AEE Solar Career Opportunity

Director of Purchasing

Looking to get into the burgeoning renewable energy industry? Want to join one of the most successful companies in the solar marketplace? Searching for a workplace that supports creativity, promotes teamwork and has a positive impact on the environment?

If you have the talent and drive to work for a rapidly growing entrepreneurial company, AEE Solar may be the just employer you are seeking. With a three-decade commitment to quality, professionalism, and superior tech support and customer service, AEE Solar has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading wholesale distributors of renewable energy systems and equipment.

We are looking for a Director of Purchasing, this a full time position reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. AEE Solar has facilities in San Luis Obispo, Redway and Sacramento. This position will be based in San Luis Obispo. In this high-energy, fast-paced position, the Director of Purchasing will be responsible for the following:

Education:
An undergraduate degree is required, preferably in business. An MBA is highly desirable; however, proven ability and relevant experience will be the deciding factors.

Experience:
Minimum of ten years business experience with a minimum of five years in inventory purchasing management role is required, preferably with renewable energy products. Must demonstrate effective and diplomatic verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, plus a thorough knowledge of procurement strategies and practices. Must be experienced in developing, motivating, and managing people in a matrix organization, a self-starter and work effectively with schedules and reporting. Must have experience in inventory database maintenance. Experience working with Oracle databases desirable.

Strong organization skills and the ability to prioritize work effectively is required. Must be experienced in all aspects of procurement. The position requires approximately 10 percent travel.

Function:
The Director of Purchasing is responsible for the overall concept of department budgeting, planning, coordinating, and interfacing with other departments. Responsible for and directing the Senior Lead Members and other managers assigned by the COO. Director of Purchasing has the authority to recruit and select any additional staff approved in the annual budget, in addition to the disciplining and dismissal of any staff members following the guidelines of the Human Resource Department. The Director of Purchasing is responsible for the development and implementation of the Procurement Department business plan and profit plan. The Director of Purchasing will create CPOs (Clear Performance Objectives) for his/her direct reports and evaluate and lead them to achieve said objectives. Director of Purchasing has the overall responsibility of all direct reports and their departments. The Director of Purchasing will be expected to keep current and knowledgeable on the latest trends in the solar industry, along with current and future industry trends that impact our business. Procurement’s objective is supplying the right product at the right time at the right cost. The Director of Purchasing will be challenged with creating strategic relationships closest to the source with most-favored-nation pricing. The Director of Purchasing will focus on constant elimination of inefficiencies while continually adding value and service to the supply chain and AEE Solar customers.

Responsibilities:

  • Negotiate pricing, payment terms, quality parameters, ordering processes, etc. with our small and large vendors.
  • Responsible and accountable for the COGS and correct actual costing of product.
  • Define purchasing strategy and explore new vendor relationships together with COO.
  • Work closely with our executive department managers and their team to guarantee availability of products for scheduled orders and future orders.
  • Meet and co-manage with the COO the purchasing process for capital expenditure.
  • Develop list of authorized sources for each major product, and perform formal product evaluation and stack rank the sources.
  • Develop product specifications for existing product lines as well as identify products for which we will have formal product specifications within 12 months.
  • Review item master file and verify: order cycle; correct cost set-up by item; lead-time; landed cost, damage, packaging; minimum balance; bill of materials, kitting, pre-bundled; standard pack structure; breakdown and disposal; shrink or damage; pallet configuration Ti-Hi; oversized or bulky items requiring additional outbound freight exp.
  • Responsible for forward buy strategy and procurement.
  • Partner with supplier to secure reliable procurement of product.
  • Provide availability, seasonality, landed costs, distribution costs and profitability.
  • Sheltered Income is achieved in various forms of growth incentives, rebate programs, bill back programs, promotional programs, and support of appreciation activities.
  • Develop incentive programs.
  • Supplier objectives: develop supplier marketing advisory group; solicit supplier feedback on issues that make it harder to do business with AEE; meet with key suppliers at least once per quarter and perform quarterly review.
  • Evaluate all items and establish benchmark and monitor for: movement /profitability; average gross profit percent; avg GP $/case; avg GP $/cube; inventory turns by product group; days inventory on hand; inventory dollar value; inventory dollars /cube; fulfillment rate percentage and service level percentage; gross profit dollars generated by product line; gross profit dollars /cube; GMROI – gross margin return on inventory; spoils to COGS percentage; match rate on purchase orders; buyer’s statistics listed and monitored.
  • Program buys allow the vendor or supplier the ability to cover fixed operational expenses while continuing throughput efficiencies. Program buy relating to committing to various weekly, monthly, or quarterly commitments of volume. The vendor or supplier can budget and count on the movement of product at a fixed sales price allowing them the relief of week-to-week scrutiny. Protection on both sides attributed to a contract of renegotiation if the market moves 10% above or below the agreed upon price and re-established.
  • Develop reporting of purchase orders transacted per day, week, month, etc.

Essential Mental Functions:
Incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, communicate to external and internal professional individuals and organizations, multitask, be a self-starter, work with little supervision, research techniques, maintain confidentiality, and uphold a professional demeanor.

Essential Physical Functions:
Physical - typing on a keyboard, data entry, filing, may require lifting heavy boxes
Visual - reading and or research on a computer screen
Audio - inbound and outbound telephone calls, noise from the warehouse (office is located in a warehouse)

Equipment Used:
Personal workstation: desk, computer, cell and/or telephone, file cabinet

Additional Comments:
Incumbent must be a self-starter and work with little or no supervision. This position requires knowledge of analytical research methods, precise calculations, and the ability to "think outside the box", as well being prepared for continual change.

Compensation will be based on experience.

AEE Solar offers health insurance (including dental, vision, and a flexible spending account), a 401k plan, and paid vacation, sick days and holidays (11). AEE Solar strives to create an environment where employees are happy to come to work every day. We are known industry-wide as a company that treats its employees well and compensates them fairly.

Please forward your resume to the HR Department at:

For more information about AEE Solar, please visit our website: aeesolar.com