Procurement, Construction, and Manufacturing Commodity Specialist

Thanks for your interest in Oklo!  We are searching for a Procurement Specialist to join our Products Division team.

Position Description:

The mid-level Procurement Officer will manage and oversee the procurement of design, construction, commodities and service-related contracts. This role focuses on ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, negotiating favorable terms, and supporting timely project delivery. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement processes, particularly in the construction industry, and possess exceptional analytical and communication skills. Experience in the nuclear industry and knowledge of nuclear quality assurance standards are highly desirable.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Contract Preparation and Initiation:
  • Develop, issue, and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Purchase Orders (PO), Master Service Agreements (MSA) and related Task Orders, as well as other procurement documents.
  • Evaluate and negotiate terms with vendors, ensuring alignment with project requirements and budgets.
  • Draft and finalize construction contracts in collaboration with legal and project management teams.
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management:
  • Identify, prequalify, and maintain a database of qualified construction contractors and suppliers.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, ensuring their compliance with contract terms and performance standards.
  • Serve as a point of contact for stakeholders during the procurement phase to address questions and resolve issues.
• Compliance and Risk Management:
  • Ensure all procurement activities comply with organizational policies, legal requirements, and industry standards.
  • Identify and mitigate risks related to procurement processes and contract management.
  • Monitor contractor performance and adherence to contractual obligations, with a focus on maintaining high standards of nuclear quality assurance where applicable.
• Market Analysis and Cost Control:
  • Conduct market research to assess trends, pricing, and supplier capabilities within the construction and nuclear industries.
  • Analyze bids and proposals, ensuring value for money and alignment with project objectives.
  • Collaborate with project teams to ensure procurement aligns with budgetary constraints and timelines.
• Reporting and Documentation:
  • Maintain accurate procurement records and documentation for audit and reporting purposes.
  • Prepare regular reports on procurement activities, progress, and cost analysis for senior management.

Competencies:

We are looking for a Procurement Specialist that is/has a:

• Strong understanding of construction industry standards, regulations, and procurement processes.
• Ability to implement end-to-end integrated/controlled procurement and supply chain management
• Familiarity with nuclear quality assurance requirements (e.g., NQA-1) is a significant advantage.
• Proficient in procurement software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to liaise with diverse stakeholders.
• Passionate about making advanced fission a reality
• Willing and able to learn quickly
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving while not leaning only on what has been done before 
• Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
• An excellent writer who can write in a modern active voice, so please make your cover letter compelling and write it well!
• Able to communicate technical content and results verbally

Experience level:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in procurement, with a desired focus on construction contracts.
• Proven experience in contract drafting, negotiation, and vendor management.
• Experience in the nuclear industry or with projects requiring nuclear quality assurance is highly desirable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM): CPSM or CIPS required
• Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations (CIPS): CPSM or CIPS required
• Certified International Procurement Manager (CIPM): desired
• Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP): desired

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with the procurement of safety-related requirements per ASME Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) standards criteria.
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms (e.g. NetSuite)
• Experience with finance related software (e.g. Ramp)

Who you are:

A startup person: You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process. You don't need or expect to have a lot of guidance but you enjoy working in a fast-paced team. If you prefer the culture and feel of a large organization, that is great, but you likely won’t enjoy working with us! There is plenty of important work and plenty of good opportunities with organizations like that.

Motivated: You are self-motivated. You bring an enthusiasm to the team, and imbue a sense of passion that goes beyond clocking in and clocking out. This isn’t about a fake or arbitrary “pieces of flair” mentality or lack of work-life balance! It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals.

A team-player: Oklo genuinely is a team. We aren’t about taking credit for ourselves, and we aren’t about pushing blame to others. We do incredible things because we work as a team.

An excellent communicator: We need a person who is not only technically competent but also a clear and upbeat communicator.

Creative: Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise without clear solutions, you are able to identify it as well as invent ways to solve a problem or fill a need without micromanagement. The successful person in this job will not only be creative, but also enjoy being creative and solving open-ended problems which may change day-by-day.

Detail-oriented: This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality. Excellent grammar and spelling matter for both good communication as well as the image of the company that we put forward.

About Oklo compensation:

$70,000-$120,000

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.

This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Only applicants who meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws may be eligible.

About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.