OPT Procurement Specialist Jobs
Procurement Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in supply chain, business, or operations management. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and STEM OPT extensions may apply for graduates with qualifying technical degrees, giving you up to three years of authorized work.
Find OPT Procurement Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 272+ Procurement Specialist jobs
See all 272+ Procurement Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Procurement Specialist 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 Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Procurement Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Procurement Specialist
Target employers with active supply chain operations
Large manufacturers, retailers, and logistics companies hire procurement teams at scale and are far more likely to have established H-1B visa sponsorship programs than smaller firms. Look for companies with dedicated sourcing or purchasing departments.
Emphasize your degree's direct relevance to the role
Procurement Specialist is a specialty occupation when tied to a specific degree field. Make sure your resume explicitly connects your supply chain, business, or engineering degree to the analytical and sourcing responsibilities of the position.
Get comfortable with procurement software before interviews
Employers expect hands-on familiarity with SAP Ariba, Coupa, or Oracle Procurement. Demonstrating technical proficiency in these platforms signals immediate productivity, which reduces the perceived cost of sponsoring a candidate on OPT.
Highlight vendor negotiation and cost savings experience
Quantified results matter in procurement hiring. If you reduced vendor costs, shortened lead times, or improved contract terms in an internship or project, put numbers to it. Concrete outcomes make sponsorship conversations easier for hiring managers.
Ask about sponsorship early but frame it around long-term fit
Raise the sponsorship question after you have demonstrated value, not in the first screening call. Position it as a commitment to the role long-term, not a short-term requirement, so the conversation focuses on mutual investment.
Browse OPT-friendly procurement roles on Migrate Mate
General job boards surface thousands of listings without filtering for sponsorship willingness. Migrate Mate focuses specifically on employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship, saving you the time of applying to roles that will not advance your application.
Procurement Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Procurement Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
Procurement Specialist roles generally qualify as specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in supply chain management, business, engineering, or a directly related field. The key is that the employer's job description must specify a degree requirement, not just a preference. Generic postings that say 'degree preferred' rather than 'required' can create complications during H-1B adjudication, so it is worth reviewing the job description carefully before applying.
Can F-1 OPT students work as Procurement Specialists, and does it count as OPT-related employment?
Yes, F-1 OPT students with degrees in supply chain, business administration, operations management, or related fields can work as Procurement Specialists, and the role counts as directly related employment for OPT purposes. Your DSO may ask you to document how the position relates to your degree program, so keep a brief written explanation ready that connects your coursework to your daily responsibilities in sourcing, vendor management, or contract analysis.
Do Procurement Specialist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree, not the job title. If you hold a qualifying STEM degree, such as industrial engineering, operations research, information systems, or supply chain management under a designated CIP code, you may be eligible for the 24-month extension even in a procurement role. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before your standard OPT period ends, as applications must be filed before expiration.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor Procurement Specialists from OPT to H-1B?
Employers with large, centralized procurement functions are the most consistent H-1B sponsors in this field. This includes major manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods, large healthcare systems with complex supply chains, Fortune 500 retailers, and technology companies with global vendor networks. These organizations have established immigration counsel relationships and predictable hiring cycles. Browse Migrate Mate to filter for procurement roles at companies that have a track record of sponsoring OPT candidates.
What should I do if my OPT is expiring before my employer files an H-1B petition?
If your OPT end date falls before October 1 and your employer filed an H-1B petition for the upcoming fiscal year cap, you may be covered by cap-gap protection, which automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 if your petition was filed before your OPT expired. Confirm the filing date with your employer's immigration attorney and update your DSO immediately. If you are not covered, explore whether the employer can pursue a cap-exempt H-1B through a qualifying nonprofit or research institution as an interim arrangement.