Senior Director, Global Category Management

Zebra Technologies•Holtsville, NY

2d•$202,560 - $303,840•Hybrid

About The Position

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges. Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve. You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about—locally and globally. Come make an impact every day at Zebra. We are seeking a Senior Director of Sourcing and Procurement to act as the chief architect of our global direct materials strategy. In this highly visible, transformative role, you will oversee all Strategic Category Management for Direct Components—specifically Semiconductor, Electrical, and Mechanical categories. This is not a traditional operational procurement role. You will be a vital partner to our engineering and product development teams, leading our strategic component category and supplier management strategies. If you are a visionary leader who thrives on navigating complex global markets, mitigating risk, and building high-performance teams, this is your opportunity to shape the future of Zebra’s hardware innovation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
20+ years of progressive procurement and supply chain experience, with a heavy emphasis on direct materials sourcing in the technology or electronics manufacturing sector.
Minimum of 10 years of people management experience, with a proven track record of developing senior-level talent and creating high-performance cultures.
Deep understanding of the global market landscapes for Semiconductors, Electrical, and Mechanical components. Significant experience managing Strategic Component Suppliers and complex contract manufacturing models, including Joint Development Manufacturing (JDM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM).
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated history of successfully influencing Chief Executive-level leaders and leading cross-functional transformational initiatives.
Elite negotiation skills and the ability to leverage complex analytics to drive deal strategy, cost reduction, and value creation.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Master of Business Administration (MBA) highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Architect the Category Strategy: Partner cross-functionally to design, establish, and execute the long-term global sourcing strategies for highly complex, mission-critical direct components (Semiconductors, Electrical, and Mechanical).
Lead Advanced Sourcing & New Product Development: Actively embed procurement into the New Product Development (NPD) process from the ideation phase. Drive advanced sourcing initiatives to ensure early supplier involvement, secure emerging technologies, and align component selection with product roadmaps to mitigate lifecycle risks.
Drive Strategic Component Supplier Excellence: Own the strategic relationships and management of our Strategic Component Supplier ecosystem, ensuring alignment with our overarching contract manufacturing and Joint Development Manufacturing (JDM) strategies.
Executive Partnership & Influence: Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, engineering, and product leadership. Align global procurement strategies with product roadmaps, market dynamics, and corporate financial goals.
Market Intelligence & Risk Mitigation: Navigate volatile global supply chain dynamics (particularly in the semiconductor and electronics markets). Leverage deep market intelligence, advanced analytics, and deal strategy to secure competitive pricing, ensure continuity of supply, and proactively adapt to market shifts.
Transformational Leadership: Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of procurement directors, managers, and professionals. Cultivate a culture of strategic thinking, continuous improvement, and high accountability.
Process & Contract Innovation: Redefine standard contract development, negotiation processes, and organizational change management protocols to drive enterprise-wide efficiencies and maximize supplier performance.