First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. 

Basic Job Functions:

Leads strategic capital equipment sourcing and procurement cross-functional teams for Tier 1 categories resulting in sourcing and procurement decisions delivering the highest quality, reliability, and value to meet First Solar requirements.  Develop strong business relationships and strategic alliances with key OEMs to support First Solar’s growth plan.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree and 8 or more years of experience in a related technical or business field, or MBA plus 5 years of experience in a related technical or business field, or 12 years’ experience in a related technical or business field In-depth knowledge of OEM vendors management, sourcing, purchasing processes & systems.  ISM and APICS Certification preferred.  Experience with MRP concepts and one or more ERP systems (SAP & Oracle preferred).

Required Skills/Competencies:

Establishes and gains approval for operational objectives and work plans which support overall corporate goals. Works independently on issues of broad scope and complexity where analysis of situation is highly complicated and requires evaluation of data to support decisions or unique circumstances for which methods are not established. Acts independently within established guidelines to determine appropriate action.  Many issues require creation of new approaches with lack of precedent. Ability to effectively manage diverse categories of spend. Develops and administers project plan schedules and performance requirements for highly complex and visible categories. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve objectives will add costs and may jeopardize the long-term goals of the organization. or overall business activities.  Decision Making: Determines most effective methods, develops and executes supporting programs and projects to achieve goals. Selects, evaluates, and develops category plan objectives in areas of technology, quality, cost, flexibility, and service.  Executes projects consistent with achieving overall supply management organizational goals.  Implement sourcing decisions based on team consensus to weighted scorecard and senior executive guidance.  Problem Solving: Assess, define and resolve highly complex supply chain and procurement issues.  Apply root cause analysis and derive corrective actions and assess adequacy of the analyses and plans proposed by vendors managed. Apply appropriate competitive cost benchmarks, financial analysis and risk management techniques to solve issues.  Able to influence internal customers and executives to achieve mutually beneficial solutions.  Project Management: Understands and demonstrates advanced project management skills.  Possesses demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple large, complex projects at the same time, and to close projects on time.  Effectively manages relationships and peer deliverables to successful project completion. Interaction:  Highly effective communicator, including oral, written and presentation preparation Interacts primarily with senior managers, directors and senior executives within First Solar. Interaction requires the ability to influence or change the thinking of others, frequently engages with higher position, to achieve organizational goals in sensitive situations without damaging to relationships.  Acts as team leader of cross-functional group for ad-hoc or standing projects of high complexity and visibility. Routine interaction with VPs or “C” level executives of OEM vendors managed. Builds deep industry relationships and is widely recognized as a category subject matter expertise internally and externally. Negotiation:  Performs market and cost analysis. Issues RFIs/RFQs/RFPs. Develops and executes negotiation plan. Conducts negotiation within approved negotiation parameters and authority. Documents commercial terms and drafts contract agreements and amendments. Team Development:  Identify & drive process & system improvement opportunities to enable team’s deliverables. Lead team member to identify key skillset required & provide guidance & coaching to drive gap closure.

Essential Responsibilities:

Act as strategic capital equipment sourcing leader for assigned categories and cross-functional team.    Develop and implement a global capital equipment sourcing process & system with specific negotiation strategies to achieve cost, supply assurance and risk mitigation objectives.    Lead commercial negotiations with managed OEM partners.  Coordinate aggregation of all sites demand for OEM vendor forecasting and leveraging for cost reduction.  Proactively manage vendor base ensuring supply with no adverse impact on factory ramp plans.  Utilize formal benchmarking methods to determine best in class processes and drive improvement.  Develop and implement cost-reduction programs through the use of Cost- of-Ownership (COO) analysis, cost build-up analysis and OEM vendor competition.  Measure and track supply performance within spend category.  Implement inventory optimization programs to optimize inventory turns, inventory investment and service level performance. Effectively communicate with appropriate management levels both internally and externally.  Lead cross functional team and manage capital equipment supply chain to goals for quality, technology, cost, flexibility and service.  Demonstrate project management skills in leading cross functional teams.  Conduct business dealings with the highest level of integrity and regard for legal and environmental issues. Lead with ability to align, coach, and develop less experienced supply chain personnel. Lead capital equipment sourcing and vendor management, function as FS point of contact with OEM vendors for all commercial related activities. Lead & collaborate with Tax, Trade and Compliance team to drive vendor compliances per First Solar policies. Lead & collaborate with Account Payable team to drive invoice resolution with vendors.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to Head/Director, Strategic Capital Equipment Sourcing This position will be responsible for interacting and collaborating with peers across most groups in the company, including operations, engineering, development, finance, planning and business development. This is a management position with direct reports.

Travel:

Domestic and international travel required.  20% - 30%

Estimated Salary Range:

$94,700-$135,000 annually.

US Physical Requirements:

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. Pre-employment assessment/demonstration on specific skillsets relevant to the role may be requested during the interviewing process. Job description subject to change at any time. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.