Lead- Buyer

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Responsible for obtaining bids and placing orders to standard terms and conditions based on approved internal purchase requisitions for supplies, materials, services, and equipment.
• Negotiate pricing and delivery with vendors, supports the qualification of new suppliers and plans inventory levels according to established guidelines and in a cost-efficient manner.
• Responsible for assuring Purchase Orders are placed timely and deliveries are scheduled and maintained to meet production requirements of one or more production material commodities and production consumables.
• Responsible for Material’s and Supplier’s master data creation and/or maintenance in ERP system to support planning and Purchase Order execution.
• Responsible for leading tendering/bidding process.
• Responsible for reviewing contract terms and conditions and with legal, stakeholders and suppliers and obtain the approval per SOA matrix requirement.
• May delegate work to and oversee work of junior/fixed term buyers.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business or related discipline.
• 8+ years related work experience (purchasing, planning/scheduling, and supply chain). Experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge with commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within Supply Chain. Experience with MRP concepts and one or more ERP systems.
• Some experience directing the work of junior buyers is preferred.
• Experience managing specification changes with suppliers.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Good organizational skills – ability to prioritize.
• Business fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required.
• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.
• Broad knowledge of techniques used in negotiating cost reductions along with terms and conditions with suppliers.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• In depth knowledge of MRP and ERP concepts.
• Good analytical thinking & problem-solving skills.
• Good experience and skills in managing suppliers and supplier relationships.
• Team player and result oriented.
• Has thorough knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within the Purchasing field.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for assuring purchase requisitions information is complete and appropriately approved, negotiating prices with assigned vendors and processing purchase orders placed timely according to established guidelines and in a cost-efficient manner.
• Utilizing MRP and other input from Manufacturing Planning, determine what items need to be ordered and in what quantity, and place Purchase orders with approved suppliers timely to meet manufacturing requirements.
• Responsible for managing inventory levels of assigned materials.
• Responsible for negotiating pricing and other terms with assigned suppliers to improve product cost, reduce First Solar inventory, and improve cash flow.
• May negotiate and place Purchase Orders for significant capital equipment purchases.
• Handle or lead bidding/tendering process.
• Review contracts with legal and internal stakeholders and obtain approvals per company Scope of Authority Matrix as necessary.
• Investigate new suppliers for improved price, delivery and quality.
• Responsible for proposing and supporting the qualifications of new suppliers.
• Participates and may lead supplier performance reviews.
• As required, expedite or de-expedite deliveries and change scheduled quantities to meet changes in production or requirements.
• Notify suppliers of quality discrepancies in their incoming material; with internal and supplier experts, support the identification of root cause and assure corrective action; and assure material disposition is appropriate dealt with.
• May perform Commodity Management functions on some items, including development of strategic relationships and negotiating long-term supply agreements
• Analyze aging purchase orders.
• Interface with many departments and assigned suppliers.
• Create or maintain Master data information.
• Maintain effective communications levels and fosters team building.