Director, Business Unit Supply Chain Strategy

MKS Instruments•Wilmington, MA

6d•$168,300 - $280,500

About The Position

The Director, Business Unit Supply Chain Strategy owns supply strategy for the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses and ensures the supply network is ready to support growth, product and technology roadmaps, and customer commitments. The role defines business requirements, provides visibility into supply risks, and aligns Global Supply Chain and cross-functional leaders on timely, sustainable solutions. Embedded as the senior supply chain leader in these businesses, the Director connects market demand, customer priorities, and product roadmaps with global supply network capabilities. The role partners with Global Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Product Management to develop strategic suppliers, strengthen capacity and continuity, support new product introduction, and permanently resolve recurring supply issues. It establishes a business review cadence for supply readiness, elevates risks and decisions requiring executive action, and tracks recovery and mitigation plans through sustained closure. The role reports to the Vice President & General Manager of the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses. Travel up to 50% is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, sourcing, supplier development, operations, engineering, or manufacturing in a complex technical environment.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute supply strategies supporting business growth, capacity expansion, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
Experience identifying, qualifying, and developing critical suppliers, including coordination across engineering, quality, operations, and procurement.
Track record of permanently resolving recurring supply or supplier problems through structured root-cause analysis, corrective action, and sustained follow-through.
Ability to translate market demand, product roadmaps, and business priorities into clear supply requirements, risks, and actions.
Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills in a matrixed global organization.
Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier performance, capacity planning, risk mitigation, and business continuity.
Strong analytical and business acumen, including the ability to assess capacity, cost, quality, lead time, and risk tradeoffs.
Clear executive communication skills and ability to convert complex supply issues into business implications, decisions, and accountable actions.
Ability to perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods.
Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information so others will understand.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of semiconductor equipment, vacuum, advanced manufacturing, or related technology markets.
CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain certification.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the business unit supply strategy by translating market growth, customer commitments, and product and technology roadmaps into supply requirements.
Drive cross-functional root-cause analysis and corrective actions to permanently resolve recurring supply issues, with clear ownership and verification that solutions are sustained.
Identify critical supply gaps and capacity constraints early, assess their business impact, and coordinate mitigation plans with functional owners.
Identify, qualify, and develop critical suppliers to increase capacity, reduce concentration risk, and strengthen supply continuity.
Coordinate customer approval and qualification requirements for new suppliers, materials, and supply changes, including documentation, testing, and timelines.
Define business requirements and influence sourcing roadmaps for critical technologies and commodities, including required capabilities, geographic footprint, capacity, quality, and cost structure.
Partner with Supply Chain and suppliers on capacity expansion, capital requirements, readiness plans, and risk mitigation for anticipated demand growth.
Provide the business perspective in supplier selection, development, and performance reviews, particularly for suppliers critical to growth or continuity.
Support new product introduction and product roadmap execution by addressing future supply requirements, manufacturability, scalability, and supplier readiness early.
Establish a business review cadence for strategic supply risks, recurring issues, supplier qualification, capacity readiness, and execution of the supply strategy.
Elevate decisions and risks requiring executive action and track recovery and mitigation plans through sustained closure.