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Job Title: IT Commodity Buyer – Indirect Purchasing

Purpose

As a family-owned company, it’s the people who continue to make STIHL a successful, world-class brand. Since
revolutionizing the forestry industry in Germany with the first electric chainsaw in 1926, the STIHL name has
remained synonymous with outstanding innovations, high-quality products and comprehensive service.

STIHL is seeking a highly motivated, ambitious IT Commodity Buyer to join our growing Indirect Purchasing Team
at STIHL’s corporate headquarters in Virginia Beach. With competitive compensation, excellent benefits and exciting
growth potential, it's a great time to join the STIHL team.

This person will be responsible for coordinating activities involved in the procurement of goods and services required
for production and operations according to established policies and procedures. In addition to providing procurement
project support working with company stakeholders and suppliers you would be involved in analyzing supplier
performance, total cost of ownership and driving continuity in the supply chain. Your outstanding negotiation skills will
be utilized to create value on key metrics such as lead-time, total cost of ownership, quality, cost reduction and
supplier performance.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Responsible for coordinating the procurement of multiple, moderately complex commodities to support production
and operations.
 Reviews and analyzes procurement requirements and places orders accordingly, using appropriate systems
 Analyzes the market for assigned commodities, tracks price indexes, and forecasts future supplier market trends, and
mitigates risks
 Researches and develops competent suppliers of high quality products and services by preparing bids, proposals, or
other informational requests that contain specifications and deliverables
 Must be comfortable negotiating, redlining, and managing contracts across assigned commodities.
 Monitors and analyzes potential and current suppliers for financial and performance risks
 Leads quarterly business reviews with key suppliers to track and monitor performance metrics
 Leads cross functional sourcing teams for RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs coordinating the efforts end to end from
requirements/performance definition to final supplier selection
 Is a champion in the organization for Purchasing policies and procedures, guiding internal customers, stakeholders,
and suppliers
 Executes commercial evaluation of proposals and conducts negotiations of contracts that include price, scope,
schedule, and other commercial terms and conditions
 Drives strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers acting as a resource and main point of contact
 Contribute to the technical review and clarifications with supplier and provide innovative solutions to solve highly
complex supply/supplier problems.
 Works with suppliers to resolve product or service delivery problems
 Perform comprehensive analyses of the supplier’s financial stability, technical competence, capacity and
manufacturing/performance capability.
 Is able to demonstrate consistent cost savings results and meet company targets.
 Proactively performs supplier management activities through business reviews, supplier visits, and ongoing risk
assessments.
 Acts as the voice of the customer and able to clearly communicate the company’s needs and demands to the
suppliers.
 Visits supplier locations as needed to negotiate prices, review and analyze operations, and check quality, evaluating
short-term and long-term ability of suppliers to meet STIHL expectations.
 Maintains records and documentation pertaining to past activities, order specifications, supplier specifications and
performance histories, etc. and provides information to management as needed.

 Performs continued supplier market analysis to determine trends, risks, and opportunities and develops a strategy to develop new or existing suppliers and drive costs out of the supply chain.

 Cooperates with the STIHL Purchasing Group worldwide by sharing pertinent data and cost analyses as required, in
order to establish optimal global supply chain management and commodity strategies.
 Attends training classes, special technical and administration courses, seminars, exhibits and trade shows as needed
in order to maintain currency with respect to technical and professional skills.
 Continues to drive innovative process improvements and efficiencies within the purchasing role and as it pertains to
the commodities purchased.
 Works with senior commodity buyers or supervisor for more advanced/complex topics

Specifications

 Bachelor's Degree in Procurement, Business, or other relevant area a plus
 4 years of related experience
 Strong knowledge of commercial terms and conditions and structuring contracts and payment/cancellation schedules
    to company best interests.
 Highly refined negotiating skills. Documented track record of successfully negotiating complex, high dollar contracts
    for products or services.
 Demonstrated track record of being proactive, self-motivated, willing to go the extra mile.
 Planning, organizing and analyzing data to build recommendations on sourcing strategies with implications for vendor
    selection, contract terms and negotiating position.
 Ability to perform within an international industry and global purchasing network.
 Advanced leadership and teamwork skills.
 Strong communication and presentation skills at all organizational levels.
 Proficient at all MS Office applications
 Experience with SAP and Ariba preferred

Position highlights include:

 Competitive Compensation with multiple bonus opportunities
 Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability
 Pension Plan & 401k with employer match
 Vacation, Sick, & Paid Holidays

If interested, please send an email to Thomas Pressl at [email protected] 

Strategic Sourcing Contracts Manager - Privacy (Remote Opportunity)

Apply Now

Strategic Sourcing Sr Assoc Summary:

• Liaise with key functional group personnel to understand strategy and meeting specifications to develop RFP’s to send to vendors for events and transitory group travel.
• Obtain vendor/hotel bids working directly with site sales contacts.
• Evaluate site options throughout the country making recommendations based on many factors including specifications of the event, most cost-effective options, vendors who are clients, best service and value.
• Negotiate contracts, obtaining best value rates for products or services to include (but are not limited to) rooms, food & beverage (F&B), audio visual (AV), and other frequently purchased meeting/event and travel necessities. If necessary work with contracted vendors to negotiate and amend agreements as required.
• Manage the firms Cvent sourcing tool and keep status reports related to Venue Sourcing with guidance of the Procurement Manager.
• Help assist the operations of the Strategic Sourcing group (e.g., manage Strategic Sourcing project intake and workflow software and manage project reporting)
• Manage vendor relationships to ensure their compliance with contract requirements and advise with respect to vendor disputes.
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent through a combination of education or work experience.

