Director of Purchasing

Reporting to the Vice President of Supply Chain Management, the Director of Purchasing will be responsible for overseeing and managing all procurement activities within our global organization. Your primary objective will be to develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives, streamline procurement processes, and optimize supplier relationships to ensure the timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services. You will lead a team of purchasing professionals across North America, Europe and Asia to provide guidance, set goals and objectives, and foster a collaborative and efficient work environment. Your expertise and leadership will contribute to driving operational efficiency, mitigating risks, and maximizing value for the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

1.Develop and implement procurement strategies:

• Analyze organizational needs and develop comprehensive purchasing strategies aligned with business objectives for all key operational regions in North America, Europe and Asia.
• Develop and cross functionally approve multi-year volume forecasts to use with strategic suppliers for RFI/RFP/RFQ purposes aimed at developing cost reduction roadmaps to meet and exceed organizational targets and to ensure the best possible pricing and terms for negotiated supply agreements.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify, evaluate, nominate, and validate suppliers and components that are aligned with Ballard’s strategic product roadmap and product development technical, quality and cost requirements.
• Plan and execute on procurement department’s Annual Operating Budget, ensuring adequate labour, capital investment and functional financial budget resources are secured to meet the organizational requirements, including active management of inventory working capital.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and provide guidance on procurement processes and best practices.

2.Strategic Sourcing and Supply Base Development:

• Collaborate with Product Development Program and Quality to Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers and supplier component technologies to support fuel cell product development based on quality, cost, reliability, and serviceability.
• Perform ongoing global assessment of supply base for current and future strategic component technologies to enhance multi-source component supply opportunities, local supply for global production locations, and adoption of new component manufacturing technologies based on quality, cost, reliability, and serviceability.
• Negotiate contracts, terms, and conditions with suppliers to maximize value and mitigate risks.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with existing and future approved suppliers, monitoring performance and resolving any issues or disputes that may arise.

3.Procurement process optimization:

• Streamline purchasing processes and systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and enable global growth in a structured and standardized manner.
• Develop and implement procurement policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Utilize technology and data analytics to improve procurement decision-making, forecasting, and inventory management at a global level.

4.Team leadership and development:

• Lead a team of global purchasing professionals, providing clear direction, guidance, and support.
• Set performance objectives, conduct regular performance evaluations, and identify training and development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a role model for the Ballard cultural values.

5.Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Compliance and Environmental, Social Governance (ESG):

• Identify potential risks in the purchasing process and develop strategies to mitigate them which actively link to Ballard’s ERM risk register.
• Develop and implement purchasing strategies to support global growth and multi-site manufacturing locations, continuity of supply (including capacity and component lifecycle management), mitigation or risk related to warranty exposure and service support, inventory management, and improved cashflow.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards in all procurement activities, and build upon Ballard’s existing ESG activities in support of Ballard’s transition to carbon neutrality by 2030.
• Lead and support regulatory, certification, financial and customer audits and document submissions for purchasing as part of Ballard’s Layered Process Audit (LPA) structure.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance to ensure adherence to contractual obligations and quality standards.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, or a related field. A master's degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of procurement experience within a technical volume manufacturing environment, including leading and supporting multiple Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) phases from cradle to grave
• Professional qualification in Supply Chain and Logistics (e.g., SCMP, APICS, CIPS, ISM) preferred
• Proven experience in procurement and sourcing, preferably in a leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of procurement best practices, market trends, and supplier management strategies.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, including knowledge of implementing and growing integrated ERP systems and linking to other systems, such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in using procurement software and tools.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to achieve targets and objectives.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

As the Director of Purchasing, you will play a crucial role in driving the success of our organization through effective procurement strategies, supplier management, and process optimization. If you are a strategic thinker, a skilled leader, and passionate about delivering value through procurement, we invite you to join our team and make a significant impact on our operations and overall business success. This onsite position is based at our head office in the Vancouver metropolitan area.

Our Values

Listen & Deliver | Quality. Always. | Inspire Excellence | Row Together | Own It

Ballard values diversity in the workplace and is committed to Employment Equity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates.