Strategic Purchaser, Ship Electrification Solutions

Wärtsilä is a world leader in marine technology and leading the industry's transformation towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. With the world’s widest portfolio and service network, we – Wärtsilians - deliver efficient, safe and sustainable integrated products and solutions to enhance the business of our customers. The opportunities presented through digitalisation and new technologies are offering a new era of shipping. Did you know that shipping is the world’s most efficient mode of transportation and that approximately 80% of world trade is carried by sea?

We want to change the course towards an interconnected and cleaner maritime future and are constantly on the lookout for future-oriented talent to join our team and to work towards enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services - together. Are you ready to jump onboard?

We are now looking for a Strategic Purchaser to join our Supply Management team working for a better future on the most exciting and innovative commodities in the shipping industry. 
The preferred location for the position is in Stord, Norway, but other locations including Hamburg, Germany are possible. We offer the possibility of hybrid work.

What you will be doing 

We need a passionate and engaged individual who will drive forward our strategy to be the market leader in Marine Energy Storage Systems and other related commodities as a Strategic Purchaser. Energy storage globally is one of the fastest-paced and most important assets in the global push for decarbonisation. In this position, your work will include establishing and maintaining a supply base for the most exciting commodity in marine. On a typical day, you might be starting with negotiating a new strategic agreement and end the day with negotiating pricing on strategically important projects.

This Strategic Purchasing role will require someone with a personal passion for the energy storage market and who understands both the global trends and movements in energy storage and marine markets. This will be someone willing to travel on occasions around the globe to build up and maintain a network and understand the market, constantly monitoring market movements to ensure we remain at the forefront. You will need to be strong in negotiations and a team player to ensure all aspects of supply agreements are taken into account, from technical to logistics, lifecycle and beyond. This job requires a candidate with high energy who will be rewarded with some of the most exciting opportunities that the marine market has to offer. You will not be working on this alone; even though the work requires a high level of independence, you will have support from technical product managers, supply development engineers and the rest of the supply team. 

As a Strategic Purchaser, your work will focus on these responsibilities: 

• Create, manage and develop our supplier base for marine energy storage and similar commodities.
• Lead/support/participate in negotiations with key suppliers securing supplier capacity and long-term forecasting.
• Create, negotiate and maintain strategic supply agreements with suppliers including updating internal systems enabling smooth purchasing.  
• Ensure Quality, Delivery, Lead Time and Cost development and Compliance of materials and services for own area of responsibility.
• You will shine in this role, when you have:
• A clear passion for the electrification and energy storage markets drives you to seek out knowledge in the supply field for your given category/commodity.
• The ability to understand the main technical features of the commodities you are responsible for (you are not expected to be an engineer as they will be there to support you!).
• Good commercial sense with finance and accounting knowledge as well as Incoterms and other factors affecting international trade. 
• The ability to navigate legal contracts with an understanding of the basic principles of contracting (legal counsel are there to support in tricky negotiations!).
• Strong negotiation skills in order to set the pre-conditions for a successful supply relationship.
• The ability to be self-driven and pro-active whilst being able to operate within the bounds of the higher strategic vision and bringing a team of diverse capabilities with you.
• An energetic and outgoing personality and an ability to build relationships with different stakeholders. 

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field such as engineering, commerce, or business. 
• Minimum 7+ years of experience with related technology, land or maritime, from a technical or commercial perspective.
• Previous experience in contractual matters and negotiations, preferably in purchasing.
• Advanced communication skills in English both written and verbal, other languages are a plus but not essential. 

In this role, travel is required to meet with our suppliers around the world. Thus, we expect you to be ready to travel approximately 20%, even though most of the meetings are held virtually. 

Why you and us? 

We at Wärtsilä believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility of our work. We support each other’s growth and co-creation is the true basis of our innovation. We have courage to see opportunities and take initiative. 

We are authentic and honest, and we strongly believe in that by being your own true self you can accomplish so much more. We don’t always get it right the first time, and if mistakes are made, we make sure to learn and grow from them. We want everyone to voice their opinions freely. That is why we have built an environment that empowers you and everyone around you, and where you can feel safe and cared for. Are you eager to be part of this ambition? 

We have an amazing team and we are excited about our work and the impact it has on building sustainable societies. We are looking to find a colleague with this shared passion for smart technologies and a sustainable future. 

Contact & next steps 

We hope to hear from you soon, by submitting your application through our careers portal. We aim to keep you updated on the process throughout. 

For further questions please reach out to Steven Gavshon through email steven.gavshon@wartsila.com with any questions related to this position (only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to). 

Welcome to join us in shaping the decarbonisation of marine and energy!

Last application date: 14/02/2025 

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

This is Wärtsilä 

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 17,800 professionals, in more than 280 locations in 79 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com. 

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