytic skills
- MS Office Suite Proficiency, Ariba/SAP and JDE experience a plus
- Strong communication and relationship building
- “Should Cost” modeling
- Experience in corporate MRO programs
- Lean / 6Sigma implementation and experience
- Understanding of Procurement inventory controls and optimization tools
- Strategic Cost Management
OTHER INFORMATION
- Domestic and/or International Travel up to 25% as needed
- This role reports full-time onsite at Simplot HQ (Boise, ID)
Job Requisition ID: 27179
Travel Required: Less than 10%
Location(s): Simplot Headquarters - Boise
Country: United States
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
INTRODUCTION
The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
SUMMARY
The Procurement Category Manager will focus on establishing a long-term (1-3 year) strategic category plan for MRO initiatives across Simplot’s global manufacturing locations. He / She will be expected to drive value across the enterprise for the assigned category through stakeholder relationship management, sourcing activities, supplier relationship management, and savings targets. The strategy development work is done in partnership with various business unit stakeholders across all global manufacturing facilities. Category strategies include spend analysis/mapping, external market analysis, “should cost” analysis, and vendor and supply management. He / She will also lead sourcing projects based on the category strategy and on-demand projects from the respective stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop category plan for global MRO category with mid to high-level complexity.
- Build strong stakeholder relationships to prioritize and deliver on portfolio projects.
- Lead sourcing projects including RFI, RFP, RFQ.
- Lead negotiations and contract development.
- Manage strategic vendor relationships and performance to ensure delivery of service, quality, cost and supply commitments.
TYPICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4-year college or university
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- 3+ years of experience in MRO category management
- Knowledge/experience in a commercial/procurement role
- 3+ years of experience Category Management and Sourcing activities
- Knowledge working in business or functional unit supported by the category
- Good sales, presentation, negotiation, and market/data analytic skills
- MS Office Suite Proficiency, Ariba/SAP and JDE experience a plus
- Strong communication and relationship building
- “Should Cost” modeling
- Experience in corporate MRO programs
- Lean / 6Sigma implementation and experience
- Understanding of Procurement inventory controls and optimization tools
- Strategic Cost Management
OTHER INFORMATION
- Domestic and/or International Travel up to 25% as needed
- This role reports full-time onsite at Simplot HQ (Boise, ID)
Job Requisition ID: 27179
Travel Required: Less than 10%
Location(s): Simplot Headquarters - Boise
Country: United States
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
See all 272+ OPT Procurement Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Procurement Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Procurement Assistant
Target employers with established supply chains
Large manufacturers, retailers, and healthcare systems run dedicated procurement departments and are far more accustomed to sponsoring international employees than smaller firms. Look for companies with global sourcing operations, where international candidates are a natural fit.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility early
Procurement roles housed under supply chain management, operations research, or logistics programs often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before applying, since this significantly expands your authorized work window.
Lead with ERP and procurement software skills
Proficiency in SAP, Oracle, or Coupa signals immediate productivity to hiring managers. Employers sponsoring OPT workers want confidence you can contribute from day one, and technical procurement tools are a concrete way to demonstrate that readiness.
Frame your degree in supply chain terms
Business, economics, and industrial engineering degrees all connect naturally to procurement work. When applying, explicitly map your coursework to sourcing, cost analysis, or vendor management so employers understand the direct relevance without having to infer it.
Ask about sponsorship before final interview rounds
Raise your OPT status and timeline with the recruiter after the first interview, not at the offer stage. Employers who cannot sponsor will tell you early, saving time on both sides. Most procurement teams plan headcount months in advance.
Highlight cost savings and process improvements
Procurement is fundamentally about reducing costs and improving efficiency. Candidates who can cite specific examples from internships or coursework projects, even modest ones, stand out because they demonstrate the analytical mindset employers need in this function.
Procurement Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Procurement Assistant on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Procurement Assistant roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the work is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in supply chain management, business administration, operations, or industrial engineering all have a clear connection to procurement work. You must have a valid EAD card before your start date.
Do Procurement Assistant jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, but it depends on how your degree is classified. Programs under CIP codes like Supply Chain Management (52.0203), Operations Research (27.0304), or Industrial Engineering (14.3501) typically qualify. Procurement roles housed within operations or logistics departments at E-Verify employers are the strongest candidates. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying.
Where can I find Procurement Assistant jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches. You can filter by OPT-friendly employers and find Procurement Assistant roles at companies with established sponsorship track records. Searching through a platform designed for work-authorized candidates saves significant time compared to filtering generalist job boards manually.
How far in advance should I start applying for Procurement Assistant roles on OPT?
Start applying three to four months before your OPT start date. Procurement hiring cycles at larger employers often run six to eight weeks from application to offer. Building in extra lead time ensures your EAD card arrives before you need to start, and gives employers the runway to complete onboarding paperwork without rushing.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B after hiring me as a Procurement Assistant on OPT?
It varies by employer size and policy. Large corporations in retail, manufacturing, and healthcare that run dedicated procurement departments are more likely to sponsor H-1B visa petitions for strong performers. Mid-size employers are less predictable. Ask directly during the offer negotiation, and prioritize companies that have filed H-1B petitions for procurement or operations roles in prior years.