Senior Purchaser/Commodity Manager

$85,000 - $95,000/Yr

Vestas - Portland, OR

Full-time - Mid Level

Portland, OR

10,001+ employees

Utilities

About the position

At Vestas, we are powered by the dream of changing the world. As the world's largest wind turbine manufacturing company, we are committed to creating a sustainable future. The Senior Purchaser will play a crucial role in maintaining transport suppliers in North America while collaborating closely with our global colleagues to procure comprehensive solutions for Vestas and our customers. This position requires influencing and involving cross-functional stakeholders to deliver high procurement strategies while maintaining cost, quality, and on-time delivery. The Senior Purchaser will be responsible for contributing to, defining, and implementing the procurement strategy for a wide variety of scopes within Direct/Indirect Materials in North America, with an annual spend exceeding 500 million Euro. This role involves close collaboration with key local and global stakeholders, including construction, sales, project management, engineering, quality, legal, and supply chain, to optimize cost competitiveness. The Senior Purchaser will directly coordinate new and existing regional supplier relationships and leverage internal stakeholder/category relationships to maximize global supplier partnerships. Additionally, the Senior Purchaser will develop strategic purchasing initiatives, create reporting materials such as PowerPoint presentations and business cases, and build supplier market intelligence to support business decisions. They will implement and supervise all aspects of supplier development, contracting, and buy-to-pay processes, ensuring proper risk management. As the primary point of escalation and resolution for scope-related supplier issues, the Senior Purchaser will be instrumental in driving Vestas' procurement success in North America.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to, define, and implement the procurement strategy for Direct/Indirect Materials in North America with an annual spend of 500+ million Euro.
• Collaborate closely with key local and global stakeholders to optimize scope cost competitiveness.
• Coordinate new and existing regional supplier relationships and leverage internal stakeholder/category relationships to maximize global supplier partnerships.
• Develop strategic purchasing initiatives and create reporting materials such as PowerPoint presentations and business cases.
• Build supplier market intelligence and ensure supply-base data is available to support business decisions.
• Implement and supervise all aspects of supplier development, contracting, and buy-to-pay processes, including risk management.
• Act as the primary point of escalation and resolution for scope-related supplier issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in global supply chain management, engineering, or related business studies.
• 5+ years of work experience in procurement or related supply chain management field.
• Experience gathering market intelligence and understanding global markets, material trends, and politics.
• Previous experience building business cases or strategies for categories, commodities, or business units.
• Advanced MS Excel skills, including pivot tables and v-lookups.
• Contract management experience.
• Advanced negotiation experience for supplier negotiations.
• Industry experience in renewables, energy, or manufacturing is desired.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SAP, and additional software programs.
• Effective written and oral communication skills in English, able to express oneself clearly in technical and non-technical terms.
• Ability to work flexible hours and coordinate with various cultures across time zones.
• Ability to develop a cross-functional team that includes internal, external, domestic, and international stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel as business requires.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Solution-oriented and a problem solver.
• Cross-cultural skills for working as part of an international team.
• Ability to prioritize in time-sensitive situations.
• High-level business insight, including understanding financial statements, cash flow, EBIT, and inventory.
• Project management skills.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Advanced ability to create and deliver presentations and business cases.
• Aptitude for construction and transport of large goods or technology.

Benefits

• Attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry.
• Great benefits coverage that includes dental and vision insurance.
• Generous Paid Time Off policies.
• Great 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Tuition assistance.