Commodity Manager II (Strategic Materials)

First Solar • Perrysburg, OH

4d

About The Position

The Commodity Manager II serves as the global supply management leader for assigned Tier 2 categories, leading cross-functional procurement teams and making sourcing decisions that meet First Solar’s requirements for quality, reliability, and value. The role develops strategic supplier relationships and global sourcing and negotiation strategies to achieve cost, supply-assurance, and risk-mitigation objectives. It leads commercial negotiations, coordinates demand across sites, and proactively manages suppliers to support factory ramp plans.

The position uses benchmarking, Cost-of-Ownership and cost build-up analyses, supplier competition, performance tracking, and inventory optimization to improve cost, service, and supply outcomes. It leads cross-functional projects and communicates with internal management and supplier stakeholders, including senior leaders and executives. The role requires strong procurement and project-management skills, sound judgment, and business dealings conducted with integrity and regard for legal and environmental issues. The position reports to a Commodity Leader or Director, Global Supply Chain, and may require travel up to 20%. The job description may change at any time.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree plus at least 5 years of experience in a related technical or business field, or 8 years of experience in a related technical or business field.
• Strong knowledge of operational purchasing processes and concepts.
• Ability to make decisions and contribute to strategic plans and objectives with executives.
• Ability to select, evaluate, and develop category-plan objectives across technology, quality, cost, flexibility, and service.
• Ability to assess and resolve complex supply-chain and procurement issues without supervision.
• Ability to apply root-cause analysis, derive corrective actions, and assess supplier analyses and plans.
• Ability to use competitive cost benchmarks, financial analysis, and risk-management techniques.
• Ability to influence internal customers and executives toward mutually beneficial solutions.
• Advanced project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and close them on time.
• Highly effective oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to influence peers, senior managers, executives, and suppliers and to lead cross-functional groups.
• Negotiation skills, including market and cost analysis, negotiation planning, and negotiation within approved parameters and authority.
• Ability to build industry relationships and category subject-matter expertise.
• Ability to conduct business with integrity and regard for legal and environmental issues.
• Ability to meet the stated office physical requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Successful completion of a background check and any other tests that may be required for an employment offer.

Nice To Haves

• ISM certification.
• APICS certification.

Responsibilities

• Act as global supply management leader for assigned categories.
• Develop and implement global sourcing and negotiation strategies to achieve cost, supply-assurance, and risk-mitigation objectives.
• Lead commercial negotiations with managed supply partners.
• Coordinate aggregation of site demand for supplier forecasting and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Proactively manage the supplier base to ensure supply without adversely affecting factory ramp plans.
• Use formal benchmarking methods to identify best-in-class processes and drive improvement.
• Develop and implement cost-reduction programs using Cost-of-Ownership analysis, cost build-up analysis, and supplier competition.
• Measure and track supply performance within the spend category.
• Implement inventory optimization programs to improve inventory turns, inventory investment, and service-level performance.
• Communicate effectively with appropriate internal and external management levels.
• Lead cross-functional teams and manage the supply chain toward quality, technology, cost, flexibility, and service goals.
• Demonstrate project-management skills in leading cross-functional teams and manage projects to successful, timely completion.
• Conduct business dealings with integrity and regard for legal and environmental issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Assess and resolve complex supply-chain and procurement issues; apply root-cause analysis, corrective actions, cost benchmarks, financial analysis, and risk-management techniques.
• Issue RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs; develop and execute negotiation plans; document commercial terms and draft contract agreements and amendments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level