Sourcing Specialist with Italian

Join Solar Turbines!

What will be your task at this position?

• This position is responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management including, but not limited to:
  purchase order placement, follow-up; communication of demand and forecasts; acting as the lead negotiator and driving solutions for highly complex issues; developing commercial strategies for products and/or service contracts; implementing strategies to improve supplier relationships and performance metrics; communicating and mitigating risk that could impact Solar’s ability to meet the business plan; is the subject matter expert (SME) for all procurement related questions and issues.

• Dimensions
  Spend & Contractual Commitments: Generally greater than $100M
  People: This position supports multiple internal business groups, leads cross functional interactions, and provides back-up coverage for other Buyers, Sourcing Specialists, & Supply Chain Managers.
  Leadership: Is a Technical Specialist in the role identifying and implementing best-in class processes and tools. Acts as coach/mentor in the area of world-class procurement. Leads 6-Sigma and/or cross functional teams.
  Suppliers: Can be Sole, Single, Dual, Multiple source.
  Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Arms-Length, Preferred Suppliers, Partnerships, Strategic Alliances.
  Supplier Complexity & Risk: Works with suppliers that fall within the following Portfolio Analysis categories: Acquisition, Leverage, Critical, Strategic.
  Balance of Power: Works with suppliers across the spectrum (Buyer, Neutral, Seller).

This position acts with a sense of urgency and is diligent in providing timely support to internal clients and external customers. This individual operates in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies and procedures. A Sr. Procurement Specialist may manage relationships of some non-strategic suppliers, but will predominately oversee strategic or complex suppliers. This individual has no direct reports, but work within a team structure typically including a Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Coordinator/Planner, Supplier Technical Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer, and reports directly to a Site Sourcing Manager or Supply Chain Manager. There is an expectation to not only participate on but lead projects from conception to maturity that directly relate to organizational objectives.

The primary functions of the job include but are not limited to:
Supply Chain Management:

• Applies advanced Supply Chain knowledge to manage processes, establish policies, and develop value-adding strategies
• Demonstrates by example the importance of building long-term supportive professional relationships that optimize value and mutual loyalty.
• Monitors and manages ownership of risk from financial, business continuation, and compliance perspectives. Ensures procurement processes meets audit, regulatory, and legal standards.
• Leads teams, provides direction, and coaches less experienced staff members.

Contract Management:

• Leads agreements on complex, high value contracts. Proactively identifies issues and drives resolution during and after contract completion.
• Develops standard written agreements for development requirements.
• Defines supplier performance metrics and reporting framework creating incentives.
• Manages the transition process when changing contracted suppliers.

Negotiation:

• Creates negotiation strategies based on thorough knowledge of business requirements.
• Communicates negotiation strategies and parameters to negotiating team and defines roles.
• Re-evaluates critical data and strategies if conditions change during the negotiation process.
• Able to ethically execute negotiation strategy for highly complex items ensuring value with longer term vision.
• Coaches and leads multi-disciplinary negotiating teams employing appropriate techniques.

Supplier Selection & Management:

• Integral part of supplier selection process and managing the relationships of existing suppliers.
• Manages the relationship and performance of complex suppliers.
• Provides mentorship in establishing continuous improvement plans to achieve mutual benefits.
• Coaches and leads Supply Chain personnel in building the appropriate relationships with suppliers.

Cost Management:

• Develops business cases for make-buy decisions.
• Interprets Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis results, identifies innovative solutions to reduce TCO; advises and coaches cross-functional teams on design and supplier selection.
• Anticipates market opportunities, competitive responses, and develops counterstrategies & contingency plans.

Purchasing Execution:

• Acts as the SME for PO life cycle related issues and proactively identifies areas of risk and implements mitigation strategies.
• Develops solutions to complex procurement problems either individually or by leading a team.
• Leads process changes and/or develops tools from conception to maturity.
• Provides training, mentorship, and communicates best practices across the Enterprise.

The work environment is mostly office based, however this position may visit internal production areas as well as external supplier sites, which may involve domestic and/or international travel.
Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following: Global Supply Chain, Finance, Global Enabling Systems, Logistics, Legal, Customer Services (Field Services, Overhaul & Repair, Service Parts), Manufacturing, Business Management, New Product Introduction & Design Engineering, Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Project Engineering, and external Suppliers.

