Lead, Category Management

L3Harris•Fort Wayne, IN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

L3Harris is seeking a Category Lead to join our Space and Mission Systems Category Management Team. The Category Lead is responsible for developing and executing multi-year category strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, supply continuity, and compliance across assigned commodities. This role serves as the category subject matter expert for Electronic Components, leading sourcing strategy development, supplier performance, and risk mitigation while partnering cross-functionally to support business objectives, technical requirements, and product roadmaps.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
Experience with Category Management and Strategic Sourcing processes
Experience working with forecast, demand planning, and supplier capacity alignment processes

Nice To Haves

Experience in Aerospace & Defense (A&D) industry preferred with specific FAR/DFAR experience
Experience presenting and discussing strategy and analysis to business leaders

Responsibilities

Develop and execute multi-year category strategies focusing on semiconductors, passive components, connectors, electromechanical devices, and other electronic commodities to drive cost reduction, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and compliance.
Serve as the category SME, partnering with internal stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with business objectives, technical requirements, and product roadmaps.
Monitor market conditions, supplier capabilities, geopolitical risks, trade regulations, and emerging technologies to inform category strategy and sourcing decisions.
Lead supplier diversification, strategic negotiations, and long-term agreements to strengthen supply resilience and maximize enterprise value.
Influence cross-functional teams and suppliers to drive design to value ideation, joint process improvement, and enhanced innovation.
Develop market insights through research and data, industry developments, supply/demand dynamics, emerging technologies, leading-edge practices.
Drive supplier risk management, traceability, and due diligence to ensure compliance with sourcing restrictions, import/export controls, and regulatory requirements.
Manage strategic supplier relationships, performance reviews, and escalations to improve accountability, quality, service, and delivery.
Partner cross-functionally with engineering, R&D, quality, legal, and operations to support innovation, NPI execution, and overall category performance.
Assess supplier and platform risks, develop the appropriate contingency plans, and drive inclusion into overall decision-making process.