• Basic knowledge of excel, word, and word processing.
• Prior experience working in Cvent (preferred)
• Deep understanding of the travel industry, and the ability to implement and employ strategies and negotiate costs that optimize
• Basic understanding of contract law and ability to understand contractual language
• Can-do approach and problem-solver who can respond quickly, concisely, and expeditiously

• 3-5 years strategic sourcing experience
• 1-3 years project management/meeting planning experience
• Experience managing vendor agreements and relationships
• Experience negotiating contract terms and conditions, recognizing specific needs for travel provider contracts
• Proven cost-benefit experience and savings in travel negotiations
• Knowledge of contracting process workflow and automated contracting systems (preferred)

• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and with vendors
• Exceptional listening skills

You want your next step to be the right one. You've worked hard to get where you are today. And now you're ready to use your unique skills, talents and personality to achieve great things. RSM is a place where you are valued as an individual, mentored as a future leader, and recognized for your accomplishments and potential. Working directly with clients, key decision makers and business owners across various industries and geographies, you'll move quickly along the learning curve and our clients will benefit from your fresh perspective.

Experience RSM US. Experience the power of being understood.

RSM is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans.

Location Street Address:  801 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1100 - West Tower, Minneapolis, MN 55402-2526 USA
Region:  National
Position Type:  Experienced
Job Type:  Full Time
Degree Required:  Bachelor
Travel Required:  Yes
Sponsor candidates who are not eligible to work in US:  No
Requisition ID:  req30954

The IT Procurement Manager provides vision and leadership to procurement and subject matter professionals to enable effective development of initiatives, while taking a hands-on role in negotiations and contract projects. This role is actively involved in the planning and implementation of enterprise contracts and legal review efforts. Serving as a liaison between the end user and vendor(s), the IT Procurement Manager ensures Grinnell Mutual employees have the products needed to perform their job. This position is responsible for maintaining license compliance, negotiating contracts, and identifying potential uses for single product to ensure the organization has access to the solutions needed to conduct business.

This position qualifies for our flexible workplace options. Work at our Grinnell, Iowa, headquarters or from a home office in any of the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Please note that candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Grinnell Mutual sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Assists all areas of Grinnell Mutual in selecting software or technology solutions by acting as the point of contact for vendors both in-person and remotely. This includes understanding the end-users’ needs and analyzing the potential vendor solutions, attending demos, negotiating pricing, and obtaining signed contracts.

• Leads the activities performed by assigned team members to ensure understanding and compliance with standards and procedures to accomplish work.  

• Leads the development and testing of approaches and procedures to provide the quality procurement services for the enterprise. 

• Recommends training programs, conferences and classes to effectively develop team members for future opportunities.  Utilizes coaching, feedback and performance management skills to ensure knowledge transfer to daily work assignments.  Partners with Human Resources to recruit and select staff with the talent to meet current and future need.

• Assists Asset Management in maintaining database of licenses, serial numbers, registration keys, and proof of purchase of technology solutions to ensure compliance with contracts and vendor requirements to ensure continued use and avoid costly penalties to Grinnell Mutual. Provides information in acceptable, understandable and accurate format for both internal and external audits.

• Reviews and recommends language for contracts with end-user and legal to ensure understanding and approval. Serves as a point of reference to interpret the terms of the agreement. Ensures required agreements, signatures, and compliance language are in place prior to installation and use. Maintains and destroys copies of contracts per Grinnell Mutual’ s records retention practices.  

• Manages technology by maintaining contracts, vendor relationships for ordering hardware. Reviews contracts and bills for accuracy. Works with vendor to resolve billing issues and monitors data usage of employees.

• Sets up accounts upon hire and deactivates upon termination for over twenty-five specialized solutions specific to an individuals’ position. May be required to obtain additional licensing as organization grows. 

• Manages the relationship and accounts with various vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, ISO, Explorer, Lexis Nexis, Guidewire and their business solutions which include tracking use of products and subscriptions. Manages renewals, non-renewals or decommissions, and cancelations of subscriptions based on contracts or user needs.  Participates in Asset Reviews and IT wellness Processes.

• Maintains central tracking and reporting mechanism for ES Procurement contracts and support/maintenance agreements.

• Reconciles invoices against contract, terms of use, actual use, and negotiated fees. Obtains proper approvals and submits for payment after thoroughly investigating unanticipated charges and disputes in bill on behalf of company.

