Senior Lead, Global Semiconductor Category Manager

Sandisk • Milpitas, CA

16h • $142,000 - $241,400 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Lead, Global Semiconductor Category Manager is responsible for defining and executing the global sourcing and supply strategy for assigned semiconductor commodities (e.g. PMIC & Mux). The GCM serves as the strategic owner of the category, ensuring long-term supply continuity, supplier competitiveness, technology alignment, and risk mitigation in support of Sandisk's customer commitments and business growth objectives. The role leads strategic supplier engagement, develops category roadmaps, drives sourcing decisions, and collaborates with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Planning, Supplier Quality, and Program teams to secure sustainable supply solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of semiconductor sourcing, category management, supply chain, procurement, or supplier management experience.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing ecosystems, especially PMIC & Mux.
• Experience managing executive-level supplier relationships and complex negotiations.
• Strong analytical, financial, and risk management capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and lead through ambiguity.
• Experience managing strategic supply continuity programs and high-impact business risks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies aligned with corporate objectives, product roadmaps, and customer demand forecasts.
• Analyze market conditions, supplier capabilities, capacity trends, technology roadmaps, geopolitical risks, and industry developments to guide sourcing decisions.
• Establish sourcing strategies that balance cost, supply assurance, technology leadership, and risk management.
• Lead category business reviews and provide executive updates regarding supply outlook, risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Own long-term supply continuity planning for assigned semiconductor categories.
• Drive supplier commitment strategies to support Sandisk's transition toward multi-year customer commitments.
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, allocation strategies, capacity reservation discussions, and business continuity planning.
• Escalate and drive resolution of strategic supply constraints with executive stakeholders and suppliers.
• Serve as the executive relationship owner for strategic semiconductor suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations covering commercial agreements, long-term capacity commitments, strategic investments, pricing frameworks, and supply assurance programs.
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and supplier performance assessments.
• Develop supplier roadmaps aligned with technology and business requirements.
• Lead sourcing recommendations for new programs and strategic component selections.
• Drive alternate source strategies, second-source qualifications, and supplier diversification initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering and NPI Procurement to influence sourcing decisions early in the product design cycle.
• Support value engineering initiatives focused on cost optimization, supply resilience, and technology competitiveness.
• Own strategic commercial negotiations for assigned semiconductor commodities.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives, supplier productivity programs, and long-term cost competitiveness strategies.
• Approve and manage PPV-related decisions and category-level cost performance reporting where applicable.
• Negotiate and support execution of NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, LTAs, LOAs, and other commercial agreements.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Platform Architecture, NPI Procurement, Planning and Material Management, Supplier Quality, Operations and Manufacturing, Finance, Program Management.
• Provide strategic direction to Category Managers and Global Buyers responsible for tactical supplier execution.

Benefits

• paid vacation time
• paid sick leave
• medical/dental/vision insurance
• life, accident and disability insurance
• tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
• employee assistance program
• other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• tuition reimbursement
• transit
• the Applause Program
• employee stock purchase plan
• Sandisk's Savings 401(k) Plan
• Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan
• Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program (restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior