Responsibilities

• 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 IT Services categories – Hardware, Software, Services.
• 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.
• Manage the contract lifecycle, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage contracts up to $2M 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.