Procurement Manager, Data Center IT Fit-out

Role Summary

Responsible for sourcing, purchasing, order management, and expediting of compute, server, storage, and network equipment for data center fit-out projects. This role requires strong vendor-side or reseller experience, ideally with exposure to Dell, HPE, Supermicro, Lenovo, Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, or similar OEM ecosystems.

The role is highly focused on CPU/GPU-heavy infrastructure, server BOM validation, delivery tracking, vendor, coordination, and ensuring IT hardware arrives on time for deployment, burn-in, rack integration, and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Buying

Source and procure compute, server, storage, and network hardware for data center fit-out projects.

Manage RFQs, quotations, commercial comparisons, purchase orders, and vendor negotiations.

Validate BOMs for server configurations, including CPU, GPU, memory, storage, NICs, optics, cables, rails, PSUs, and licensing.

Work closely with technical teams to ensure quoted hardware matches project specifications.2

Track pricing, lead times, warranty terms, support levels, and product availability.

Coordinate with OEMs, distributors, system integrators, and resellers.

Expediting & Order Management

Track orders from PO issuance through manufacturing, allocation, shipment, customs clearance, and site delivery.

Expedite long-lead items such as high-core-count CPUs, GPU servers, switches, optics, NICs, and storage components.

Monitor vendor production schedules, allocation constraints, EOL/EOS risks, and delivery commitments.

Escalate supply risks early and propose alternatives where needed.

Maintain accurate procurement and expediting trackers.

Vendor / Seller-Side Experience

Leverage prior experience from OEM, distributor, reseller, or system integrator environments.

Understand how server vendors build quotations, manage configurations, handle deal registration, and allocate stock.

Engage effectively with sales, pre-sales, inside sales, supply chain, and technical account teams.

Challenge vendor quotes where pricing, lead time, configuration, warranty, or support terms are unclear.

Identify suitable equivalent alternatives across brands such as Dell, HPE, Supermicro, Lenovo, Inspur, Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Nvidia, AMD, and Intel platforms.

Project Coordination

Align procurement deliveries with rack installation, cabling, burn-in, testing, and go-live schedules.

Coordinate with deployment, network, logistics, warehouse, and site teams.

Support material call-off planning and delivery sequencing.

Attend project procurement, deployment, and readiness meetings.

Provide weekly status updates on PO, delivery, and risk items.

Skills & Experience

8-15 years of experience in IT hardware procurement, sales operations, channel sales, reseller sales, OEM sales support, or supply chain coordination.

Strong exposure to data center IT hardware, especially servers, compute nodes, CPU platforms, networking equipment, and storage.

Experience with Dell, HPE, Supermicro, Lenovo, Cisco, Arista, Juniper, or similar vendors is highly preferred.

Good understanding of server configuration, hardware BOMs, support contracts, and delivery lead times.

Experience in fast-paced project environments with aggressive delivery schedules.

Strong commercial negotiation skills.

Able to read and challenge server/network hardware quotations.

Strong follow-up and expediting discipline.

Good understanding of CPU-heavy compute infrastructure.

Familiarity with warranty, RMA, licensing, support, and service terms.

Highly organized, detail-oriented, and deadline-driven.

Comfortable working with technical and commercial stakeholders.

Preferred Experience (Advantageous but Not Mandatory)

Former buyer, procurement specialist, inside sales, account manager, sales operations, or pre-sales coordinator from:

Server OEM

IT distributor

Value-added reseller

System integrator3

Cloud / data center hardware supplier