Manager- Continuous Improvement - Integrated Supply Chain USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

This person will be responsible for business process improvements within the Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) and will operate as a business analyst and project leader for both procedure change management, process, and technology continuous improvement initiatives. As such, part of the responsibilities will be to manage process analysis and lead teams across the ISC to implement appropriate changes that resolve process and technology gaps, and/or drive efficiency improvements. This person will interact with cross functional peers across First Solar to aid with root cause analysis in identified inefficient and or broken processes. This person will also be responsible for leading system implementations, managing metrics and reporting.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical or business field, plus a minimum of five (5) years of experience in Supply Chain or Process Improvement functions

• Lean or Six Sigma certification preferred

• ISM or APICS Certification preferred

• 5+ years of project management, management consulting, and/or process improvement experience, preferably in manufacturing, sourcing, and procurement

• Strong working knowledge of problem solving / root cause analysis and process management required; Six Sigma, Lean and/or kaizen highly desired

• Strong familiarity with SAP, Oracle and/or other ERP solutions

• Experience working with e-procurement, planning, warehouse management, and transportation management solutions desired

• Experience working with a global organization including familiarity with global compliance & regulations impacting ISC desired

• Demonstrated leadership skills in cross functional collaboration, facilitating meetings, identifying / tracking risks and mitigation plans, cost benefit analysis & delivering results

• Ability to find, gather, clean up and analyze data from various sources

• Ability to identify gaps in processes or reporting that needs to be addressed

• The candidate must be able to work independently across functions and at multiple levels

• Demonstrated ability to lead change initiatives and drive process excellence

• Demonstrated ability to make a significant change in a variety of environments with multiple learning experiences

• Strong capability to coach and mentor both functionally and cross functionally

• Strong success record of working in a matrix environment with a focus on building relationships and driving improvements

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Track record of driving solutions to assigned tasks utilizing a proactive approach to problem solving.

• Track record of achieving results in challenging assignments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including presentation planning and delivery skills.

• Strong organizational skills with project planning, program management expertise

• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate others to accomplish objectives and gain desired results

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative strategic alliances with a good balance of strategic thinking and operational execution

• Knowledge of continuous improvement, quality management and supply base management processes

• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs

• Knowledge of SAP, Ariba, Oracle and/or other ERP system functionality

• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Collaboratively develop functional long term vision and lead ISC process improvement initiatives

• Run rapid problem solving exercises to arrive at root cause; Drive sustainable corrective actions

• Drive standardization of global ISC processes

• Partner with ISC functions, other functions, site leadership and others to complete performance maturity assessments and develop action plans to improve operational performance

• Partner and Interface with those responsible for the FS process and document control system

• Ability to understand risks and to devise practical and effective ways to embed compliance and risk management into the routine activities and processes of ISC

• Demonstrate effective communication and team building at all levels of the organization while encouraging creativity.

• Effectively handle difficult and complicated process / data issues

• Share knowledge with other teams across First Solar for support and continued updates of latest enhancements utilizing benchmarking efforts to lead development of 'Best-in-Class' operational practices.

• Ability to effectively perform Project Management; Coordination of Functional Leaders and Process Owners to complete deliverables for their respective areas, including process design, system configuration design, system testing, and system and process training.

• Deploy tools, processes, and training needed to support business transformation

• Ability to understand technology infrastructure and system data flows

• Manages ISC metrics and reporting

• Adheres to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Job description subject to change at any time

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will be responsible for interacting and collaborating with peers within the executional teams of the Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) and the key functional groups within First Solar.

• This is an individual contributor role.

Travel:

• 5% - 10%

Estimated Annual Salary Range:

• $80,000 - $110,000 Estimated Annual Salary

US Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.

• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.

• Will lift, push or pull up to 27 pounds on an occasional basis.

• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.

• 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required.

• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.

• May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.

• May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.

• Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to; steel toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards).

• All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.