Sr. Director, Procurement (BESS)

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus is shaping the future by making reliable, low-cost clean energy a global reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing one of the nation’s largest solar clusters and one of the first projects to beat fossil fuel prices back in 2016. Today, we are expanding the boundaries of existing technologies to build one of the largest portfolios of smart power plants with integrated storage, capable of providing millions of people with affordable, zero-emission energy – day and night. Through our relentless pursuit of better, we are decarbonizing our planet at the gigaton level, and bringing the advantages of clean energy to all of us.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for a Sr. Director, Procurement position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to the Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.

Our Procurement team is growing and we’re looking for a Sr. Director, Procurement to join our team. This person will join an experienced team with the main objective of driving implementation of the Avantus procurement strategy and standards across solar PV + storage systems and components.  The annual equipment spend will be well over $1 billion with the mission to develop best-in-class procurement to effectively reap maximum value across each project. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Drive best-in-class global sourcing of storage systems and components with an understanding of the commercial implications of owner-procured equipment; this includes Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS), photovoltaic modules, racking or tracking systems, inverters, balance-of-system (AC and DC), transformers, and switchgear.  The emphasis is on Battery Energy Storage Solutions and other areas that can be learned.
• Build strategic sourcing capabilities for energy storage systems into solar projects and stand-alone storage.
• Create and follow best practices in processes for large scale procurement.
• Lead complex transactions that feature multiple supply, integration, construction, and O&M contracts.
• Work cross-organizationally to ensure that alternate contracting strategies are considered at the earliest stages of technical specification, and that commercial factors are fully evaluated in early-stage negotiations and project development decisions.
• Understand and creatively problem solve for fit-for-purpose sourcing strategies; develop and implement strong supplier development and supplier relationship management processes.
• Build key relationships and manage those relationships actively with key vendors.
• Analyze and manage risk in contracting with vendors and be familiar with evolving quality factors within the storage and PV industries.
• Identify key focus areas for cross functional team to leverage economies of scale.
• Work closely with Engineering, Finance, Legal and other functions to ensure the development of an integrated approach to contracting and the negotiation of contracts – including provision for appropriate terms & conditions.
• Create and implement appropriate performance metrics for external suppliers, as well as the procurement organization itself.
• In concert with the Engineering team, work with the Procurement team to create a pro-active supplier development program to ensure competitive sources of new supply are qualified in a timely and effective manner.
• Maintain supplier quality standards to ensure the Company’s quality requirements are met with every delivery.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Detail-oriented, highly organized
• Ability to multi-task and manage tight timelines
• Effective in working with multiple stakeholders and within cross functional team
• BS in STEM, MBA, or demonstrated experience in driving procurement and/or transactions
• 5-10 years of increasingly progressive procurement and/or transactions experience
• 1+ years of BESS experience 
• Experience with a solar power developer or an “asset heavy” organization with a large CAPEX expenditure is ideal

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