Strategic Supplier Chain Manager

Role Purpose:

To manage strategic partnerships with major equipment suppliers (UPS transformers MV/LV switchgear gensets chillers cooling towers etc.) for multi-GW deployments. This owner-side role ensures that suppliers are qualified coordinated audited and aligned with clients project schedules and quality standards.

Responsibilities:

Supplier Coordination & Relationship Management

• Act as the primary owner interface for Tier-1 strategic suppliers.

• Lead regular supplier meetings to align production capacity technical changes and delivery milestones.

• Facilitate cross-functional coordination between suppliers and clients engineering procurement and project delivery teams.

• Resolve high-level supplier disputes quality issues or delivery escalations.

Schedule Planning & Management

• Develop and maintain master supply schedules for multi-GW deployments ensuring supplier manufacturing slots are locked and aligned with construction timelines.

• Proactively identify schedule risks (e.g. material shortages production bottlenecks logistics delays) and drive mitigation plans.

• Monitor supplier progress against production schedules and report status to internal stakeholders (project management leadership).

• Coordinate with logistics to ensure equipment readiness matches site readiness.

Vendor Qualification

• Lead end-to-end vendor qualification process for new strategic suppliers including capability assessments financial health checks reference checks and technical evaluations.

• Maintain an approved vendor list (AVL) for critical equipment categories.

• Assess supplier manufacturing facilities quality systems (ISO 9001 etc.) and production capacity.

Vendor Auditing (QCDS)

• Plan and execute annual QCDS (Quality Cost Delivery Sustainability) audits for strategic suppliers.

• Conduct on-site factory audits to verify QA/QC processes production controls and safety standards.

• Develop supplier scorecards and drive corrective action plans for underperforming vendors.

• Audit supplier subcontractors and critical component sub-suppliers as needed.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management

• Lead long-term frame agreement negotiations (pricing terms capacity guarantees liquidated damages).

• Secure strategic capacity locking for long-lead equipment across multiple project phases.

• Drive cost reduction initiatives through value engineering should-cost analysis and competitive benchmarking.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical) or Business.

• 10 years in strategic sourcing supplier management or procurement for data centre industrial infrastructure or high-tech manufacturing.

• Proven track record of managing large-volume contracts and multi-GW supplier coordination.

• Deep knowledge of electrical or mechanical equipment supply chains (transformers UPS MV/LV switchgear gensets chillers cooling towers CRAH units CDUs).

• Strong experience in vendor qualification and supplier auditing (ISO standards QA/QC factory audits).

• Excellent schedule planning and project coordination skills.

• Willing to travel to supplier factories domestically and internationally.

• Mandarin speaking is a strong plus (many strategic suppliers based in China).