Procurement Jobs in Kentucky

INTRODUCTION

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappy, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Project Procurement Manager leads procurement execution for assigned greenfield nuclear Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects. Reporting within the Procurement & Supply Chain organization, this role owns the project procurement plan and partners with Category Management and project leadership to ensure purchasing activity supports project schedule, budget, quality, and delivery requirements.

While Category Management establishes sourcing strategies across the portfolio, the Project Procurement Manager is accountable for disciplined procurement execution at the individual project level.

Please note: This role will support TNC's greenfield nuclear construction projects and is not assigned to the V.C. Summer project or work being performed through TNC's related joint venture. This is a hybrid position based in either our downtown Columbia, South Carolina office or our Lexington, Kentucky office, with an expected in-office presence of 2–3 days per week. The role will also require regular travel to the Prosperity One project in Kentucky to support project needs.

Responsibilities

Procurement Planning & Execution

• Own and execute the project procurement plan, aligning purchasing activity with the project schedule, budget, engineering release milestones, and required-on-site dates.
• Develop and maintain the project procurement schedule, incorporating engineering releases, supplier lead times, fabrication milestones, delivery requirements, and identified risks.
• Manage the full requisition-to-delivery lifecycle, including purchase requisitions, RFQs against established agreements and approved suppliers, purchase orders, change orders, expediting, and delivery.
• Apply enterprise category strategies, framework agreements, and approved supplier requirements to project purchases, escalating sourcing gaps or exceptions to Category Management.

Expediting & Delivery Assurance

• Proactively expedite long-lead nuclear equipment and critical components to protect the engineering and construction schedule.
• Track order status and supplier progress against required milestones, identifying delivery or quality risks and driving corrective and recovery actions.
• Coordinate logistics, inspections, documentation, and material receipt to ensure equipment and materials are available on-site when needed.
• Escalate supplier delays, performance concerns, and potential schedule impacts to project and functional leadership.

Supplier & Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the project's primary procurement interface with engineering, project controls, construction, quality, logistics, Category Management, and suppliers.
• Manage day-to-day supplier relationships and project-level performance, resolving commercial, quality, documentation, and delivery issues in real time.
• Support negotiations for project-specific scopes, commercial terms, and change orders within delegated authority.
• Coordinate with Category Management when project requirements require new suppliers, modifications to existing agreements, or exceptions to established procurement strategies.

Compliance, Controls & Reporting

• Ensure all project procurement activities comply with applicable quality assurance requirements, export controls, domestic-sourcing requirements, and company procurement policies.
• Maintain complete and accurate procurement records, supplier documentation, approvals, and audit-ready files.
• Monitor and report procurement status, commitments, cost impacts, schedule risks, supplier performance, and recovery actions to project and functional leadership.
• Support project forecasting and change management by identifying potential cost, schedule, or supply risks associated with procurement activity.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Six or more years of procurement, buying, or project procurement experience supporting large capital, construction, or EPC projects.
• Experience supporting procurement within power generation, heavy industrial, infrastructure, or another highly regulated capital-project environment.
• Hands-on experience managing the requisition-to-delivery lifecycle, including purchase orders, change orders, supplier coordination, and expediting long-lead equipment.
• Strong working knowledge of procurement processes, commercial and contract terms, and supplier management within a project environment.
• Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems, reporting tools, and procurement-status tracking.
• Excellent organizational, coordination, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a schedule-driven environment.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience supporting nuclear EPC projects or procurement within the commercial nuclear industry.
• Familiarity with nuclear quality assurance requirements, including 10 CFR 50 Appendix B and ASME NQA-1.
• Experience procuring safety-related, quality-related, or engineered-to-order equipment and components.
• Working knowledge of export controls, including EAR and ITAR, and applicable Buy American or domestic-sourcing requirements.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CIPS, or an equivalent credential.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Initially, this role will follow a hybrid schedule based in our Columbia, South Carolina office, with an expected in-office presence of two to three days per week.
• As greenfield project sites are announced and construction activities advance, the role will require regular travel to project sites and presence in active construction or industrial environments.
• Domestic Travel 25-35%
• Additional travel to supplier, manufacturing, and fabrication locations may be required.
• Work outside standard business hours may be necessary to support project milestones, supplier activities, and schedule-critical procurement needs.

BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

ESTIMATED STARTING SALARY RANGE

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $118,000 - $140,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company's discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO STATEMENT

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

EXPORT CONTROL

Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

RECRUITING FRAUD ALERT

Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page. The Nuclear Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or staffing agencies. Please do not contact The Nuclear Company employees directly about candidate placements.