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Career Opportunities

Manufacturing Purchaser

Tantalus Systems

Tantalus Systems

Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posted on Nov 20, 2024

About Tantalus Systems (TSX: GRID)

Tantalus is a technology company dedicated to helping utilities modernize their distribution grids by harnessing the power of data across all their devices and systems deployed throughout the entire distribution grid – from the substation to the EV charger located behind the meter. We offer smart grid solutions across multiple levels: intelligent connected devices, communications networks, data management, enterprise applications and analytics.

Learn more at http://www.tantalus.com/.

Come join us if you’re interested in being part of an entrepreneurial team, solving complex technical problems and delivering innovative solutions that will directly impact the electrification of everything and the decarbonization of our society.

We have operations throughout the United States and Canada with offices in Burnaby (British Columbia, Canada), Raleigh (North Carolina, USA), and Norwalk (Connecticut, USA).


This position offers a competitive salary plus variable compensation based on performance targets and business objectives. Tantalus also offers generous benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Location of Position:

This position will be based in our Burnaby, BC office.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Manager, Manufacturing, the Purchaser oversees the procurement of materials, goods, and services with a focus on cost savings, quality, and supplier management. This role requires in-depth procurement knowledge, supplier management skills, and effective management of inventory.

Specifically, the Purchaser is responsible for:

  • Sourcing and Procurement
    • Identify and evaluate potential vendors, negotiate optimal purchasing terms for price, volume, and delivery.
    • Issue purchase orders to Tantalus manufacturing partners for finished goods, and to selected vendors for all other materials and services to support internal and commercial requirements.
    • Resolve supply chain constraints, identify alternate sources to mitigate supply risk, coordinate and manage last time buys for end of life components.
  • Supplier relationship and management
    • Act as a primary contact for suppliers, internal and external customers to facilitate problem resolution related to procurement, delivery and purchase order management.
    • Build and manage strategic supplier relationships with activities related to selection, qualification, performance monitoring, pricing and forecast review, cost and quality improvement.
  • Cost control and Procurement optimization
    • Conduct regular purchase price variance review against target.
    • Identify cost savings through negotiations and event driven activities, and alternate sourcing to achieve assigned cost reduction goals.
    • Optimize procurement and inventory management processes to maximize profitability and minimize total cost of inventory.
  • Commercial operations support
    • Assist with shipping logistics for both incoming and outgoing shipments.
    • Generate packing list and/or assembly requests for materials to be assembled into products to fulfill customer sales orders.
    • Support inventory management on-site and at partner sites, drive actions to mitigate impact of slow-moving and obsolete stock.
    • Review customer orders, payments and invoices and maintain a variety of related files, logs, invoices, purchase orders and documentation to generate reports as required.
    • Expedite orders and assist in pricing revisions, order changes, shipping details and invoice discrepancies.

What you Bring:

Education and Experience

  • Formal education in Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain Management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum 10 years work experience in procurement roles for electronics manufacturing organizations, or a combination of education and equivalent experience.
  • Certification or enrollment in supply chain is highly preferred (CPIM, SCMP).
  • Solid understanding of procurement and supply chain operations including best practices in manufacturing.
  • Experience in pre-production procurement of electronic components used in the manufacturing of PCBAs (Printed Circuit Board Assemblies).
  • Experience in coordinating with third-party contract manufacturers for turn-key procurement and production.
  • Experience with international shipping logistics desired.
  • Lean Supply Chain experience desired.
  • ERP system experience within a supply chain environment including purchasing and inventory.
  • Excellent knowledge of MS Office suite including Outlook, Word, Visio, Excel and PowerPoint.

Personal Attributes Required:

  • Highly effective organizational and planning skills, and meticulous attention to detail.
  • Ability to effectively prioritize and multi-task, and remain focused in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment.
  • Excellent collaborative and interpersonal skills.
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently while exercising initiative, flexibility, and good judgment.
  • Have a high personal commitment to product quality and process improvement.
  • Desire to learn new skills in a dynamic and demanding environment.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.

If you possess some of the key skills and experiences outlined in the job posting and are genuinely interested in the position, we invite you to take a chance and submit your application. We value diverse perspectives, unique skills, and believe in the power of potential over specific qualifications.

Tantalus is committed to employment equity and building a diverse workforce. We welcome and encourage Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, 2SLGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities to apply. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, simply email us at careers@tantalus.com.