Job Description

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

Basic Job Functions:

Manage the selection, development, qualification and monitoring of suppliers to ensure they provide products and services which meet all First Solar requirements. 

Education/Experience:

• Associates Degree in a technical discipline and 14 years of relevant work experience in related quality systems processes, including ISO Quality Systems and use of Advance Quality Planning tools.   
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in related quality systems processes, including ISO Quality Systems and use of Advance Quality Planning tools.   
• Master’s or PhD degree in a technical discipline with minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in related quality systems processes, including ISO Quality Systems and use of Advance Quality Planning tools.   
• ASQ Certifications preferred (CMQ/OE, CMBB, CQA, CQE, CQI).
• Third Party Certification as ISO Internal Auditor preferred. 

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; as are interpersonal, facilitation, presentation, quantitative, analytical, organizational follow-up skills, and the ability to meet deadlines on multiple projects/programs. 
• Demonstrate a strong passion for root cause investigation, identification, and permanent corrective action, implementation, and validation Ability to accurately communicate performance metrics and continuous improvement expectations to the supply base. 
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency with Advanced Quality Planning tools such as FMEA, Control Plan, Process Mapping, Gage Studies, and SPC.
• Demonstrate advanced application abilities for, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Ability to lead cross functional project teams to ensure overall project timing and goals are met while following the principles and process requirements are also met.
• Ability to mentor peers to improve their efficiency and capabilities to drive individual career development 
• Advanced experience with MS Office including Excel, Word, and Power Point and their application as it relates to quality data analysis & presentation.
• Ability to travel up to 50%, both domestic & international.
• Must have valid passport and ability to obtain visas in countries where First Solar conducts business.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead cross functional teams to execute the Advance Supplier Readiness process for assigned commodities to support projects related to capacity increases, cost reduction initiatives, supplier requested changes and new product/process qualifications.
• Identify & develop the inspection methods needed to monitor the critical characteristics of assigned commodities including inspections plans, gaging methods and communication of results internally and to the supplier.   Communicate qualification inspection plans to regional teams to ensure alignment of processes and proper inspection results for qualification.
• Apply advanced quality planning tools to drive the successful qualification of new suppliers and products.   Work with the development, manufacturing, product, and process engineering teams to perform process interaction analysis utilizing the FMEA approach.  Work with Global Supply Chain and Engineering to ensure that specifications are clearly defined and effectively communicated to suppliers. Act independently to drive supplier to identification of true root cause of non-conformances using analytical tools and processes and ensure proper permanent corrective actions are implemented and sustained.       
• Coordinate globally with cross functional team to monitor and communicate supplier performance by conducting regular supplier audits and participating in business reviews.
• Independently drive supplier development and continuous improvement in the suppliers' processes and controls, focusing on the application of failure mode analysis, process monitoring and SPC methods.
• Act independently to manage the intake and process of supplier change requests for assigned commodities, including getting cross functional internal approval and execution of supplier qualification using the ASR process.
• Lead cross-functional project teams to achieve breakthrough process improvements using advanced process control methodologies.
• Earn and maintain a high level of peer respect to be a leader in critical work process improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate and lead training sessions in quality tools are required such as application of FMEA, SPC, DMAIC, MSA, and Statistics.
• Support, develop, and enhance business management methodologies and training materials as related to design processes and improvement initiatives.
• Be a paradigm shifter to help others discover a better improvement process. Stimulate.
• management thinking by posing new ways of doing things, challenge conventional wisdom by demonstrating successful application of new methodologies, create innovative thinking, and serve as role models for others.
• Support the development of performance metrics which drive department improvement.
• Remain current on the best-known quality tools and bring in and develop within the organization new methodologies.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will not have direct reports.

Travel:

• 30% - 40%

Estimated Salary Range:

• $75,100-$107,000 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).

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.