Senior Manager, Category Management

Sandisk • Milpitas, CA

2d • $147,710 - $244,674 • Onsite

About The Position

This role owns the global category strategy for 3rd party controllers, with responsibility for shaping long-term sourcing direction, supplier selection, executive alignment, and commercial outcomes. The position requires a highly strategic leader who can engage effectively with internal executives and external supplier leadership to define controller strategy, assess technology and supply market options, drive sourcing and qualification decisions, and secure resilient, competitive supply solutions aligned with business, product, and technology roadmaps. This U.S.-based role serves as a key interface across engineering, business units, operations, finance, quality, and legal to influence critical decisions on controller roadmap, supplier portfolio, sourcing models, and risk mitigation strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field; advanced degree such as MBA or Master’s degree is preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in global category management, strategic sourcing, supplier management, or semiconductor supply chain leadership, with substantial experience in highly complex semiconductor categories.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor sourcing, with strong preference for experience in controllers, ASICs, SoCs, or adjacent complex semiconductor components and ecosystems.
• Demonstrated success building and executing long-term category strategies that influence product, technology, and business outcomes.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in highly matrixed global organizations and influence senior cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to lead fact-based discussions, frame trade-offs, and recommend strategic supplier decisions to senior leadership.
• Excellent analytical capability in supplier evaluation, cost modeling, scenario planning, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex sourcing programs across multiple time horizons, balancing urgent execution needs with long-term strategic objectives.
• Strong track record of negotiating with strategic suppliers and engaging credibly with supplier executives on roadmap alignment, business allocation, investment support, and commercial strategy.

Nice To Haves

• Executive-level communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Strong strategic sourcing, supplier selection, and commercial negotiation capability.
• Ability to translate technology, market, and supply risk insights into sourcing recommendations and executive decisions.
• Strong financial, analytical, and business acumen, including cost modeling and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Excellent stakeholder management across engineering, operations, finance, quality, and executive leadership.
• High proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data-driven business presentations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the global 3rd party controller category strategy, including long-range sourcing vision, supplier portfolio design, technology alignment, commercial strategy, and risk mitigation plans.
• Lead strategic discussions with senior and executive leadership to align on controller sourcing direction, business trade-offs, supplier strategy, investment priorities, and selection decisions.
• Define supplier selection criteria and lead cross-functional sourcing decisions for 3rd party controllers based on technology capability, roadmap fit, capacity, quality, cost competitiveness, geographic footprint, and long-term strategic value.
• Partner closely with engineering, product, quality, operations, planning, finance, and legal to drive alignment on controller strategy, sourcing models, approved vendor approaches, and business continuity plans.
• Monitor controller technology trends, competitive dynamics, supplier roadmaps, industry capacity, cost structures, and geopolitical or supply chain risks to inform executive decisions and sourcing strategy.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations, contract strategy, pricing frameworks, business allocation decisions, and long-term agreements that optimize total value, flexibility, and supply assurance.
• Establish risk management strategies for controller supply, including dual-sourcing, qualification roadmaps, capacity reservation, continuity planning, and escalation management for critical issues.
• Drive executive business reviews and performance governance with key suppliers to improve accountability, execution, innovation support, and strategic alignment.
• Influence early design and NPI decisions by aligning sourcing strategy with product requirements, qualification timelines, and supplier readiness to support time-to-market and scalability.
• Lead high-impact strategic initiatives related to controller sourcing, supplier development, cost competitiveness, business continuity, and long-term roadmap execution across global stakeholders.

Benefits

• Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan
• Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program (restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents)
• RSU awards for eligible new hires
• 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
• Supplemental life and AD&D
• Legal plan
• Pet insurance
• Critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit
• Applause Program
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Sandisk's Savings 401(k) Plan

What This Job Offers

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