IT Procurement & Budget Specialist

Position: IT Procurement & Budget Specialist

Department: Information Technology

Reporting to: Manager, Portfolio Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt Location: Bentonville, AR

Walton Enterprises is seeking a highly organized, strategic, and detail-oriented Procurement & Budget Specialist to join our Portfolio Operations team. You will report directly to the Manager of Portfolio Operations. This role is critical in bridging the gap between technical needs and financial discipline. The ideal candidate will act as the primary gatekeeper for our technology spend, ensuring we maximize the value of our vendor relationships while maintaining a lean, non-duplicative software ecosystem. You will work in lockstep with the Manager of Portfolio Operations to provide financial oversight, identify budget anomalies, and establish standards for how we acquire and manage technology assets from procurement to asset disposal.

About the Position

The Procurement & Budget Specialist is responsible for the full lifecycle of technology assets-from initial sourcing and negotiation to ongoing license management and eventual decommissioning. This role ensures that our technology investments are transparent, compliant, and fiscally responsible. You will serve as a key advisor during budget season and a day-to-day lead on vendor health and procurement excellence.

What you will do

You will participate in and manage the processes that govern how Walton Enterprises selects, buys, and monitors technology including buy vs build analysis. By analyzing spend data and auditing our current toolset, you will prevent "departmental silos" and ensure every dollar in the Technology budget is intentionally spent and tracked.

Responsibilities

Budget Management & Oversight: Partner with the Manager of Portfolio Operations to build the annual technology budget; perform monthly forensic reviews to identify and explain anomalies or overages.
• Vendor Management & Negotiation: Serve as the primary point of contact for technology vendors; lead price negotiations and contract renewals to ensure best-in-class pricing and favorable terms.
• Procurement Process Ownership: Establish and enforce standardized procurement workflows that ensure all new requests undergo a rigorous "need vs. duplicate" analysis.
• Software Asset & License Management: Maintain a centralized Technology Catalog; track seat utilization and "true-up" cycles to ensure we are never over-licensed or under-compliant.
• Strategic Consolidation: Proactively identify overlapping systems (e.g., multiple project management or communication tools) and lead the efforts to consolidate onto preferred enterprise platforms.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Collaborate on and maintain tech financial dashboards that provide real-time visibility into vendor spend, contract end dates, and budget pacing.
• Contract Lifecycle Management: Monitor all technology contracts for auto-renewal clauses, SLA commitments, and compliance requirements, working closely with the Manager of Portfolio, Legal and Cybersecurity teams.
• Process Excellence: Under the guidance of the Manager of Portfolio Operations, develop and document "standard operating procedures" (SOPs) for the IT procurement lifecycle.

Who we are looking for

Skills needed

• Strong Tech Financial Management: Deep understanding of technology finanacial management, license management, and cloud consumption billing.
• Strategic Negotiation: Proven ability to manage complex vendor negotiations and multi-year contract structures.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to dive into the "weeds" of a budget spreadsheet and extract high-level strategic insights. In addition, the ability to evaluate softwares for overlapping capabilities and identify areas of consolidation.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Exceptional ability to explain financial constraints to technical teams and technical needs to financial stakeholders.
• Organization & Detail Orientation: A "hawk-like" focus on contract dates, renewal windows, and compliance documentation. Strong ability to stay organized and to maintain best in class processes around procurement.

Qualifications required for your success

• 5+ years of experience or equivalent degree in IT Procurement, IT Vendor Management, IT Business Operations or IT finance.
• Experience working closely with an internal IT department, service desk, or helpdesk environment, with a strong understanding of end-user support workflows.

Practical knowledge of common enterprise hardware (laptops, peripherals, conferencing equipment) and software, with the ability to translate user requests into appropriate, standards-aligned purchases

• Strong understanding of SaaS licensing models and enterprise software ecosystems (e.g., Atlassian, Slack, Microsoft 365).
• Ability to evaluate technical requirements and compatibility (e.g., operating systems, ports, performance needs) to ensure purchased equipment integrates seamlessly into the existing environment
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and lead change management efforts regarding tool consolidation.
• Demonstrated capability to recommend fit-for-purpose solutions when requirements are ambiguous or loosely defined (e.g., advising on appropriate webcam, docking station, or accessory options).
• Familiarity with IT asset standards, lifecycle management practices, and coordination with IT teams to maintain consistency and supportability across the organization.
• Prior experience supporting or partnering with a helpdesk or end-user computing team, ensuring purchased technology aligns with support standards and minimizes downstream support overhead.
• Strong Understanding of IT platforms such as Jira, Jira Service Management and Jira Asset Management

Additional Helpful Experience Includes

• Collaborative:love solving challenges together, share inspirations, and work as a team.
• Innovative:strive to find the best possible solutions given complex constraints and accelerated timelines.
• Leadership:contribute to the success of our technology platforms and drive critical components from inspiration to delivery.
• Ownership:strong ownership of our product and the customers we serve.
• Results Driven:ability to give that final push to deliver critical features on time.
• Humble:seek advice from peers to solve our most challenging issues.
• Business/Tech Expertise: Accounting and/or Investment systemsincluding data and BI tools.
• Customer Service Mindset

Personal attributes that support your success

• Demonstrates discretion, integrity, and expertise while serving as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues.
• Collaborates respectfully and effectively with others, contributing to a supportive, team-oriented environment.
• Approaches challenges with curiosity, bold thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
• Maintains a strong focus on results, consistently exercising sound judgment and decision-making.
• Brings a visionary mindset, planning strategically for the future with imagination and insight.
• Committed to excellence and actively engages with others to accomplish shared goals.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Benefits Information

Compensation Range: $104,000 - $130,000

Benefits Information: We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off.

About the Information Technology Department

The Information Technology Department provides a suite of services including hardware and software support, custom application development, cybersecurity, networking and tools for software integration. These services are provided to Walton Enterprises, the Walton Family Foundation and to Walton Family Entities.

About Walton Enterprises

Walton Enterprises supports the personal, philanthropic, and business activity for the Walton family. We are a family-led organization, supporting multiple generations of Sam and Helen Walton's family.

We value trust, mutual respect, and a workplace where every associate belongs and can do their best work. We bring together talented people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, support their growth, and empower them to contribute meaningfully.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.