The primary challenges of this position include:

• Making sound decisions with the Business’ best interest in mind and knowing the impact decisions will have on organizational objectives.
• Improving and sustaining Supplier performance with regards to Quality, Cost, and Delivery , and Field Support (when required).
• Achieving business commercial objectives where minimal Supplier leverage exists.
• Management of critical supplier contract development and execution.
• Concurrently managing multiple critical priorities.
• Building relationships inside and outside of the Global Supply Chain Organization; influencing, persuading, and collaborating with others in order to support business objectives.
• Leading teams that deliver positive results.

The decisions that are made by the Sr. Procurement Specialist will be based on:

• Supply Chain Management, Site Sourcing Manager and/or Sourcing Specialist direction, Our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, other process documentation, Import/Export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations.
• Erroneous decisions or recommendations would typically result in failure to achieve critical project or organizational objectives, legal issues, impact to supplier relationships and/or the allocation of additional resources, and sever impact to the cost and availability of products and/or services.

This position could use all or any of the following tools:

• ERP software, Windchill, Cognos (or other analytical tool), MS Office Suite, Lotus Notes or Outlook, Sourcing Tools, Virtual Conferencing (WebEx / Skype), industry research tools and codes, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B, 10-k, 10-Q, etc), travel expense reporting tools.

What do we expect from a suitable candidate?

• Italian language - fluent
• Continuously practices and demonstrates Safety and acting in adherence to Our Values in Action.
• Effectively evaluates, improves, and sustains supplier performance, including but not limited to:
• Quality, Cost, Delivery, Lead-time, Bid & Proposal Turn-times, Project & Field Support, etc.
• Drives cost management through identifying and implementing opportunities for cost reduction, utilizes cost modeling techniques, and analyzing TCO to ensure the best overall value to Solar.
• Manages and maintains the supplier relationship at a day-to-day and strategic level. Day-to-day activities include purchase order issuance and maintenance, grief resolution, and business review meetings. Strategic activities include working with the Supply Chain Leadership, and/or Sourcing Specialist to define the buyer-supplier relationship to determine as well as execute the strategic direction (Hold, Grow, Consolidate, Exit).
• Leads commercial negotiations and is accountable for contract execution and maintenance (NDA’s, GP’s, PSAs, JDAs, etc).
• Initiates and promotes cross functional teaming in supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Supports NPI, global strategic sourcing, and supplier selection to ensure flexible capacity and consistent supply from qualified suppliers to support business objectives.
• Interpersonal and Analytical Skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills are required in dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus on specific actions.
• Capability to influence and persuade Suppliers and internal clients to effective solutions.
• Ability to collaborate in order to build constructive and inclusive business relationships.
• Demonstrates responsiveness and acts with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to lead teams, coach, mentor, as well as provide and accept constructive criticism.
• Effective communicator in written and oral form.
• Dedicated to meeting and exceeding the expectations of external customers and internal clients.
• Ability to cope with change effectively and adjust to accommodate the unknown or unproven.
• Capable of setting priorities in order to support business requirements; can sense what will help or hinder achieving a goal, eliminates roadblocks, and creates focus.
• Holds self and others accountable to commitments in support of business objectives.
• Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems.
• Can unearth root cause to assess risk to the business and develop business continuation plans.
• Required Qualifications
• The position requires a Master’s degree with 5-7 years of experience, a Bachelor’s degree with 7-9 years of experience.
• Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite ( Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio)
• Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain or other related field.
• Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution ( APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc)
• Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• 6-Sigma Blackbelt Certification
• Italian language - fluent

What is Solar Turbines offering to you?

• Excellent professional growth and career opportunities in an international environment of a worldwide leader in a very exciting and growing sector of industry
• Fair and friendly atmosphere
• Interesting remuneration package - at Solar we share our achievements with all employees
• Corporate bonus paid once a year
• Performance bonus paid twice a year
• 5 weeks holiday
• Meal allowance
• Cafeteria system 13760 points per year
• Multisport card
• Company parking place for employees
• Excellent coffee for free
• Pension or life insurance up to 24 000 CZ/per year
• Language trainings provided by company
• Company events
• Home office