Professional Services - Category Manager – Indirect Procurement

Fluence is the leading global energy storage technology and services company, created and backed by Siemens and AES, two industry powerhouses and pioneers in energy storage. Fluence unites the scale, experience, breadth, and financial backing of the two most experienced icons in energy storage.

Our mission is to create a more sustainable future by transforming the way we power our world. Energy storage is critical to this transformation, yet today the market is fragmented and customers face the challenge of finding a trusted technology partner amidst conflicting technical claims, inexperienced vendors and installers, and new market entrants with limited power sector knowledge.

Fluence brings the proven technology solutions and services that overcome the commercial and regulatory barriers that stand in the way of modernizing our energy networks. We are the partner that can deliver at a global scale with the most experienced and knowledgeable team in the world.

 

We are guided by our passion to transform the way we power our world. Achieving our goals requires creativity, diversity of ideas and backgrounds, and building trust to effect change and move with speed.

Fluence currently has thousands of MW of energy storage projects operated or awarded worldwide in addition to the thousands of MW of projects managed by our trading platform—and we are growing every day.

Fluence is defined by its unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and integrity.

We achieve our goals and meet our customer’s needs by cultivating curiosity, adaptability, and self-reflection in our teams.

We value the diversity in thought and experience of our coworkers and customers. Through honest, forthcoming, and respectful communications we work to ensure that Fluence is an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. 

The Professional Services Category Manager, Indirect Procurement is responsible for leading strategic procurement activities across various Professional Services categories. This role involves developing and implementing procurement strategies that support Fluence’s safety culture, core values, and business objectives while ensuring cost efficiency, compliance, and quality. The manager will work closely with internal teams and external suppliers to optimize procurement processes, drive cost savings, and maintain strong supplier relationships.

• Support the creation of a framework and roadmap to develop, simplify, standardize, and formalize Fluence’s sourcing and procurement processes and systems across all regions.

• Build and implement processes consistent with the framework and roadmap, ensuring ongoing compliance.

• Collaborate with the Indirect Buyer team to seek out cost reduction opportunities from the Purchase Requisition (PR) to Purchase Order (PO) process.

• Contribute to transitioning transactional activities into automation of the Center of Excellence (COE) to improve overall efficiency and service quality.

• Respond to user issues and questions related to policies and processes, including the Procure-to-Pay process for all Indirect Categories.

• Lead a variety of strategic procurement Professional Services categories

• Review, propose, or create new category strategy plans for each Indirect category to improve clarity, drive cost savings, and heighten compliance.

• Network with industry professionals to identify best practices and benchmark performance to optimize processes and systems.

• Systematically gather and maintain industry and market intelligence for designated categories.

• Implement favorable supply agreements to protect and provide a competitive advantage to Fluence.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential suppliers to create a Preferred Supplier list for cost-effectiveness and quality.

• Consolidate the supplier base to optimize procurement processes, enhance cost-efficiency, and negotiate favorable terms.

• Negotiate and establish competitive rates within software and hardware Indirect Categories with strong ability to red line contracts prior to working with the legal department

• Manage the contract lifecycle, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, working closely with the legal department.

• Manage contracts up to $1M in annual spend across all Indirect categories.

• Continuously monitor and analyze cost data to identify opportunities for savings and efficiency improvements.

• Meet and/or exceed annual cost savings goals assigned each year.

• Implement KPIs and performance metrics to assess and improve vendor performance in line with business objectives.

• Stay updated on industry trends, market conditions, and best practices within the Professional Services category for data-driven decisions.

• Identify and mitigate potential risks in the procurement process, including compliance and quality issues.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align procurement strategies with business objectives and project requirements.

• Foster a team environment that develops strong business and professional relationships with key internal stakeholders and external partners.

• Support the development of the Annual Operating Plan and Strategic Plan, managing to meet or exceed expectations.

• Generate and present regular reports and performance metrics to management on productivity savings, efficiency projects, and project targets.

Here are some of the benefits of joining our team:

·        Collaborative and supportive work environment

·        Opportunities for professional development and growth

·        Chance to make a real difference in the world