Commodity Manager II (Glass)

First Solar, Inc.; Perrysburg Township (OH); On-site; USD 84,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar is seeking a senior procurement leader to drive global glass category strategy, supplier negotiations, and cost reduction initiatives. The role requires extensive experience in operational purchasing and strong collaboration with executives to align with First Solar’s growth plan.

The position involves leading cross-functional teams, managing supplier relationships, and delivering high-quality, cost-effective sourcing decisions to support manufacturing ramp and product reliability.

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree plus 5 or more 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 & concepts.
• Experience in glass industry, glass manufacturing, or sourcing of glass and related materials preferred.
• ISM and APICS Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead global commodity management for glass, develop sourcing strategies for cost, supply, risk.
• Lead commercial negotiations with supply partners.
• Coordinate aggregation of site demand for supplier forecasting and cost reduction.
• Proactively manage supplier base to support factory ramp plans.
• Drive cost-reduction programs and measure supply performance.

Skills

Decision Making

Problem Solving

Project Management

Interaction

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree + 5+ years experience

ISM/APICS Certification preferred

Job description

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

Basic Job Functions:

Lead procurement cross-functional teams for Tier 2 categories resulting in procurement decisions delivering the highest quality, reliability, and value to meet First Solar requirements.Develop strong business relationships and strategic alliances supporting First Solar's growth plan.

Education/Experience:

• BS/BA degree plus 5 or more 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 & concepts
• Experience in the glass industry, glass manufacturing, or sourcing of glass and related materials is preferred, but not required.
• ISM and APICS Certification preferred.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Decision Making:
  • Participates with executives to establish strategic plans and objectives.
  • Select, evaluate, and develop category plan objectives in areas of technology, quality, cost, flexibility, and service.
  • Execute projects consistent with achieving overall supply management organizational goals.
  • Implement sourcing decisions based on team consensus to weighted scorecard.
• Problem Solving:
  • Assess, define, and resolve complex supply chain and procurement issues without supervision.
  • Apply root cause analysis and derive corrective actions and assess adequacy of the analyses and plans proposed by suppliers 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.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple 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 peers, senior managers, and executives within First Solar.
  • Interaction requires the ability to influence others, frequently associates with higher position, to achieve organizational goals.
  • Often acts as team leader of cross-functional group for ad-hoc or standing projects.
  • Routine interaction with directors, VPs or "C" level executives of suppliers managed.
  • Builds deep industry relationships and category subject matter expertise.
• 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.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead global commodity management activities for glass, including development of sourcing strategies that support competitive cost, supply assurance, capacity requirements, supplier development, and risk mitigation.
• Develop and implement a global sourcing with specific negotiation strategies to achieve cost, supply assurance and risk mitigation objectives.
• Lead commercial negotiations with managed supply partners.
• Coordinate aggregation of all sites demand for supplier forecasting and leveraging for cost reduction.
• Proactively manage supplier 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 using Cost- of-Ownership (COO) analysis, cost build-up analysis and supplier 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 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.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Commodity Leader or Director, Global Supply Chain.

Travel:

• Up to 20%

Estimated Salary Range:

• $84,200 - $120,000 annually

US Physical Requirements:

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. In order 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 accommodation 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.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.