Procurement Specialist - Houston, TX

ABOUT OUTLAST

THE ROLE

We’re looking for a Procurement Specialist to own scrap aluminum purchasing for Outlast. This is a hands-on buying role — you’ll be on the phone with suppliers, negotiating pricing and terms, placing orders, and making sure we hit our procurement targets.

You’ll report directly to the VP of Finance & Business Operations and work closely with our operations, sales, and technology teams. This role is being built from the ground up — you’ll take over sourcing responsibilities currently handled by our founding team, establish new supplier relationships, and put basic procurement processes in place.

You don’t need to come from the scrap metal industry. We can teach you the market. What we can’t teach is hustle, curiosity, and the ability to figure things out without a manual.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Buy scrap aluminum. Source, negotiate, and purchase material at volumes and pricing that meet our targets. This is the core of the job.

• Build supplier relationships. Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers. Grow our sourcing network beyond the existing base. Get on the road and visit yards.

• Learn the market fast. Get fluent in aluminum alloy grades, ISRI scrap specifications, pricing dynamics, and the supplier landscape. We’ll help, but you need to be a fast, self-directed learner.

• Set up procurement workflows. Establish simple, repeatable processes for supplier communication, order tracking, pricing records, and reporting. Integrate with our platform and financial systems.

• Coordinate across the team. Work with sales on material specs and timing, operations on logistics and quality, and finance on pricing and margins. Procurement touches everything here.

• Use technology to work smarter. We’re a tech company. We expect you to leverage AI tools, data, and automation to be more productive — not work the way the scrap industry has for the last 50 years.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• You’ve bought things before. Any industry. You’ve personally sourced goods or materials, negotiated with suppliers, and placed orders. You’re a buyer, not an analyst.

• You can negotiate. You’re comfortable discussing price, terms, and delivery with suppliers. You can think on your feet and hold firm when needed.

• You’re a self-starter. You don’t wait for instructions. You see what needs to happen and you go do it. You report results, not requests for permission.

• You’re comfortable with ambiguity. We’re a startup. Processes are being built, not inherited. If you need fully defined SOPs before you can act, this isn’t the right fit.

• You learn fast. The scrap aluminum market will likely be new to you. That’s fine. What matters is how quickly you get up to speed through direct engagement — calls, site visits, and market immersion.

• You have energy. You pick up the phone, visit the yard, make the offer. You bring positive momentum to every interaction. Suppliers and teammates want to work with you.

NICE TO HAVES

• Experience with physical goods or commodity procurement (metals, chemicals, agricultural products, manufacturing inputs)

• Background in the scrap metal, recycling, or secondary materials industry

• Experience in a startup or early-stage company

• Comfort with AI tools, data analysis, or workflow automation

• Experience in markets with volatile or frequently changing prices