Meet Simon Schwarz, our Supply Chain Manager, who works in procurement and logistics for our PV and battery storage projects. In this interview, he shares what motivates him to work in renewable energy, how his role supports the execution of our projects and why he enjoys working with a wide range of stakeholders.
What are you most proud of in your work?
I’m proud that through building PV and renewable energy projects, we make a tangible contribution to tackling climate change.
I’m happy to have a job where I can create real impact. That’s very important to me personally.
In my day-to-day work, I’m involved in ensuring that all main components for PV and battery projects are procured and delivered properly. This includes purchasing and logistics for key components. Knowing that my work helps make sure the right components are available in the right quality, at the right time and place, gives me a strong sense of purpose. I value being able to take action and contribute in a hands-on way.
What do you enjoy most about working at Chint Solar?
What I really enjoy is the environment. It’s young, dynamic and diverse, with many different nationalities and a lot of exchange.
We all work towards a common goal and the people here bring a lot of energy and drive. I also appreciate the fast decision-making processes. Even though we are a quite small team compared to the industry, we handle a quite large volume. That creates a lot of responsibility, but also makes collaboration efficient and direct.
How do you contribute to Chint Solar’s mission to energize people?
I see myself as one part of a bigger effort to make the world a little better. By contributing to low-emission energy production, I play my part in supporting the energy transition.
My role connects different parts of the organization. I work as an interface between project management, engineers and suppliers. Once a project is fully developed, we identify which components are needed, request and review offers, select the most suitable options, place orders and organize deliveries to the site. With this close alignment across teams, I can help to ensure that projects move smoothly from planning into execution.
What challenges do you tackle in your role?
A key aspect is that this is very much a people’s business. You work with a wide range of suppliers and stakeholders, which requires strong communication and negotiation skills to find the right solutions together.
Another complex element of the role is maintaining an overview. There are many topics happening at the same time: supply chain coordination, procurement discussions, quality topics if something doesn’t work as expected. You have to prioritize constantly and make sure that all parties are aligned and supported.
What excites you most about your work?
What excites me most is working with so many different people. I’m not just working with numbers: I collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders every day, from suppliers to engineers and project managers.
No two days are the same. Every day brings different questions, different conversations and new challenges. That variety and constant interaction are what make the work interesting for me.
