Director Supplier Account Management

Applied Materials • Austin, WA

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Supplier Account Management (SAM) will lead a team of Supplier Account Managers. The role will be responsible for leading and developing teams that are accountable for complex supplier relationships, leading cross-functional teams to manage supplier engagement, commercial agreements, and performance across strategic supplier portfolios. The role defines and executes account and commodity strategies based on market, competitor, and financial analysis, partnering with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Business leaders to drive supply chain design, advantaged technology, secure competitive terms, resolve systemic cost, quality, and delivery issues, and deliver sustainable competitive advantage. The leader will be responsible for one of the following 2 commodity categories: (1.) Robotics / Motion / Mechatronics – OR - (2.) Electrical / Power / Fabricated Components

Requirements

• 10-20 Years in Supply Chain, Operations, Category Management functions
• 7–10+ years leading global commodities with direct ownership of category strategy, supplier executive relationships, multi-region sourcing and capacity planning, and business development / customer account management (ideally if coupled with prior Ops / Supply Chain roles).
• C-level supplier engagement experience.
• Experience in Semi Fab, Wafer Fab Equipment, Datacenter.
• Experience with Robotics / Automation: ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa, Kuka, etc.
• Experience in large industrial CapEx industries.
• Experience in technical manufacturing industries: Aerospace / Defense, Automotive, Medical Device, etc.
• In-depth knowledge in one or more of the following: Mechanical & Precision Manufacturing (CNC machining, castings, sheet metal, precision assemblies, tolerance, yield, and manufacturability tradeoffs), Mechatronics & Robotics (motion control, actuators, drives, encoders, robotic arms, automation modules, cobots), Semiconductor-Specific Systems (vacuum systems, gas delivery, thermal modules, process chambers, sub-fab equipment, EFEMs), Electronics & Controls (PCBs, power supplies, sensors, industrial controllers).
• Proven leader of global teams across regions (NA, Asia, Europe).
• Comfortable leading through matrixed organizations (Engineering, Ops, Quality).
• Executive-level communicator: Can simplify complexity for senior leadership.
• Can hold firm in negotiations with supplier CEOs.
• Track record of talent development and succession planning in commodity organizations.
• Demonstrated understanding of cost structures and supplier P&Ls, capital intensity and ROI tradeoffs, long-term agreements (supply agreements, joint development, exclusivity).
• Ability to align commodity decisions with revenue ramps, product margin targets, free cash flow and working capital goals.
• Proven results on complex / transformative projects, margin/cost improvement programs, etc.

Nice To Haves

• Business Development / Customer Account Management (ideally if coupled with prior Ops / Supply Chain roles)
• Influenced product architecture to enable scale or cost advantage.
• Trusted advisor to BU GMs and CTOs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Supplier Account Managers.
• Lead and develop teams accountable for complex supplier relationships.
• Lead cross-functional teams to manage supplier engagement, commercial agreements, and performance across strategic supplier portfolios.
• Define and execute account and commodity strategies based on market, competitor, and financial analysis.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Business leaders to drive supply chain design, advantaged technology, secure competitive terms, resolve systemic cost, quality, and delivery issues, and deliver sustainable competitive advantage.
• Challenge engineering designs, influence architecture decisions, and align sourcing strategy to technology nodes and product roadmaps.
• Develop talent and succession planning in commodity organizations.
• Manage supplier executive relationships.
• Oversee multi-region sourcing and capacity planning.
• Engage in Business Development / Customer Account Management.
• Engage with C-level suppliers.
• Manage commodity strategy through node transitions or platform changes.
• Build supplier co-investment or joint development models.
• Navigate China+1 / regionalization strategies.

Benefits

• Supportive work culture that encourages learning, development, and career growth.
• Programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth.
• Care for employees at work, at home, or wherever they may go.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Participation in a bonus program.
• Participation in a stock award program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed