Manager, Procurement - Solar & BESS Equipment

Pivot Energy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health/dental/vision plan

Four weeks of vacation

401(k) matching

Home office stipend

Public transit reimbursement

Job summary

Pivot Energy is hiring a Procurement Manager to lead day-to-day procurement activities for solar PV and BESS projects in Chicago. You will coordinate planning, supplier relationships, and contract execution to align with project goals and compliance requirements.

You will partner with Engineering, Finance, O&M, Logistics, and Category Management to optimize supplier performance and procurement processes, driving improvements across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in related field.
• 3+ years of procurement/supply-chain experience in project-based industries.
• Experience coordinating purchasing, logistics, suppliers, and cross-functional needs.
• Knowledge of supplier contracts and Incoterms.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills and stakeholder management ability.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with limited supervision.
• Experience with spreadsheets, word processing, and business tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of procurement activities across projects.
• Establish relationships with Engineering, Tech Ops, Project Management, Logistics, Finance, and suppliers.
• Coordinate planning for equipment manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers.
• Support cross-functional planning for project financing and construction.
• Direct and support Buyer/Planner and procurement resources.
• Escalate procurement, supplier, logistics issues as needed.
• Maintain high professionalism in internal and external interactions.
• Monitor contract obligations, renewals, pricing, and commercial terms.
• Oversee procurement execution for major equipment purchases and PO processing.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance

Tools

Procore

Salesforce

Smartsheet

Google Workspace

Job description

ROLE OVERVIEW

As the Procurement Manager, you will provide day-to-day leadership, coordination, and oversight of Pivot Energy’s procurement activities supporting Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This role is responsible for ensuring effective equipment planning & procurement execution across purchasing, supplier coordination, logistics, procurement systems, processes, compliance, and performance management.

The Procurement Manager will translate procurement strategy into effective operating processes and execution, ensuring that planning & purchasing activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with project requirements, supplier agreements, company policies, and applicable compliance requirements.

This role will oversee and improve procurement processes, systems, reporting, supplier performance (E.g., OTD), and cross-functional coordination while partnering closely with Category Management and the Buyer/Planner. The Procurement Manager will work with Engineering, Tech Ops, Project Management, Delivery, O&M, Finance, Logistics, and external suppliers to support project execution and continuous improvement across the Procurement organization. Identifying, presenting, and making actionable the vision for the future of Pivot Procurement. Other duties, as requested.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Stakeholder Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of Procurement activities across projects and operational requirements.
• Establish effective working relationships with Engineering, Tech Ops, Project Management, Delivery, O&M, Finance, Logistics, Category Management, and suppliers.
• Coordinate planning & procurement activities with equipment manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers, and other external partners.
• Support cross-functional planning for project financing, construction, operations, and equipment requirements.
• Provide direction, coaching, and support to Buyer/Planner and other procurement resources as applicable.
• Serve as an escalation point for procurement, supplier, purchasing, and logistics issues.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism in internal and external interactions.

Contract Management

• Support development, review, negotiation, execution, and administration of master supply agreements and other procurement-related contracts.
• Ensure procurement activities are executed in accordance with negotiated contractual terms.
• Partner with Category Management to ensure supplier contracts and commercial terms are accurately reflected in procurement processes and systems.
• Coordinate purchase order execution and ensure alignment with supplier agreements.
• Monitor contract obligations, renewals, pricing, and other key commercial requirements.
• Support resolution of contractual and commercial issues with suppliers.

Quality Management

• Establish and maintain procurement processes that support supplier quality and reliable equipment delivery.
• Monitor supplier and procurement performance and coordinate resolution of quality issues.
• Support project management and O&M teams with major equipment defect, breakage, warranty, and insurance claims.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve equipment-related issues.
• Identify process improvements that increase procurement accuracy, supplier responsiveness, and execution quality.
• Support supplier qualification and performance-management activities.

Financial Management

• Oversee procurement execution for major equipment purchases, including purchase orders, invoices, and payment records.
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounts Payable to resolve purchasing and payment issues.
• Support preparation of equipment pricing and availability forecasts for preconstruction and project planning.
• Maintain procurement pricing and market information to support sourcing and project decisions.
• Monitor procurement performance, commercial terms, and purchasing activity against established objectives.
• Support cost optimization initiatives in partnership with Category Management.
• Ensure procurement records provide accurate financial and commercial visibility.

Schedule Management

• Coordinate purchasing, warehousing, shipping, and logistics activities to support construction and project schedules.
• Establish processes to monitor purchase order status, supplier commitments, logistics activities, and material availability.
• Identify and elevate procurement issues that may impact project schedules.
• Coordinate with Buyer/Planner and Category Management to resolve supply and delivery constraints.
• Support forecasting of equipment availability and pricing for preconstruction and project planning.
• Drive improvements in procurement cycle times and execution efficiency.

Compliance Management

• Establish and maintain procurement processes that comply with company policies, legal requirements, ethical standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Verify vendor and product compliance with applicable company standards.
• Enforce procurement policies, procedures, and approval requirements.
• Support compliance reviews and maintain appropriate procurement records.
• Monitor industry, trade, economic, ITC, and regulatory developments that may affect Solar PV and BESS procurement.
• Ensure procurement processes appropriately capture required certifications and compliance information.
• Partner with Category Management and Procurement leadership on emerging regulatory and compliance requirements.

Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and escalation procurement, supplier, logistics, and material-availability risks.
• Establish processes for monitoring supplier performance and emerging supply-chain disruptions.
• Coordinate risk mitigation activities with Category Management, Buyer/Planner, project teams, and suppliers.
• Monitor industry trends, trade disputes, economic conditions, and regulatory developments affecting equipment availability and cost.
• Support supplier continuity and contingency planning.
• Establish appropriate escalation processes for material, supplier, logistics, quality, and commercial risks.
• Provide Procurement leadership with visibility into significant risks and mitigation actions.

Document Management

• Develop and maintain procurement databases and systems containing major equipment and supplier information.
• Maintain accurate records of equipment pricing, availability, supplier information, purchase orders, contracts, and procurement activity.
• Maintain chain-of-custody, proof-of-payment, proof-of-delivery, and other required equipment documentation.
• Establish and maintain procurement reporting, dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Ensure procurement documentation is complete, accurate, accessible, and appropriately controlled.
• Support procurement systems integration, process improvements, and data-quality initiatives.
• Establish standardized documentation and recordkeeping practices across the Procurement function.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of procurement and supply-chain experience, preferably within solar, energy storage, construction, manufacturing, or other project-based industries.
• Experience coordinating purchasing, logistics, suppliers, and cross-functional project requirements.
• Working knowledge of supplier contracts and commercial terms, including Incoterms.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to understand and communicate technical and commercial issues.
• Strong organizational skills, process orientation, and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple projects and tasks with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems, coordinate solutions, and elevate appropriately.
• Strong proficiency with spreadsheets, word processing, and business productivity tools.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

• Experience supporting negotiation and administration of master supply agreements and other procurement contracts.
• Experience leading or supervising procurement personnel.
• Experience with Solar PV, BESS, electrical equipment, or other energy-related equipment.
• Experience with procurement, ERP, project management, or supply-chain systems.
• Experience with Procore, Salesforce, Smartsheet, Google Workspace, or similar systems.
• Experience with procurement process improvement, data management, reporting, and systems implementation.
• Experience coordinating equipment warehousing and transportation activities.
• Experience with supplier performance management and risk mitigation.

$100,000 - $130,000 a year

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The estimated base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000, along with eligibility for the company’s substantial bonus plan, with a target bonus of 30% of annual salary (prorated in the first year based on start date). Compensation will be based on factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, certifications, skills, and experience.

Pivot Energy is dedicated to providing a great work experience for all employees, placing an emphasis on company culture and a focus on our people. To that end, Pivot offers an outstanding benefits package that includes:

• Excellent health/dental/vision insurance benefits with up to 100% of premiums covered by the company
• Four weeks of vacation (prorated in first year)
• Company-paid life insurance and short- & long-term disability coverage
• Generous parental leave
• 401(k) matching
• Home Office set-up stipend for new employees
• Public transit reimbursement
• PTO for volunteering in the community
• Charitable donation matching up to $500/year
• Professional development and educational reimbursements

A complete list of all the benefits Pivot offers may be provided upon request.

ABOUT PIVOT

Pivot Energy is a national renewable energy provider that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects that help decarbonize our nation’s electricity, increase equitable access to clean energy for local communities, and provide real cost-savings to American businesses and families.

We are fiercely dedicated to accelerating the rapid transition taking place in the energy industry to a more decentralized and cleaner approach to power generation. We are committed to positively contributing to the local communities and people we serve with more than clean energy. We believe global warming poses an existential threat to our planet and that we have a responsibility to help mitigate the threat. Our portfolio includes projects that reduce energy burden for income-limited families, create workforce pathways for under-represented groups within the solar industry, and include robust community investment opportunities.

As a Certified B Corporation and one of Denver’s “Best Places to Work”, we believe that company success is driven by a healthy environment, thriving society, and workplace where all individuals are respected. We evaluate every internal decision on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to determine if our actions will result in a net positive impact on the community, our employees, customers, shareholders, and the environment. Learn more in our annual ESG Report.

At Pivot, our core values guide our work internally and externally:

Impact – We hold ourselves accountable to having a measurable impact on our people, communities, and the planet

Balance – Put family first; work hard/have fun

Determination – Find ways to be successful no matter how difficult the challenge

Professionalism – Impress everyone we touch, be a team player

Honesty – Be truthful and transparent, externally and internally

Kindness – Create an environment where kindness, empathy, and vulnerability are embraced

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION and JUSTICE STATEMENT

At Pivot, we are proactively developing and maintaining an inclusive culture, rooted in mutual respect, that supports a workforce of different generations, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, ability statuses, religions, and cultures to work collaboratively together for greater impact. We seek to build a team that invests in relationship building, celebrates each other’s successes, and makes space for the unique contributions and working styles people bring into Pivot.

Pivot invests in company-wide trainings, assessments, and programs to advance internal inclusion and equity practices, such as employee allyship building, cross-cultural communications, and equitable hiring and management protocols to increasingly recognize bias and ensure mutual respect and belonging.

EEO STATEMENT

Pivot Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce. We actively work to cultivate an inclusive culture that welcomes, empowers, and enables equitable career growth for employees regardless of background.