Strategic Sourcing 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.  

We are seeking a  Lead Buyer – Strategic Sourcing to join our growing Indirect Purchasing Team  to join the team. 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: 

• Competitive pay with multiple bonus opportunities and potential for annual merit increases 
• Excellent health benefits including Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance 
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center for employees and eligible family members 
• Company-paid Life Insurance and Short & Long-Term Disability 
• Robust retirement offerings including: 
• A fully vested Pension Plan after 5 years 
• A 401(k) with generous employer match 
• Paid time off including  11 Paid Holidays 
• A strong culture of stability, community, and innovation 

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for coordinating the procurement of multiple, moderately 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
• Must be comfortable negotiating, redlining, and managing contracts across assigned commodities.
• Monitors and analyzes potential and current suppliers for financial and performance risks
• Leads quarterly business reviews with key suppliers to track and monitor performance metrics
• 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 
• Drives strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers acting as a resource and main point of contact
• Contribute to the technical review and clarifications with supplier and provide innovative solutions to solve highly complex supply/supplier problems.
• Works with suppliers to resolve product or service delivery problems
• Perform comprehensive analyses of the supplier’s financial stability, technical competence, capacity and manufacturing/performance capability.
• Is able to demonstrate consistent cost savings results and meet company targets.
• Proactively performs supplier management activities through business reviews, supplier visits, and ongoing risk assessments.
• Acts as the voice of the customer and able to clearly communicate the company’s needs and demands to the suppliers.
• 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.
• Performs continued supplier market analysis to determine trends, risks, and opportunities and develops a strategy to develop new or existing suppliers and drive costs out of the supply chain.
• Cooperates with the STIHL Purchasing Group worldwide by sharing pertinent data and cost analyses as required, in order to establish optimal global supply chain management and commodity strategies.
• Attends training classes, special technical and administration courses, seminars, exhibits and trade shows as needed in order to maintain currency with respect to technical and professional skills.
• Continues to drive innovative process improvements and efficiencies within the purchasing role and as it pertains to the commodities purchased.
• Works with senior commodity buyers or supervisor for more advanced/complex topics

Specifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Procurement, Business, or other relevant area a plus
• 4 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