Purchasing Specialist, Services (St. Thomas, On)

Drive your Career!

We love our cars, but it’s the people behind them who make them what they are. To market, sell, and service great cars, we need great people. That’s why at Volkswagen Group Canada, we are passionate about our cars and our brand and foster this same passion and drive in our people. We know that the right people in the right positions can do incredible things, and we love making that happen.

We are currently looking for a Purchasing Specialist, Services based out of St. Thomas, ON

Our mission has started. Volkswagen Group’s largest cell factory in St. Thomas will carry out all battery activities – from processing raw materials to developing a unified Volkswagen battery to managing the European and North American gigafactories. Headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany, we are experiencing the transformation of mobility up close. Our goal is to contribute a positive impact to our global society, the environment and the economy. To reach these goals we need your POWER!

For the initial ramp-up phase of our North American operations we are looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented Purchasing Expert who thrives in fast-paced and fast-changing environments. As part of the ramp-up team, you will be temporarily reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and work closely with the local Head of Purchasing, the PowerCo SE team members at Headquarters in Germany as well as colleagues from the Volkswagen Group Canada in Ajax to help establish the Procurement division of the new company.

**This position is fully on-site in St. Thomas, ON

Primary Responsibilities:

• Independent sourcing, negotiation and completion of single orders as well as frame contracts
• Purchasing of the following services for the initial establishment of the company: Consulting and Legal Services, Headhunter, Office Space Rental, Event Management, EHS, Cleaning and waste disposal, Cafeteria Services
• Serving as a coach and mentor to new hires, accompanying them through the ramp-up phase
• Acting as a liaison between VW Group Canada (VGCA), PowerCo SE (Germany) and the newly established Canadian battery entity, learning all existing Purchasing programs and processes in order to act as a subject matter expert between all three parties
• Following up on purchasing issues and/or discrepancies as needed to ensure full resolution for internal customers
• Presentation of purchasing strategies and results in PowerCo SE (Germany) and global Volkswagen sourcing committees
• Reporting regularly on all purchasing activities to the local Head of Purchasing as well as to the PowerCo SE Purchasing HQ in Germany
• Working closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention
• Administration and optimization of contracts and amendments in alignment with internal and external stakeholders
• Establishment and management of strategic suppliers
• Performing other related duties as assigned or as they might pertain to the position

Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills
• Sense of urgency while maintaining attention to detail
• Experience communicating with vendors and working cross-functionally with all internal and external teams
• Occasional travel within Ontario, as well as internationally (~20%)
• Self-motivated/ambitious
• Accepts and supports change
• Comfortability preparing, drafting and issuing purchase orders, as well as reviewing and acting on requisitions, contract documents and supplier records from assigned workflow queues
• High sense of responsibility
• Experience with identifying cost savings and process improvement opportunities
• Pronounced strategic thinking skills
• Performing other tasks, as required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance or related fields and/or equivalent relevant work experience
• 3+ years professional experience in Purchasing, Construction and Infrastructure Contract Management
• Being open minded and willing to adapt
• Highly developed communication and negotiation skills in written and oral form
• Affinity for numbers and measurable results
• Stress tolerance/succeed in a fast-paced environment

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of German language is considered an asset
• Experience with start-ups and/or mergers and acquisitions strongly desired
• CIPS/CPSM/CSCP/CSCM/CSCMP is considered an asset
• Previous knowledge of Volkswagen purchasing systems
• Previous knowledge of SAP procurement

What you’ll get in return:

• Competitive employer paid benefits and overall compensation package
• Opportunities for development
• A flexible and collaborative team dynamic
• Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community
• And much more!

Interested applicants are asked to submit their application by August 18, 2023

Volkswagen Group Canada is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, family status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, or local laws.

Additional information: Volkswagen Group Canada is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities during all phases of the hiring process including the application process. If you require an accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to meet your needs. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation, you are encouraged to advise the Recruiter who will consult with you to determine an appropriate accommodation