Strategic Purchasing Associate

First Solar Inc.; Perrysburg (OH); On-site; USD 48,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar Inc. is seeking a procurement professional to manage operational purchasing for materials, services, and equipment while aligning with requisitions and standard terms. You will negotiate with suppliers, onboard new partners, and ensure supply continuity to meet production needs.

The role emphasizes master data accuracy, cost optimization, and strong cross-functional collaboration to support procurement processes across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a business or supply chain discipline or equivalent.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with ERP systems (SAP or Oracle preferred).
• APICS certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure purchase requisitions and orders are accurate and contain negotiated pricing.
• Research and evaluate potential new suppliers to improve pricing, delivery and quality.
• Support supplier qualification activities by gathering information and coordinating evaluations.
• Monitor inventory levels and align with production needs.
• Expedite or de-expedite orders to support production changes.
• Communicate supplier quality issues and drive corrective actions with internal teams and suppliers.
• Maintain accurate master data to support planning and purchasing.

Skills

Organizational skills

MS Office

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or supply chain

ERP experience (SAP/Oracle)

APICS certification preferred

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

First Solar Inc. is seeking a procurement professional to manage operational purchasing for materials, services, and equipment while aligning with requisitions and standard terms. You will negotiate with suppliers, onboard new partners, and ensure supply continuity to meet production needs.

The role emphasizes master data accuracy, cost optimization, and strong cross-functional collaboration to support procurement processes across the organization.