Market Research Manager Jobs in Spring, TX (NOW HIRING)

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.

Position Summary:
The Supplier Diversity & Market Intelligence Manager plays a critical role in Port Houston's transition from a transactional procurement model to a strategic, data-driven sourcing organization. This position integrates traditional Supplier Diversity responsibilities with expanded Market Intelligence functions to strengthen sourcing strategy, build robust supplier ecosystems, and ensure inclusive economic participation.
The role serves as a key liaison between Port Houston, partner agencies, internal departments, community organizations, and the small business community, while also providing timely market insight to inform sourcing decisions. The Manager leads Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goal-setting activities and supports regulatory compliance, while monitoring industry trends, supply chain shifts, labor market dynamics, and construction activity to proactively identify strategic sourcing opportunities.
Through supplier engagement, market research, and relationship development, the Manager enhances the Port's ability to anticipate market risks, improve negotiation outcomes, diversify suppliers, and expand small business participation.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:
Strategic Market Intelligence

• Monitor industry trends, supply chain fluctuations, commodity pricing, labor market dynamics, and construction forecasts to support proactive procurement planning and early risk detection.
• Conduct market research and supplier availability analysis to identify emerging suppliers, new entrants and consolidation risk with emphasis on small and diverse businesses.
• Build cost models and analyses to strengthen negotiation positions and validate supplier pricing.
• Track supplier financial health and risk indicators to flag potential supply chain disruption before it materializes.
• Provide strategic insights to internal stakeholders to improve sourcing strategies and long-term supplier planning.
• Develop intelligence products such as market reports, risk summaries, supplier landscape assessments, and benchmarking analyses
• Support development of annual sourcing strategies aligned with upcoming capital projects, operational needs, and market conditions.

Supplier Diversity Leadership

• Serve as key technical advisor on Port Houston's Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program initiatives, participation strategies, and regulatory requirements.
• Set SBE goals for formal procurements using industry best practices, market availability data, utilization history, and disparity study data; and support departments in building annual utilization plans.
• Lead the Method of Procurement (MOP) process by conducting supplier availability analyses, utilization assessments, and eligibility determinations.
• Analyze SBE availability trends to drive outreach and subcontracting strategy, expanding participation and identifying potential suppliers in low-participation industries.
• Evaluate, assess and validate bids, proposals and SBE participation plans for compliance; and conduct data-driven post-award reviews.
• Evaluate bids, proposals, and Requests for Commission Action for SBE program compliance.
• Maintain detailed documentation supporting recommended SBE goals for each procurement.
• Develop and deliver SBE training and presentations for internal stakeholders, the contracting community and pre-solicitation meetings.
• Provide technical assistance to S/MWBE contractors and subcontractors.
• Represent Business Equity/SBE during evaluation and ranking of competitive procurement processes.
• Mediate vendor disputes, and support leadership with performance metrics, compliance outcomes and strategic recommendations.
• Represent Port Houston at industry events, expos, workshops, forums, and stakeholder meetings to advance SBE engagement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Departmental Development

• Partner with internally to integrate market insights into category strategies and sourcing plans.
• Help upskill department staff in market analysis, supplier engagement, and strategic sourcing practices.
• Foster strong relationships with suppliers, trade organizations, chambers of commerce, and agencies to expand Port Houston's supplier network.
• Champion Port Houston's core values: respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you.
• Perform special projects and related duties, as required.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Construction Management, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 5+ years of SBE program management, supplier development, or strategic sourcing experience.
• Experience in construction or engineering procurement is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:

• Knowledge of contract requirements, insurance, bonding, bond procedures for payment, performance bonds, terms and conditions for engineeringservices and construction contracts
• Knowledge of contracting compliance procedures
• Knowledge of construction techniques and sequences
• Knowledge and thorough understanding of NIGP Codes and NAICS Codes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Organization and time management skills
• Leadership and coordination skills
• Ability to analyze market dynamics, trends, and provide forecasting of materials, labor markets, job markets, and tariffs
• Ability to communicate with staff, outside contractors, vendors, consultants, and public in a professional manner Ability to work independently without extensive direction or supervision in managing aspects of a project
• Demonstrated ability to champion projects, implement process improvement initiatives and collaborate with and coach internal and external customers
• Ability to evaluate product technology by reviewing trade journals and manufacturers' recommendation of materials
• Ability to meet scheduled deadlines
• Must exhibit a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as knowledge of procurement and ERP systems
• Knowledge of Workday and B2Gnow a plus

Key Competencies Required:

• Analytical Rigor & Data-driven Risk Assessment/Judgment
• Attention to Detail
• Building Strategic Working relationships
• Effective Communication & Influencing
• Developing Others
• Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills

This work site location of this job is:

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers. Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.
Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job.It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

We appreciate your interest in Port Houston. Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Application must be completed in full.