Strategic Sourcing Lead

Cohu•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities: Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Management Develop and execute sourcing and category strategies for Test Handler-related commodities and manufacturing services within North America. Segment the supply base to define preferred, strategic, and development suppliers aligned with business criticality, technology capability, and risk profile. Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and technology alignment. Own supplier risk mitigation by identifying single‑source dependencies and capacity risks and executing mitigation actions, including alternate sourcing, dual sourcing, and capacity buffering to protect ramps and volume production. Supplier Performance & Commercial Management Own supplier performance management, including cost, on-time delivery, lead-time, quality, capacity, and responsiveness. Lead supplier escalation and corrective action when performance gaps arise, in close coordination with Quality and Operations. Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing, and terms to improve margins, shorten lead-times, and stabilize supply. Conduct regular supplier reviews and quarterly business reviews focused on performance, improvement actions, and technology roadmaps. New Product Introduction (NPI) & Engineering Collaboration Lead sourcing activities for NPI and industrialization of Test Handler products, ensuring suppliers meet cost, quality, and schedule targets. Collaborate closely with the Material Program Manager (MPM) to address supplier requirements and requests for new suppliers, maintaining alignment on preferred supplier lists and ensuring a coordinated approach. Take ownership of defining and maintaining the list of preferred suppliers, while partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, and the MPM to evaluate requests for new suppliers. Jointly support make/buy decisions, supplier selection, and design-for-manufacturability considerations to optimize both sourcing strategy and material flow. Ensure sourcing decisions are fully aligned with global commodity strategies and the long-term Test Handler roadmap, leveraging collaboration with the MPM to proactively manage supplier changes and additions. Cost & Value Optimization Analyze spend to identify cost reduction, consolidation, and value engineering opportunities. Leverage should-cost modeling, market intelligence, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to support sourcing decisions. Drive year-over-year cost improvement initiatives while maintaining quality and supply resilience. Operational & Cross-Functional Alignment Coordinate sourcing activities with Planning, Manufacturing, and Finance to support inventory targets and production requirements. Ensure compliance with sourcing policies, procedures, and material control systems. Monitor key financial and operational metrics impacting sourcing and supplier decisions. Qualifications: Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, Business or Supply Chain preferred. Experience: 8+ years of progressive responsibility in strategic sourcing functions, preferably in back-end semiconductor capital equipment. Skills/Technical Requirements: A track record of year-over-year delivery of distinctive value from sourcing activities Considerable experience working in companies that design and manufacture large, complex electro- mechanical systems, as well as machine fabrication. Detailed knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (Oracle Cloud products preferred) and JIT philosophies. Expert negotiation skills within an engineering manufacturing environment. A flexible, self-demanding and proactive individual who can motivate themselves and others successfully in a highly dynamic, high-pressure environment while remaining calm and confident. Creative thinking and strong problem solving and troubleshooting capabilities. Experience making decisions and track record of managing multiple issues successfully. Advanced-level analytical skills; embraces fact-based decision making; naturally seeks to leverage and/or integrate market data, spend analytics, and modeling. Demonstrated ability to effectively interact in a cross-functional environment with all levels of management and employees with additional ability to build and maintain internal relationships and influence procurement decisions Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and presentation skills; comfortable and credible with both internal stakeholders and external audiences. Job Conditions/Physical Demands: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment but may spend time at customer sites and factory floors. Occasional domestic travel required. Protective Equipment: In designated areas

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, Business or Supply Chain preferred.
8+ years of progressive responsibility in strategic sourcing functions, preferably in back-end semiconductor capital equipment.
A track record of year-over-year delivery of distinctive value from sourcing activities
Considerable experience working in companies that design and manufacture large, complex electro- mechanical systems, as well as machine fabrication.
Detailed knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (Oracle Cloud products preferred) and JIT philosophies.
Expert negotiation skills within an engineering manufacturing environment.
A flexible, self-demanding and proactive individual who can motivate themselves and others successfully in a highly dynamic, high-pressure environment while remaining calm and confident.
Creative thinking and strong problem solving and troubleshooting capabilities. Experience making decisions and track record of managing multiple issues successfully.
Advanced-level analytical skills; embraces fact-based decision making; naturally seeks to leverage and/or integrate market data, spend analytics, and modeling.
Demonstrated ability to effectively interact in a cross-functional environment with all levels of management and employees with additional ability to build and maintain internal relationships and influence procurement decisions
Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and presentation skills; comfortable and credible with both internal stakeholders and external audiences.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute sourcing and category strategies for Test Handler-related commodities and manufacturing services within North America.
Segment the supply base to define preferred, strategic, and development suppliers aligned with business criticality, technology capability, and risk profile.
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and technology alignment.
Own supplier risk mitigation by identifying single‑source dependencies and capacity risks and executing mitigation actions, including alternate sourcing, dual sourcing, and capacity buffering to protect ramps and volume production.
Own supplier performance management, including cost, on-time delivery, lead-time, quality, capacity, and responsiveness.
Lead supplier escalation and corrective action when performance gaps arise, in close coordination with Quality and Operations.
Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing, and terms to improve margins, shorten lead-times, and stabilize supply.
Conduct regular supplier reviews and quarterly business reviews focused on performance, improvement actions, and technology roadmaps.
Lead sourcing activities for NPI and industrialization of Test Handler products, ensuring suppliers meet cost, quality, and schedule targets.
Collaborate closely with the Material Program Manager (MPM) to address supplier requirements and requests for new suppliers, maintaining alignment on preferred supplier lists and ensuring a coordinated approach.
Take ownership of defining and maintaining the list of preferred suppliers, while partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, and the MPM to evaluate requests for new suppliers. Jointly support make/buy decisions, supplier selection, and design-for-manufacturability considerations to optimize both sourcing strategy and material flow.
Ensure sourcing decisions are fully aligned with global commodity strategies and the long-term Test Handler roadmap, leveraging collaboration with the MPM to proactively manage supplier changes and additions.
Analyze spend to identify cost reduction, consolidation, and value engineering opportunities.
Leverage should-cost modeling, market intelligence, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to support sourcing decisions.
Drive year-over-year cost improvement initiatives while maintaining quality and supply resilience.
Coordinate sourcing activities with Planning, Manufacturing, and Finance to support inventory targets and production requirements.
Ensure compliance with sourcing policies, procedures, and material control systems.
Monitor key financial and operational metrics impacting sourcing and supplier decisions.