General Purchasing Supervisor - Mandarin Preferred

JOB DESCRIPTION  

Company Summary:  

Canadian Solar Inc. is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of ingots, wafers, cells, solar modules (panels) and custom-designed solar power applications. Canadian Solar Inc. delivers solar power products of uncompromising quality to customers worldwide.  Canadian Solar’s world class team of professionals works closely with our customers to provide them with solutions for all their solar needs.  For more information on the company, please visit www.canadiansolar.com.  

Position Title:    General Purchasing Supervisor  

Department:      Supply Chain  

Entity:                 USCM  

Reports To: Purchasing Manager  

Location: Indiana  

Position Summary:   

We are seeking a skilled General Purchasing Supervisor with a strong background in managing indirect purchasing of MRO materials or service such as Equipment, General Management Office Supplies, EHS Products and non-stock materials or products to support daily operation of our Cell Business Unit in Indiana States U.S.A. The Purchasing Supervisor oversees the procurement of goods and services, ensuring cost-effectiveness, quality, and timely delivery. They lead a team of buyers or purchasing agents, manage supplier relationships, and implement purchasing strategies to meet organizational goals. 

Primary Responsibilities:  

Strategic Procurement & Planning 

• Lead the purchasing process for indirect materials (facility, equipment, IT, office, etc.) and service to fulfill production requirements. 

• Supervise end-to-end purchasing processes including requisition review, vendor selection, and order placement 

• Process purchase requisitions from internal departments, ensuring proper approvals before order placement 

• Participate in weekly planning and purchasing conference calls to align procurement with operational needs 

Supplier Relationship Management 

• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with domestic and international suppliers to secure optimal pricing, quality, and delivery terms 

• Liaise with freight forwarders and suppliers to monitor shipment status and ensure on-time material arrival 

• Build and maintain effective vendor relationships through strong negotiation accountability, and collaboration. 

• Monitor, evaluate, and analyze supplier performance (quality, delivery, price bidding) and address issues proactively 

• Manage supplier relationships and escalate vendor issues to management when necessary 

• Collaborate with third-party logistics providers (3PL), suppliers, and freight forwarders to guarantee seamless supply chain operations. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Train and mentor purchasing staff on best practices, ERP systems (SAP, SRM, OA), and key performance indicators 

• Assign workloads and monitor team performance metrics (cost savings, cycle times) 

• Set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and provide training to enhance team efficiency 

• Strategically assign team responsibilities, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and promote continuous professional development. 

• Provide direct support and backup coverage as needed. 

Process Optimization & Compliance 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance Team procurement processes, compliance, and operational effectiveness.  

• Identify and implement process improvements within purchasing operations 

• Support cost-reduction and inventory optimization strategies 

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, company policies, and audit requirements 

• Partner with Legal and Finance teams on contract reviews, risk management, and audit processes 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Work closely with Engineering, Production, and Quality Assurance departments to understand material and inventory requirements. 

• Support inbound/outbound departments by tracking deliveries and ensuring timely arrival 

• Manage, maintain, and update MRO data, investigating abnormal material usage 

• Generate and analyze reports on purchasing activities, savings, and supplier performance 

• Leverage Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Just-In-Time (JIT), and First-In, First-Out (FIFO) inventory methodologies to optimize inventory turnover. 

Risk Management 

• Identify potential supply chain risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate disruptions 

• Continuously monitor and analyze market conditions and industry trends impacting procurement and supply chain strategies. 

• Maintain accurate records for internal and external audits 

Qualifications and Experience:  

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, or Engineering (master’s degree preferred). 

• Minimum 3 years of Multinational Corporation manufacturing experience in Purchasing, including at least 1 year in a supervisory capacity. 

• Strong track records of successful Purchasing management improvement in a highly cross-functional environment 

• Experience in managing high mix low volume supply base.  

• Extensive experience with ERP environments, strong SAP / SRM knowledge is an advantage. 

• In-depth knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Just-In-Time (JIT), First-In, First-Out (FIFO), and third-party logistics (3PL) management. 

• Strong leadership qualities, and a proven ability to combine complex technical and business requirements to make difficult decisions. 

• Strong strategic sourcing, negotiation, leadership, and vendor management capabilities. 

• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required, bilingual ‘Mandarin’ speaker preferred. 

Compensation and Benefits:  

Canadian Solar offers a competitive salary plus fully comprehensive benefits and performance bonus package based on an annual objective achievement. Our generous benefits package includes a 401(k) Retirement Plan, medical/life/disability program, PTO and sick days.   

Canadian Solar Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).  Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.