• Assists departments in obtaining necessary information to complete budget requests that include software or technology and pricing to fit the business need. Maintains documentation related to products for multiple years in anticipation of future requests.   

• Remains current with latest technology solutions available and presents them to potential users within Grinnell Mutual.

• Participates to help set vision and improve processes while working on efficiencies to improve processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college/university in business, insurance, or technology related field and five years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Working knowledge of the cloud, VDI, Microsoft licensing, IBM, Aldon, or Adobe licensing preferred with Associate in Information Technology (AIT) a plus.

• Demonstrated experience in reading and negotiating contracts for the best interest of the organization. Must have ability to understand language and communicate implications to organization and user. 

• Ability to think logically and to continually use personal judgment, experience, known facts and figures to make decisions and deal with problems. Possesses sound analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute a variety of tasks in a high-pressure environment.

• Ability to establish and enforce procurement policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated ability to work with customers and build relationships to evaluate business needs against potential technology solutions. Acts with diplomacy and consideration when evaluating requests and providing solutions. 

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills which include active listening, customer service, and relationship building skills to manage vendors and internal clients. Includes being familiar with facts, accurate documentation, demonstrated patience, resistance to stress, and persistence.  Must know when to take a stand and when to compromise.

• Ability to present information and respond to questions in one-on-one or group settings. Communication may be via the telephone phone, electronic online meetings including collaboration apps, in person, or in written correspondence.

• Ability to work with minimum supervision and frequent interruptions. Must be able to set priorities for multiple projects, balance business needs, and priorities that occasionally conflict.

• Ability to organize and manage multiple deadlines with multiple stakeholders and frequent interruptions.

• Strong math skills required including ability to calculate figures and amounts such as interest, proportions, and percentages.

• Ability to work in a harmonious manner with all levels of employees and outside vendors.

• Ability to maintain regular and predictable schedule to meet the needs of our customers and provide adequate coverage during our core business hours.

• Ability to operate basic office equipment, including computers, utilizing Microsoft Office, specialized equipment for webinars, conference calls, and other applications for the position.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Leads and manages procurement team by carrying out management responsibilities in accordance with the company’s policies and applicable laws.  Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; develop and set goals with team; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• Supports managers’ efforts in the development of procurement processes and professionals. Provides direction and resources in anticipations of coaching, development and technical needs.

 Apply Here

 

Summary of Role

• Support the ongoing delivery of the Consulting Category Strategy / plan addressing short-, mid-, and long-term business goals and objectives
• Manage key sourcing processes and negotiate best commercial and contractual terms
• Leverage vendor relationships through negotiation to ascertain best in class products/ services while reducing total cost of ownership, proven track record of year-on-year delivery
• Leadership of high-profile consulting sourcing initiatives / Strong stakeholder skills

• Consulting and professional procurement experience with good knowledge of sourcing and procurement principles and best practices
• Excellent communication, listening and negotiating skills
• Strong stakeholder collaborative relationship building skills
• Both a strategic and analytical mind-set
• Creativity to seek, encourage and find non-traditional approaches to procurement challenges
• Change management and self-awareness skills to adopt targeted approaches to a dynamic set of stakeholders
• Ability to articulate procurement’s value, specifically as a Procurement business partner
• Good contract review and negotiation experience
• Familiarity with relevant legislative, regulatory requirements, and industry standards as well as understanding of standard contractual terms and conditions to mitigate legal risk and ensure compliance

Company Confidential

Software Renewal Specialist

Looking to hire a software renewals specialist. The right candidate must enjoy working in a fast-paced, competitive and changing environment while effectively collaborating and communicating with others.

Purpose:

• Responsible for the development, delivery and execution of contract renewals for assigned Strategic Supplier base in the IT category including software, hardware, cloud, enterprise maintenance, and enterprise telecommunications services.
• Champions change to drive alignment of sourcing, procurement and supplier management strategies for the benefit of the company and the business.
• Sets the example for doing the right thing through personal and professional behaviors of honesty, integrity, keeping commitments, and valuing others.
• Responsible for executing projects that deliver not only cost savings but also continuous improvement and cost optimization of suppliers and spend within assigned categories, while balancing the needs and desired business results of business and boundary partners.
• Responsible for delivery of annual savings, develop a diversity spend strategy and operational improvement targets.
• Responsible for the prioritization and completion of sourcing projects in accordance with SLAs and business needs.

Required:

• Minimum 4 years of technology sourcing/procurement experience.
• Ability to identify opportunities and take necessary actions to continuously improve our value proposition for our customers.
• Strong analytics, reporting and financial acumen skills.
• Knowledge of key strategic sourcing processes & best practices.
• Experience in supply chain technologies such as Oracle P2P and eSourcing Suites.
• Ability to solve problems that are difficult and vague, requiring consideration of other job areas and a greater diversity of issues addressed.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills
• Strong aptitude for customer service and stakeholder management

Please contact Robert Wright [email protected] if you're interested in applying for the Software Renewal Specialist position.