Indirect Category Buyer

STIHL; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Onsite wellness center

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Pension plan

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

STIHL Inc. in the United States (Virginia Beach) is seeking a procurement leader to drive complex indirect sourcing across North America.

You will develop sourcing strategies, negotiate with suppliers, and deliver measurable value while guiding junior team members and aligning with global purchasing practices. The role requires 7+ years in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and experience with SAP Ariba/SAP ERP.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• 7+ years in purchasing, strategic sourcing, category management, or contract negotiation.
• Experience with SAP ERP, SAP Ariba, or comparable procurement systems; proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of commercial terms, SOWs, service levels, and contracts.
• Successful in negotiating complex agreements and delivering cost savings and value.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross-functional sourcing projects from requirements through evaluation, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and transition.
• Partner with stakeholders to define scopes, specs, service levels, budgets, and commercial requirements.
• Manage RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, bids, proposals, and related sourcing events.
• Analyze spend and TCO to develop sourcing strategies and business cases.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, service levels, payment terms, and other conditions to deliver savings and value.
• Coordinate agreement reviews with Legal and stakeholders; manage renewals and obligations.
• Serve as the primary commercial contact for stakeholders and suppliers across the lifecycle.
• Monitor supplier performance, risk, and continuity plans; drive improvements.
• Resolve issues with suppliers and internal partners; approve invoices when required.
• Maintain records and prepare analyses, updates, and recommendations.
• Track category trends, risks, and opportunities; share insights with global team.
• Champion Purchasing policies and P2P processes; improve workflows.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Sourcing strategy

Supplier negotiations

Cost savings initiatives

Cross-functional collaboration

Global teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Management, Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field

Tools

SAP ERP

SAP Ariba

Job description

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As a family-owned company, it’s the people who continue to make STIHL a successful, world-class brand.Since revolutionizing the forestry industry in Germany with the first electric chainsaw in 1926, the STIHL name has remained synonymous with outstanding innovations, high-quality products and comprehensive service.

With competitive compensation, excellent benefits and exciting growth potential, it is a great time to join the STIHL team!

Why You’ll Love Working at STIHL:

• Excellent health benefitsincluding Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Onsite Health & Wellness Centerfor employees and eligible family members
• Company-paid Life InsuranceandShort & Long-Term Disability
• Robust retirement offeringsincluding:
  • A fully vestedPension Planafter 5 years
  • A401(k)with generous employer match
• Paid time offin addition to 11 Paid Holidays
• A strong culture ofstability, community, and innovation
• Compensation: $86,000-$111,000 per year withmultiple payment opportunitiesand potential forannual merit increases. Actual compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and internal equity

About You

You are a procurement professional with experience leading sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, and cost-saving initiatives. Skilled at building strong partnerships, improving processes, and delivering value across cross-functional and global teams.

Purpose

Leads the procurement of complex indirect products and services supporting internal stakeholders and company operations across North America. Develops and executes sourcing strategies that balance total cost of ownership, quality, service, delivery, compliance, risk, and business continuity. Builds effective stakeholder and supplier relationships, negotiates commercial agreements, drives measurable value and process improvement, and provides guidance to junior Purchasing personnel in accordance with corporate policies and procurement best practices. Collaborates across the STIHL global Purchasing network.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross-functional sourcing projects from requirements and supplier identification through evaluation, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and transition.
• Partner with stakeholders to define scopes, specifications, service levels, evaluation criteria, budgets, schedules, and commercial requirements.
• Research markets, qualify suppliers, and manage RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, bids, proposals, and related sourcing events.
• Analyze spend, proposals, market data, and total cost of ownership to develop sourcing strategies, business cases, and recommendations.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, scope, service levels, schedules, payment terms, and other conditions to deliver savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction, and business value.
• Coordinate agreement review with Legal and stakeholders; manage renewals, amendments, expirations, obligations, and records.
• Serve as the primary commercial contact for stakeholders and suppliers across the sourcing and supplier-management lifecycle.
• Monitor supplier performance, financial stability, capacity, compliance, and risk; lead reviews, corrective actions, continuity plans, and improvement.
• Resolve service, delivery, quality, purchase order, receipt, invoice, and payment issues with suppliers and internal partners; approve invoices when required.
• Maintain sourcing, contract, supplier, performance, purchase order, and savings records; prepare analyses, updates, and recommendations.
• Track category trends, benchmarks, risks, and opportunities; share intelligence and strategies with the global STIHL Purchasing organization.
• Champion Purchasing policies, systems, ethics, and Procure-to-Pay processes; improve workflows and guide junior buyers.
• Visit suppliers and maintain professional knowledge through training and industry events as needed. Perform other duties as assigned.

Specifications

• Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Management, Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of purchasing, strategic sourcing, category management, or contract negotiation experience.
• Experience with SAP ERP, SAP Ariba, or comparable procurement systems preferred; proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of commercial terms, statements of work, service levels, and product and service contracts.
• Success negotiating complex agreements and delivering savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction, and business value.
• Ability to analyze spend, markets, proposals, and total cost of ownership and develop sourcing recommendations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, relationship, leadership, teamwork, analytical, planning, and decision-making skills.