Vice President of Operations – APAC

As the VP of Supply Chain Operations APAC you will:

• Effectively implement and scale regional sourcing and manufacturing strategies to support near- and long-term business goals.
• Partner with business leaders to define supply chain services and capabilities that align with evolving market demands.
• Develop and execute multi-year strategic supply chain plans to support forecasted demand from internal and external customers.
• Serve as a key stakeholder in business decisions to optimize supply chain network structure and supplier performance, including contract participation and negotiations.
• Design and lead the regional Supply Chain team structure and talent strategy to meet operational goals.
• Provide strong leadership and coaching to regional supply chain teams, creating transparency into business priorities and aligning actions with customer needs.
• Establish and manage performance metrics (KPIs) across financials, manufacturing, logistics, materials, safety, and quality.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives aligned with business strategy to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Participate in and facilitate Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align forecasts and operational readiness.
• Identify and develop strategic supplier partnerships that enable better product offerings and lower costs through value capture and cycle time optimization.
• Build a high-performing, diverse team and foster leadership development across the regional supply chain function.
• Influence across the organization to align cross-functional efforts and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead annual strategic planning for the APAC Supply Chain organization in alignment with corporate growth and profitability targets.

Supply Chain Operations Leadership at Fluence includes:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute comprehensive supply chain strategies aligned with overall company goals.
• Team Management: Lead and develop a regional team covering procurement, production, inventory, logistics, and distribution.
• Cost Optimization: Drive cost reduction and efficiency improvements across the supply chain.
• Supplier Management: Build strong supplier relationships, negotiate favorable contracts, and ensure consistent quality and performance.
• Inventory Management: Optimize inventory strategies to balance availability and carrying cost.
• Demand Planning: Align closely with sales and marketing to forecast demand and set inventory targets.
• Production Planning: Coordinate production schedules with demand and resource availability.
• Logistics & Distribution: Streamline transportation and warehousing to ensure timely delivery to customers across APAC.
• Technology Integration: Implement advanced supply chain systems to improve transparency and decision-making.
• Quality Assurance: Enforce quality and compliance across the supply chain.
• Risk Management: Anticipate and mitigate risks, including geopolitical and supply disruptions.
• Continuous Improvement: Cultivate a lean, Six Sigma-driven culture focused on ongoing improvement.
• Contract Management: Ensure appropriate contract frameworks aligned to spend, risk, and criticality.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Serve as a trusted partner to engineering and business leadership, ensuring internal alignment and satisfaction.
• Benchmarking: Continuously assess and adopt industry best practices in cost, quality, innovation, and ESG.
• Compliance: Ensure full compliance with procurement policies, trade regulations, and regional ESG requirements.
• Financial Planning: Collaborate with Finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and cash flow for the region.
• Reporting & Analytics: Deliver key reports on S2C performance, supplier KPIs, cost savings, and ESG metrics.

What you will bring to Fluence:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Business or related field; Master’s or PG Diploma in Operations/Supply Chain preferred.
• 10–15 years of total experience, including 5+ years in direct materials sourcing, factory management and regional supply chain leadership.
• Preferred certifications: CPSM, CPSD, CPIM, CSCP, CLTS, or CIPS.
• Demonstrated success in executive supply chain roles, particularly in fast-paced, global environments.
• Deep knowledge of end-to-end supply chain processes including sourcing, logistics, manufacturing, and compliance.
• Strong financial acumen, analytical mindset, and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent team leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with APAC supplier base in areas such as mechanical fabrication, electro-mechanical assemblies, lithium-ion batteries and modules, HVAC systems, electronics, and server racks.
• Knowledge of import/export regulations, FTA agreements, and regional trade compliance.
• Expertise in zero-based costing, TCO models, and sourcing analytics.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle) and S2C/SRM tools (Ariba, Coupa).
• Experience managing ESG and compliance programs in the APAC context.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in other APAC languages is a plus.
• PMI or equivalent project management certification is a bonus.

Fluence IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER and fully subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity to ensure that all applicants and employees are considered for hire, promotion, and job status without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital or familial status.