Purchasing and Procurement Manager

GP JOULE is the most innovative, authentic, and successful partner in the renewable energy sector.

In GP JOULE, you will find a long-term partner with foresight and vision. GP JOULE’s goal is to ensure that 100% of the energy consumed around our planet in the future is produced from renewable sources. As such, GP JOULE focuses on making renewable energy accessible and economical to all.

Whether it be solar, wind or biogas, GP JOULE stands by its partners throughout each project, from the initial concept to the safe production of clean energy. GP JOULE also helps maintain operating plants by offering a wide range of professional services. GP JOULE is committed to innovation and continues to invest in new technologies, and the development of holistic and integrated solutions for communities.

Whether you are a landowner, developer, contractor, investor, lender, business, university, engineer, utility, municipality or consumer, you can always rely on GP JOULE for partial or total energy solutions. Visit our ‘Services’ section to learn more.

Get to know GP JOULE!  https://www.gp-joule.com/

Purchasing and Procurement Manager

Job Profile

This role reports into Canadian HQ from Toronto from either Ontario or Calgary, Alberta and will include travel across Canada (Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nova Scotia), the US (primarily Mid-West, North-East and secondary South-West) as required for up to 25% of your time.  You will be a commercial resource and representative of the Company to support your responsibilities.  

Purchasing and Contract Manufacturing Responsibilities:

• Develop standardized processes and contract (MSA, subcontractor agreements, etc.) templates - with support of legal counsels if required - for procurement of equipment and services
• Be the primary point of contact for negotiating contract and/or purchase order terms and conditions for major equipment, agreement with distributors and support the Construction group on contract for any subcontracted services
• Organize and maintain quote database by leveraging relationships with key vendors, distributors and contract manufacturers and obtaining monthly/quarterly updated pricing against our pipeline
• Spot check availability and prices of major equipment as required on specific opportunities.
• Reduce procurement related costs for our PHLEGON® products (steel, fabrication, actuators, controls, UPS, etc.) based on targets set by Manager
• Take accountability for complete oversight of steel and component procurement, contract manufacturing, product quality and logistics. Develop and contribute inputs on systems and tools to be implemented for these purposes.
• Source, qualify and engage new supply, manufacturing, logistics partners or equipment suppliers to support the markets of focus through RFP’s, site visits/formal audits (part of the 30% travel allowance) and approval by management
• Reduce and mitigate the risk of single source procurement for all materials, components, assemblies for our PHLEGON® products as well as any other major strategic equipment with a focus of categorizing low cost vs. high cost valid alternatives
• Manage logistics planning and execution activities, including any duties and tariffs associated with imports and exports of goods
• Visit project sites and or vendors as needed to deal with product quality issues
• Work closely as a functional resource (matrix organization) with project Managers to fulfil product and equipment deliverables on time, budget, and with expected quality
• Provide Project Management guidance and support on change orders to promptly estimate impact, cost implications/overruns and suggest (if approval is necessary) recovery plans from vendors or suppliers in place to alleviate. Anticipate or ensure immediate escalation of issues that could impact the timing or budget to Project Management in a timely manner.
• Provide expertise and efforts towards the development and implementation an integrated Procurement and Contract Manufacturing System including processes and KPI’s as part of the overall EPC Program Management System

 Quoting Support and Cost Database Maintenance:

• Support review of Customer RFP‘s (incl. amendments, questions and answers) and final proposal revisions (FPR‘s) to scope
• Seek pricing through RFP’s to support quoting of new opportunities for cases where the cost database and regular updates through price lists are insufficient (locations, volumes, timeframes or other factors of the opportunities are specific enough) for major equipment, as required.
• Run formal RFP process for tendering construction activities subcontracting.
• Continuously develop and maintain the database of historical quotes with Business Development to ensure an easy and quick-to-search system to standardize and accelerate quoting timelines while increasing the accuracy of proposals
• Help develop some estimating tools for custom field activities based on historical quotes.
• Create analyses and reports on historical quotes by market of focus (US states, Canadian provinces) to generate a general knowledge base and develop estimating tools useful for high-level estimating

Strategic Vendor Relationship Management Responsibilities:

• Lead pipeline forecasting communication, quarterly pricing and commercial negotiations with key “commodity” equipment suppliers (solar modules, inverters, battery storage, non-GP JOULE racking systems – fixed or tracking)
• Recommend and draft for review and approval by Manager strategic MSA’s with supporting business cases.
• Share new technology reports/updates from major equipment suppliers with NA team, when relevant
• Seek through research or referrals and help assess and qualify with Operations team members, strategic construction (civil, mechanical, electrical) and labor partners in new markets namely Western Canada, Midwest US, Northeast US and any other specific market as required.
• Participate to trade shows to maintain and enhance relationships with strategic equipment suppliers, partners and ensure GP JOULE is always up to date on new supply/demand dynamics, and new products/innovations availability.

 General Management responsibilities:

• Develop internal (Associate Manager and peers) and external resources (consultants, suppliers, subcontractors, labor agencies, etc.) around purchasing best practices
• Support implementation of any Purchasing/Invoicing and ERP systems
• Self-manage and schedule priorities for Project vs. Strategic

 Procurement activities

• Maintain clear and effective communications with Manager and team on updates of operations and projects in progress
• Plan and communicate to direct and functional staff and Manager work-sharing plans, back-up plans for vacations, time travelling during your time-off.
• Ensure your desks, materials, hardware (equipment, tools, etc.), data (server architecture) are maintained, clean, in order and professionally looking at all times.
• Organize adequate project filing as required and audit data archiving, etc. From your staff at least once monthly to ensure compliance
• Ensure all your expense reports are submitted and approved per monthly schedule, appropriately filled out according to Company policy and coding prior to approving.
• Track on an on-going basis your time allocation to opportunity and other business development activities and support Accounting with timely monthly submission, if required
• Ensure good work ethics and behaviours (hours of work/lunch breaks/breaks, work activities, etc.) are respected and use discipline if required to ensure staff is compliant.
• Ensure that Company property is solely used for business activities at work and off work (i.e. cell phone data plans monitoring, social media, etc.)

 While aligning those within general company goals:

Work with management team to align your duties with the corporate strategic objectives and business opportunities. Achieve the strategic growth initiatives set every year. Perform any other duty as required and requested by your Manager.  Depending on yearly strategic goals set, the incumbent may also take leadership roles on special projects, in collaboration with the other members of management team in specific regional markets/divisions of the company within the Americas, specifically the South West US, Mexican, Central and South American markets and on specific special projects.