Senior Procurement Manager

Company Overview: Aquila Energy is a growing EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) firm specializing in renewable energy solutions. We deliver high-quality solar projects that advance the energy transition. Our team thrives in a culture of safety, operational excellence, and innovation. Position Summary: The Senior Procurement Manager leads sourcing, purchasing, and delivery of major equipment, materials, and services for utility-scale solar PV and BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) projects. This role owns portfolio procurement strategy, develops a bankable supplier base, negotiates supply and subcontract agreements, and manages supply chain, pricing, and trade-compliance risks. The position collaborates with preconstruction, estimating, engineering, project management, construction, legal, and finance to ensure materials arrive on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with project specifications, contracts, and financing and incentive requirements. Job Details: Job Title: Senior Procurement Manager Department: Preconstruction / Supply Chain Location: Remote (United States) Reports To: Director of Preconstruction Direct Reports: Procurement buyers, analysts, and expeditors (as the team grows) FLSA Status: Exempt Job Type: Full-Time Key Responsibilities: Procurement Strategy: Develop and execute sourcing strategies for major equipment and materials, including PV modules, inverters, trackers, transformers, switchgear, BESS enclosures, power conversion systems, cable, and balance-of-system components. Balance cost, lead time, quality, and supplier concentration risks. Vendor Selection and Evaluation: Identify, qualify, and evaluate suppliers through technical, commercial, financial, and quality assessments, including supplier bankability reviews. Maintain approved vendor lists and meet lender and independent engineer expectations. Negotiation and Contracting: Lead RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluations, bid-leveling, purchase orders, master supply agreements, and subcontracts. Negotiate pricing, payment terms, Incoterms, warranties, performance guarantees, delivery schedules, liquidated damages, security provisions, and tariff protections. Coordinate with legal on contract terms and risk allocation. Cost Management: Partner with estimating, preconstruction, and project management to validate budgets and bid pricing, monitor commodity pricing, and implement cost-control, escalation-management, and value-engineering measures to protect margins. Schedule and Delivery Coordination: Align procurement schedules with construction milestones. Track orders, submittals, production, shipments, and deliveries against project baseline schedules. Logistics and Expediting: Coordinate domestic and international freight, customs clearance, and site deliveries with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and site teams. Manage receiving and storage requirements and expedite critical orders to prevent delays. Technical Collaboration: Partner with engineering to review specifications, datasheets, and drawings, ensuring equipment meets design requirements, applicable standards (UL, IEC, IEEE, NEC, NFPA 855), and utility interconnection requirements. Quality Assurance: Coordinate factory audits, acceptance testing, witness testing, and inspections. Manage supplier non-conformance, warranty, and claims processes through resolution. Risk Management: Identify and mitigate supply chain risks involving lead times, pricing, tariffs, trade restrictions (Section 201/301, AD/CVD), supplier performance, insolvency, force majeure, domestic content, and FEOC requirements. Develop alternate-sourcing and contingency plans for critical equipment. Compliance: Ensure procurement complies with company policies, contracts, safety standards, and applicable regulations, including supply chain traceability, UFLPA, forced labor requirements, import/export regulations, and tax-credit documentation. Supplier Relationship Management: Establish supplier scorecards and performance reviews covering quality, delivery, cost, safety, and responsiveness. Conduct strategic supplier reviews and drive continuous improvement and long-term agreements. Stakeholder and Owner Coordination: Support owners, lenders, and independent engineers with equipment selection, supplier due diligence, procurement documentation, owner-furnished equipment, and approved manufacturer requirements. Policies and Process Improvement: Develop and maintain procurement policies, procedures, approval matrices, and contract templates. Drive ERP and project management system adoption and improve procurement processes and controls. Reporting: Prepare procurement reports covering purchase commitments, budget variances, delivery forecasts, risk registers, and supplier performance for project and executive stakeholders. Documentation Management: Maintain contracts, purchase orders, change orders, certifications, test reports, warranties, and supplier correspondence in accordance with document control and audit requirements. Market Intelligence: Monitor global market conditions, technology, policy, trade developments, and supplier capacity. Advise leadership on pricing, availability, and procurement impacts. Team Leadership: Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop procurement staff as the team grows. Establish performance expectations and promote accountability and safety. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Procurement savings and cost variance versus project budget. On-time delivery of critical-path equipment and materials. Supplier quality, non-conformance, and warranty performance. Trade, traceability, and domestic content compliance. Contract terms achieved, including payment terms, warranties, and liquidated damages protections. Procurement team development and retention. Qualifications: Required: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Minimum 10 years of procurement or supply chain experience, including at least 5 years in solar, energy storage, renewable energy, or utility-scale EPC. Proven experience procuring major electrical equipment (modules, inverters, transformers, trackers, batteries) and managing suppliers for large-scale construction or design-build projects, including multi-million-dollar agreements. Demonstrated experience leading and developing procurement professionals. Strong negotiation, contract review, and commercial analysis skills, including supply agreements, warranties, and risk allocation. Working knowledge of solar PV and BESS equipment, specifications, and industry standards. Knowledge of import logistics, Incoterms, customs, tariffs, and trade compliance affecting renewable energy supply chains. Proficiency in ERP, procurement and project management systems (e.g., Procore), and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional coordination skills. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities. Authorization to work in the United States. Preferred: Master's degree or MBA. Certifications such as CPSM, CSCP, CPPM, or PMP. International sourcing, import logistics, tariff, and trade compliance experience, including UFLPA, FEOC, and domestic content requirements. Experience with letters of credit, supplier financing, and financial due diligence. Familiarity with lender, tax equity, and independent engineer equipment bankability requirements. BESS procurement experience, including battery cells, modules, power conversion systems, and UL 9540/9540A fire-safety requirements. Experience with ERP platforms (Sage, NetSuite, etc.) and supplier risk or spend analytics tools. Compensation and Benefits: Base Salary: $135,000–$160,000 annually, plus an annual performance-based bonus, commensurate with experience. Aquila Energy offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, flexible PTO, and professional development support. Work Environment and Physical Requirements: This is a remote position with occasional travel (up to 20%) to project sites, vendor facilities, and company meetings. International travel may be required for supplier audits and factory visits. The position involves prolonged periods of desk and computer work. Site visits may require walking, standing, navigating uneven terrain, and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Equal Opportunity Statement: Aquila Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.