Commodities Buyer

DTE Energy

20h•$90,000 - $125,000

About The Position

DTE is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer’s homes and Michigan’s progress for more than a century. And as Michigan’s largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states. But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job. At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities. When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences, and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing. Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE. Together, we can achieve great things. The pay range for this position is $90,000.00 - $125,000.00. Job SummaryLocation: Stockton, CA The position will assist the Plant Manager, Asset Management, and Operations teams in identifying, structuring, sourcing, negotiating, procuring, and transporting of biomass fuel consisting of agricultural and urban waste materials for their assigned facility. In addition, this position will be responsible for ensuring cost effective ash disposal in conjunction with the ash management plan. The Fuel Buyer is responsible for working with both internal and external stakeholders to develop multiple vendors for fuel supply and disposal or beneficial reuse of ash. This person is expected to develop, update, and maintain the fuel and ash plans for the duration of the power purchase agreement and ensure that performance is consistent with the plans. This position is also responsible for administering the fuel procurement software (3log) for proper vendor payments and consistent quality, inventory, and financial data reporting. The Fuel Buyer is expected to ensure fuel quality standards are met, optimize plant performance, and support fuel yard management to ensure efficient and reliable operation from the receipt of fuel through the delivery of fuel to the boiler. In addition, this person is responsible to monitor and ensure ash silo levels are managed to optimize trucking and disposal costs while meeting operational requirements for capacity. The Fuel Buyer will be expected to comply with all DTE Vantage safety processes, the DTE Code of Conduct and the On-=Site Energy BU Administrative Guidelines.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent and knowledge and capabilities typically acquired through at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, or
Associate degree or industry-recognized certificate (i.e., the completion of a core group of course designated by the institution) in a related discipline is preferred and knowledge and capabilities typically acquired through at least 3 years of relevant professional experience, or
Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience
The candidate should have a commercial background and be familiar with various aspects of the agricultural practices, wood recycling/processing, and wood transportation industry
Proven ability to develop and maintain strong relationship with wood suppliers, transporters, and recovery customers
Knowledge of power plant fuel management procedures and processes
Demonstrated history of developing and crafting fuel procurement and transportation agreements or similar contracts
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to analyze and communicate tasks, needs, activities, and follow-up actions to relevant stakeholders
Ability to take initiative and prioritize competing priorities
Team player, ability to lead and/or work within cross-functional teams
Ability to travel as necessary in the local area daily and overnight up to 15%
Ability to function and when necessary to influence others within a matrix organization in which functional and business leaders have equal authority within the organization and employees report to both a functional leader and a business leader

Nice To Haves

Experience managing waste recovery yards or fuel yards desired

Responsibilities

Ensure that the plant has adequate supplies of fuel to sustain reliable operation. Fuel must meet quality and cost expectations
Ensure onsite and third-party quality testing and fuel sampling and reporting are performed as scheduled and reviewed and distributed to all applicable parties
Develop fuel plan with detailed annual forecast and budget for ash and fuel, updated quarterly; include 5-year market forecast developed in conjunction with asset management
Identify, implement, and ensure low-cost disposal or beneficial reuse options for ash
Negotiate with counterparties to successfully structure procurement, transportation, storage, and other commercial agreements needed to satisfy fuel and ash plans and actively manage contracts to ensure counterparty performance and maximize value creation
Verify accounts receivable and accounts payable relating to fuel procurement and ash disposal
Administer 3log software and perform analysis of fuel supply to ensure proper material tracking for both quality and cost. Develop and distribute relevant reports to stakeholders
Perform inspections and quality control assessments of fuel suppliers at their location on a frequent and unplanned basis to ensure processes meet quality requirements
Coordinate and manage invasive species programs, including compliance plans as appropriate to support the overall approved fuel plan
Control fuel inventory (onsite, offsite and vendor owned) to support plant operations including pile management to comply with industry best practices and environmental permit limits
Establish and oversee process to ensure all fuel suppliers and transportation providers have the proper insurance requirements and records are maintained. Enforce compliance with safety and environmental standards when on site
Manage beneficial reuse of ash planning and development in coordination with plant leadership, EH&S Specialist, and Environmental
Schedule quarterly/annual ash testing to minimize cost impact of disposal to coincide with planned outages
Performs all other related duties as assigned