Lead Sourcing Specialist

Important Application Submission Information In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026 More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us - help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits. The preferred location for this role is Plainfield, IN, but the selected candidate could also sit in our Cincinnati, Charlotte or Raleigh headquarter locations. The Lead Sourcing Specialist plays a key role in advancing Duke Energy's supply chain strategy by leading complex, high-value sourcing initiatives that support safe, reliable, cost-effective operations. This role offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-level sourcing decisions, partner with business leaders and project teams, and deliver measurable value through strong commercial strategy, supplier negotiations, and contract management. Employees at this level solve complex problems, manage work with minimal supervision, and provide leadership and guidance to others. The successful candidate will develop and execute strategic sourcing plans for assigned categories of spend, assess internal customer needs and supply market conditions, lead competitive sourcing events, negotiate contracts, and institutionalize sourcing strategies that align with business unit requirements and Duke Energy standards. Keys to success include the ability to prioritize competing demands, navigate ambiguity, build consensus across functions, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and deliver actionable results with limited oversight. Responsibilities - Lead complex strategic sourcing initiatives for high-value or high-risk categories, including market analysis, sourcing strategy development, competitive events, supplier negotiations, contract award recommendations, and realization of annual savings or value targets. - Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with business unit priorities, project requirements, safety expectations, supplier diversity objectives, and broader Supply Chain and corporate initiatives. - Lead contract management activities, including negotiation of commercial terms, evaluation of change orders, supplier performance discussions, and issue resolution. - Partner with project management, construction, engineering, project controls, operations, legal, finance, and other stakeholders to support sourcing activities, supplier selection, and contract execution. - Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, including strategic supplier alliances, performance management routines, market engagement, and continuous improvement opportunities. - Analyze supply markets, commodity trends, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, diversity opportunities, and emerging risks that may impact future procurement decisions. - Research and apply sourcing best practices, benchmarking insights, and external market intelligence to improve sourcing outcomes and identify innovative opportunities. - Provide guidance, mentoring, and process support to sourcing personnel while modeling Duke Energy leadership behaviors and promoting consistent sourcing practices. - Communicate sourcing strategies, recommendations, risks, and results to Supply Chain leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and executive-level business partners. Basic/Required Qualifications Bachelors degree + 7 years work experience In lieu of required degree, Associates degree + 9 years work experience OR HS/GED + 11 years w