Commodity Buyer

About Us

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.

STIHL is seeking a highly motivated, ambitious Commodity Buyer to join our growing Indirect Purchasing Team at STIHL’s corporate headquarters in Virginia Beach. With competitive compensation, excellent benefits and exciting growth potential, it's a great time to join the STIHL team.

About You:

This person will be responsible for coordinating activities involved in the procurement of goods and services required for production and operations according to established policies and procedures. In addition to providing procurement project support working with company stakeholders and suppliers you would be involved in analyzing supplier performance, total cost of ownership and driving continuity in the supply chain. Your outstanding negotiation skills will be utilized to create value on key metrics such as lead-time, total cost of ownership, quality, cost reduction and supplier performance.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for coordinating the procurement of the more difficult and intricate components and parts in order to maintain proper levels of production and operation.
• Responsible for coordinating the procurement of multiple, complex commodities to support production and operations.
• Reviews and analyzes procurement requirements and places orders accordingly, using appropriate systems
• Analyzes the market for assigned commodities, tracks price indexes, and forecasts future supplier market trends, and mitigates risks
• Researches and develops competent suppliers of high quality products and services by preparing bids, proposals, or other informational requests that contain specifications and deliverables
• Leads cross functional sourcing teams for RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs coordinating the efforts end to end from requirements/performance definition to final supplier selection
• Is a champion in the organization for Purchasing policies and procedures, guiding internal customers, stakeholders, and suppliers
• Executes commercial evaluation of proposals and conducts negotiations of contracts that include price, scope, schedule, and other commercial terms and conditions 
• Contribute to the technical review and clarifications with supplier and provide innovative solutions to solve highly complex supply/supplier problems.
• Proactively performs supplier management activities through business reviews, supplier visits, and ongoing risk assessments.
• Visits supplier locations as needed to negotiate prices, review and analyze operations, and check quality, evaluating short-term and long-term ability of suppliers to meet STIHL expectations.
• Maintains records and documentation pertaining to past activities, order specifications, supplier specifications and performance histories, etc. and provides information to management as needed.

Specifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Procurement, Business, or other relevant area a plus
• 7+ years of related experience
• Strong knowledge of commercial terms and conditions and structuring contracts and payment/cancellation schedules to company best interests.
• Highly refined negotiating skills. Documented track record of successfully negotiating complex, high dollar contracts for products or services.
• Demonstrated track record of being proactive, self-motivated, willing to go the extra mile.
• Planning, organizing and analyzing data to build recommendations on sourcing strategies with implications for vendor selection, contract terms and negotiating position.
• Ability to perform within an international industry and global purchasing network.
• Advanced leadership and teamwork skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills at all organizational levels.
• Proficient at all MS Office applications
• Experience with SAP and Ariba preferred