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BRL-SCM-02 · Procurement & Supply Chain
Category Manager, BESS & Power Conversion Systems
Energy Storage Pune / Hybrid · Hybrid 8–12 years · Senior
Battery storage is the fastest-changing equipment category in Indian power, with shifting cell prices, chemistries, safety rules and domestic manufacturing. You will own how BARREL buys battery systems, power conversion systems and energy management systems, balancing price, safety, performance guarantees and supply security.
Scope of work
- Develop the category strategy for cells, battery containers, power conversion systems and energy management systems.
- Qualify integrators and OEMs through technical, financial, safety and factory audits.
- Run competitive tenders and negotiations for BESS packages, including long-term service agreements.
- Negotiate performance terms: usable energy, round-trip efficiency, availability and capacity retention over life.
- Plan augmentation strategy and pricing over the contract life with Engineering.
- Coordinate factory inspections, type-test reviews and factory acceptance tests.
- Manage shipping, customs and dangerous-goods requirements for lithium-ion equipment.
- Track domestic cell manufacturing capacity and plan a transition to domestic supply where it is competitive.
- Maintain market price intelligence and should-cost models for the category.
Technical description
- Lithium iron phosphate cell technology, cycle life, calendar ageing and state-of-health measurement.
- Safety standards: IEC 62619, IEC 62933 series, UL 9540 and UL 9540A large-scale fire testing, and NFPA 855 design practice.
- BIS compulsory registration requirements and Indian standards for lithium-ion cells and batteries.
- Power conversion system grid compliance with CEA technical standards for connectivity, including fault ride-through.
- Production Linked Incentive scheme for advanced chemistry cells and viability gap funding for BESS.
- Dangerous goods rules for lithium batteries (UN 3480, IMDG Code) and Incoterms 2020.
- Energy management system functions for arbitrage, frequency response and renewable firming.
Commercial description
- Accountable for category spend, landed cost per MWh of usable storage and savings against budget.
- Owns warranty, performance guarantee and liquidated damages terms in BESS contracts.
- Measured on delivery to schedule, quality findings and lifetime cost of the procured systems.
- Works with storage engineering, EPC projects, O&M, Legal, Finance and insurers.
- Supports storage bids with firm, defensible equipment pricing.
Skills required
- Procurement of battery storage or power electronics equipment.
- Technical understanding to compare BESS proposals on a like-for-like basis.
- Negotiating complex performance and warranty terms.
- Building should-cost and lifecycle cost models.
- Supplier audits and factory inspections.
- International logistics for hazardous goods.
- Market intelligence on cell prices and supply.
- Clear documentation and approval notes.
Talent we look for
- Puts safety first and refuses shortcuts on certification.
- Rigorous with technical detail and comfortable challenging OEMs.
- Keeps up with a market that changes every quarter.
- Works as one team with Engineering rather than in a silo.
Qualifications
- B.E./B.Tech in Electrical, Electronics or Mechanical Engineering.
- At least 5 years in procurement or category management for storage, inverters or power electronics.
- Experience procuring grid-scale BESS in India or abroad is a strong advantage.
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