General Purchasing Supervisor

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 Title:    Indirect Purchasing Supervisor 

Department:      Supply Chain 

Entity:                 USCM 

Reports To: Purchasing Manager 

Location: Indiana 

Position Summary:  

We are seeking a skilled Purchasing Supervisor with a strong background in managing indirect purchasing of MRO materials or service such as Equipment, 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 and 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 Management

• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with domestic and international suppliers to secure optimal pricing, quality, and delivery terms.
• Collaborate with the logistics department, third-party logistics providers (3PL), suppliers, and freight forwarders to 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.

Leadership and 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 and 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 marke