Canadian Solar (North America)

Purchasing Supervisor

Shelbyville, KY, US

In-personFull time roleMid Level

24 days ago

About the Job

At Canadian Solar, our vision is to make lives better by bringing electricity powered by the sun to millions of people worldwide. As a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions, we've been an industry front-runner since our founding in 2001. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.

Throughout Canadian Solar's subsidiaries, e-Storage, Recurrent Energy, MSS and CSI Solar Co., we invest in our employees' growth. Our training programs and promotional opportunities ensure we all can continue to learn. We understand the importance of work-life balance and provide various flexible work options to support our employees' well-being. Join our team to "Make the Difference" by creating a lasting positive impact on the world and the communities where we operate.

Position Summary:
The Supervisor, Purchasing will lead the company’s procurement and sourcing functions, including management of BOM (Bill of Materials) procurement, supplier relations, cost control, and strategic sourcing initiatives. The role will require close collaboration with engineering, production, logistics, and finance teams to ensure a timely and cost-effective supply of materials that meet the company’s quality and compliance standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and negotiation skills, experience in supply chain operations, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Supervise and manage all general purchasing activities to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.
  • Develop and maintain global supply chain for battery cell and battery energy storage system.
  • Oversee the procurement of raw materials, components, and indirect goods and services to support production and organizational needs.
  • Coordinate with engineering and production teams to ensure accurate and timely sourcing and procurement of all items listed in the Bill of Materials (BOM).
  • Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, evaluate vendor performance, and negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels.
  • Implement strategic sourcing initiatives to enhance cost savings, improve quality, and reduce lead times.
  • Maintain accurate records and documentation of all procurement activities within SAP, ensuring alignment with internal controls and audit requirements.
  • Monitor and manage supplier lead times, inventory levels, and material availability to minimize production delays.
  • Collaborate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure seamless material flow from sourcing to delivery.
  • Track and report on key procurement metrics, including cost savings, delivery performance, and supplier quality.
  • Drive continuous improvement in purchasing processes and support cost-reduction initiatives across departments.
  • Ensure procurement activities are compliant with applicable regulations, company policies, and ethical standards.

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 3-5 years of purchasing or procurement experience in a manufacturing. or industrial setting.
  • Minimum 2 years of purchasing or sourcing experience in battery or energy storage industry. 
  • 1-2 years of experience supervising procurement teams or leading sourcing projects.
  • Familiarity with BOM structures, procurement processes, and supply planning.
  • Proficiency with SAP and Microsoft Excel; experience with data analysis and reporting.
  • Strong negotiation skills and knowledge of contract terms, pricing structures, and vendor management.
  • Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and build supplier relationships.
  • Detail-oriented, results-driven, and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
  • Understanding of international sourcing, import/export compliance, and trade regulations is a plus.
  • Bonus points for experience in the renewable energy or electronics manufacturing sectors.
     

About the Company

Canadian Solar (North America) Logo

Canadian Solar (North America)

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

5000 +

Founded in 2001 in Ontario Canada, Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is as a global energy provider with successful business subsidiaries in 20 countries & regions on 6 continents. Canadian Solar is both a leading manufacturer of solar PV modules and a provider of solar energy solutions, with over 14,000 employees globally. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Canada, China, Brazil and South East Asian countries, Canadian Solar now has module manufacturing capacity and has delivered more than 55 GW of premium quality solar modules to customers in over 150 countries in the past 20 years. Canadian Solar has solar power projects globally and solar power plants that are in commercial operation, with a resale value of US$1.2 billion. In addition, Canadian Solar has a geographically diversified utility-scale solar power project pipeline around 10 GWp, with projects being developed in the U.S., Japan, Latin America,Australia, EMEA, South East Asia, India and China. Of the total project pipeline, 2.9 GWp of projects are at late-stage development and have secured energy offtake agreements. In 2018, Canadian Solar achieved a revenue of US$3.74 billion, Meanwhile, Canadian Solar was listed as the Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Tier 1 Module Manufacturer in terms of bankability for Q4 2018, and was named as Top 3 Global Utility-scale Solar PV Project Developer for 2017 by GTM Research. Canadian Solar Founder and CEO Dr. Shawn Qu blogs as a LinkedIn Influencer at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnqu/. Canadian Solar is making the difference by delivering more clean, safe and affordable solar energy to the world.