For the initial ramp-up phase of our North American operations we are looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented Procurement Specialist, Investment who thrives in fast-paced and fast-changing environments. As part of the ramp-up team, you will be reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement Services and work closely with the local Head of Purchasing, the PowerCo SE team members at Headquarters in Germany as well as colleagues from the Volkswagen Group Canada in Ajax to help establish the Procurement division of the new company.
Key Responsibilities
- Purchasing of the following services for the initial establishment of the company: Consulting and Legal Services, Headhunter, Office Space Rental, Event Management, EHS, Cleaning and waste disposal, Cafeteria Services.
- Independent sourcing, negotiation and completion of single orders as well as frame contracts.
- Presentation of purchasing strategies and results in PowerCo and global Volkswagen sourcing committees.
- Acting as a liaison between VW Group Canada (VGCA), PowerCo SE (Germany) and the newly established Canadian battery entity, learning all existing Purchasing programs and processes in order to act as a subject matter expert between all three parties.
- Serving as a coach and mentor to new hires, accompanying them through the ramp-up phase.
- Administration and optimization of contracts and amendments in alignment with internal and external stakeholders.
- Establishment and management of strategic suppliers.
- Following up on purchasing issues and/or discrepancies as needed to ensure full resolution for internal customers.
- Reporting regularly on all purchasing activities to the local Head of Purchasing as well as to the PowerCo SE Purchasing HQ in Germany.
- Working closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention.
What you bring to the Team
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field, and/or equivalent relevant work experience.
- 3+ years of experience in Purchasing, Construction, and Infrastructure Contract Management.
- Highly developed communication and negotiation skills, both written and oral.
- Experience communicating with vendors and working cross-functionally with internal and external teams.
- Experience identifying cost savings and process improvement opportunities.
- Comfortable preparing, drafting, and issuing purchase orders, as well as reviewing and acting on requisitions, contract documents, and supplier records from assigned workflow queues.
- Affinity for numbers and measurable results.
- Strong strategic thinking skills.
- High sense of responsibility.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Sense of urgency while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and ambitious.
- Open-minded and adaptable.
- Accepts and supports change.
- Occasional travel within Ontario and internationally (~20%).
- Performing other tasks as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous knowledge of SAP procurement.
- Previous knowledge of Volkswagen purchasing systems.
- Knowledge of German language considered an asset.
- CIPS/CPSM/CSCP/CSCM/CSCMP certifications considered an asset.
Power Perks
- Attractive Remuneration: We offer a competitive and attractive remuneration that reflects your skills, experience, and contributions.
- Vacation Allowance: We offer our employees competitive paid time off. Plus, you don’t need to take any vacation days from December 24 to December 31.
- Opportunities for development.
- Relocation Support.
- Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community.
- Competitive employer paid benefits and overall compensation package with extended health care, dental, vision and mental health support.
- Pension and Retirement Savings: We contribute to a Registered Pension Plan and matching contribution to a retirement savings plan.