Job Description

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

Basic Job Functions:

1. This role is responsible for developing a globally aligned warehouse strategy for the site and to drive a lean, efficient and optimized warehouse covering BOM, Spares, Consumables and Finished Goods. This includes driving efficient and cost-effective distributions of parts. The scope includes ensuring the overall performance of the warehouse and inventory control functions by driving continuous improvements, creating a culture of safety, and adhering to the warehouse budget.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business or technical discipline.
• Advanced degree preferred. 
• Six Sigma and/or lean certification preferred.
• Eight (8) or more years of related managerial, purchasing, materials planning, warehouse, and/or logistics experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Five (5) years’ experience managing a warehouse operation of +50 Associates.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Demonstrated knowledge of warehouse and inventory control concepts (FIFO, Kanban, cycle counting practices, etc.).
• Proven organizational and supervisory skills.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).                                                                                             
• Excellent understanding of computer applications (Word, Excel, Access, ERP systems, etc.).   
• Proven developmental and training skills.
• Ability to develop a strong safety culture and practice in the workplace.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• Proven employee relations skills and knowledge of HR practices.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems effectively.
• Good Teamwork, integral of team members, work alongside with the team to meet goal together
• Leadership skill to lead team to meet the goals of the organization.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develops a globally aligned warehouse strategy for the site to drive a lean, efficient warehouse; strategy to consider all aspects of warehouse operations including warehouse layouts, hub-n-spoke modeling, material storage, material delivery systems, WIP transfers, scanning technology, etc.. 
• Proactively identifies and drives opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost reduction
• Implementing continuous improvements across all sites
• Leverages existing tools to create pull system strategies to reduce inventory levels and improve overall space utilization.
• Ensures adherence to First Solar AOP/forecast objectives pertaining to warehouse budget, FG shipments and activities supporting production and revenue recognition
• Develops a comprehensive people strategy, with clearly defined job levels tied to experience, training and demonstrated knowledge and skillset; 
• Identify and coach SME among the Lead Warehouse Operations and Shift Supervisors.
• Develops the warehouse budgets and ensures compliance
• Develops and implements a strategy for line-side JIT or Kanban material replenishment
• Responsible for the overall performance of the warehouse and inventory control functions.
• Manages the cycle count process for all inventory, including FG, WIP and all inventorial material for the Mfg sites and warehouse; responsible for identifying root cause and driving solution to resolve discrepancies in conjunction with operations and MES, where applicable. 
• Collaborates in the space planning meetings to ensure floor layouts accommodate necessary raw materials, chemical and WIP volumes necessary to support the production floor.
• Attends program meetings to obtain information impacting Warehouse operations. Provides input to teams on data necessary to create project plans and business cases, as well as, provide functional project status updates to enable project on time completion of projects at/under budget. 
• Ensure that all associates comply to safety practices across the warehouse operation
• Collaborates with other functional leaders to align strategies and cross functional procedures in the best interest of First Solar
• Interfaces with other departments, customers, and supplier representatives.
• Assure adherence to all First Solar processes and procedures, including ISO9K, ISO14K, 45K, safety, housekeeping, etc. Ensures compliance with all good housekeeping standards and 5-S standards.
• Performing goal and KPI setting for department and performance evaluation
• Escalation management from customer, vendor/contractor and cross function department.
• Plant startup or technology/equipment upgrade activities involving warehouse area
• Accountabilities:
• Meeting Variable Cost To Serve (VCTS) targets
• Reduction of Associate turnover
• On time delivery of materials to production floor
• On time receipt of incoming materials 
• Accurate and timely shipment of customer orders
• Minimize Safety incidents (Recordable, MHE High Impact incidences etc)
• Inventory Accuracy
• Adhere to budget targets.
• Failure to perform responsibilities will have a significant impact on First Solar production and, ultimately, financial performance.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will have direct reports.

Travel:

• 5% - 10%
• If hiring to a new plant prior to plant start, associate will be required to spend extended time (60-80%) in another plant in either Ohio or Alabama for training until their assigned plan starts equipment installation

Estimated Salary Range:

• $94,700 - $135,000 Annually

US Physical Requirements:

Hybrid 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).

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

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.