Director, Strategic Sourcing

Axon•Scottsdale, AZ

About The Position

At Axon, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other. Life at Axon is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you’ll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter. Your Impact At Axon, you’ll lead a high-performing team while playing a critical role in shaping the future of our global supply network. As a Director of Category Management, you’ll be at the forefront of driving innovation, building resilient supplier partnerships, and unlocking value across our operations. This role blends people leadership with big-picture thinking — it’s about influencing strategy, mitigating risk, and ensuring that the products protecting lives around the world are delivered with excellence. You’ll have the autonomy to lead category strategy, negotiate high-impact agreements, and partner with cross-functional teams to align supply chain performance with Axon’s mission — to protect life and make the world a safer place.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of experience in procurement, commodity, or category management
Proven people leadership experience, including building, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams
Proven success in complex negotiations and supplier relationship management
Strong communication and influence skills across all organizational levels
Demonstrated career progression with measurable results and increasing responsibility
Experience developing and deploying sourcing processes, tools, and strategies

Nice To Haves

Background working with contract manufacturers and international suppliers (preferred)
APICS or ISM certification (desired)
MBA or PMP certification (preferred)
Six Sigma or Lean certification (preferred)

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for supplier performance, fostering accountability through regular business reviews and ongoing communication
Manage supplier performance through business reviews and regular communication to meet Axon’s expectations for quality, delivery, cost, innovation, and continuous improvement
Serve as the subject matter expert for assigned categories — analyzing market trends, identifying risks, and developing strategies to ensure supply continuity and competitiveness
Collaborate with the Demand Planning team to provide accurate, timely forecasts to suppliers supporting both short- and long-term needs
Lead spend management councils to assess supplier performance, optimize the supply base, and drive improvements in cost, inventory, and payment terms
Manage supplier inventory levels using strategies such as Kanban, consignment, and negotiation of lead times and minimum order quantities
Negotiate formal supply contracts and agreements to ensure favorable terms and long-term value
Maintain and communicate supplier scorecards to measure and improve supplier performance
Participate in New Product Introduction (NPI) activities to align market needs with supply strategies
Partner cross-functionally with Demand Planning, Sales Operations, Engineering, and Manufacturing to ensure supplier performance aligns with production and business goals
Collaborate with Product Management and Demand Planning on product changes, new launches, and forecast updates
Engage directly with suppliers and visit sites as needed to build relationships and drive results