Category Manager (Spector)

Location: Somerset, New Jersey, United States; onsite role with domestic and international travel based on business and supplier needs.

Salary: $98,292–$124,503 per year, plus a bonus opportunity.

Company

Designs, develops, manufactures, and services complex equipment used by technology companies to produce devices for smartphones, cloud services, wireless communications, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming, and computing.

What you will do

• Own global category strategies, multi-year roadmaps, sourcing plans, and supplier segmentation for direct-material or equipment categories.
• Analyze markets, technologies, cost drivers, capacity, lead times, geopolitical exposure, and supplier trends to guide sourcing decisions.
• Manage either OEM commercial off-the-shelf suppliers or build-to-print custom manufacturing suppliers, including lifecycle planning, manufacturability, qualification, production readiness, revision control, and engineering changes.
• Lead RFIs, RFQs, competitive bids, supplier selections, sourcing transitions, negotiations, and complex commercial agreements.
• Develop and improve the global supplier network through performance reviews, corrective actions, supplier development, and measurable improvements in cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and capacity.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Planning, Finance, and Supply Chain leadership to manage supply risks, alternate sources, inventory, capacity, and recovery strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or supply chain within complex manufacturing, technology, or capital equipment.
• For OEM commercial off-the-shelf sourcing: 3–5 years managing OEM or authorized-channel suppliers, with measurable results in lifecycle or obsolescence planning, negotiations, supply continuity, cost, or lead time.
• For build-to-print custom manufacturing: 3–5 years managing suppliers of engineered components or assemblies, with measurable results in technical compliance, supplier qualification, production readiness, change control, cost, quality, delivery, or yield.
• Demonstrated success leading global sourcing initiatives, supplier selection, complex negotiations, commercial agreements, and supplier performance improvement across cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and risk.
• Ability to translate technical and business requirements into sourcing decisions with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Planning, and Finance.
• Advanced category management, strategic sourcing, negotiation, contracting, supplier development, and total-cost-of-ownership expertise.
• Analytical and commercial judgment, executive-level communication, data-driven decision-making, ownership, follow-through, and the ability to manage priorities across regions and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally according to business and supplier needs.

Nice to have

• MBA or another relevant advanced degree.
• Semiconductor capital equipment sourcing experience involving engineered components, subsystems, electronics, precision parts, or contract manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ERP, spend analytics, cost modeling, supplier scorecards, advanced Excel, or data-visualization tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, and paid holiday, vacation, and sick time.
• Life and accident insurance, disability insurance, emergency travel assistance, and identity theft remediation.
• Tuition reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Bonus opportunity in addition to base salary.