Supply Chain Director

Amphenol Communication Solutions•Valley Green, PA

45d

About The Position

Amphenol High Speed Products Group is the market leader for high speed, high bandwidth electrical connectors for the Telecom/Datacom market (Mobile Networks, Storage, Servers, Routers, Switches, etc.). Our products help to enable the electronics revolution and remain a key enabler for all the major Tier 1 OEMs globally. We have design, sales, and manufacturing locations globally and are currently seeking a Supply Chain Director for our Cable Backplane Systems Business Unit. High speed cable backplane systems enable most of the world's IT and datacom; including leading the way for the AI/ML revolution; and require some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies, and highest levels of precision, in the engineering world. These challenges require the most creative, technical minds, and ultimately provide the most rewarding experience for an employee. The Director of Supply Chain for Cable Backplane Systems owns the global supply chain strategy and end to end procurement execution for high complexity cable backplane products. This leader ensures continuity, cost competitiveness, and quality across a diverse supply base supporting high speed cables, high density connectors, PCBs, mechanicals, tooling, plated components, and custom engineered interconnect elements. The role requires deep supply chain expertise, strong commercial instincts, and the ability to partner with engineering, operations, and product management to drive performance and support aggressive customer schedules. Expertise with interconnect materials, high speed cable components, vendor agreements, and rapid engineering development cycles is essential.

Requirements

Minimum 12 to 15 years in supply chain, strategic sourcing, or procurement within interconnect, cable assemblies, PCBs, or electronics manufacturing.
Prior leadership experience required.
Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field preferred.
Strong knowledge of cable backplane systems, high speed interconnect materials, PCBs, and tooling.
Expertise with ISO 9001 and 14001, lean manufacturing concepts, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Proven track record of negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing high value suppliers.
Strong planning and logistics background, including capacity management and global sourcing.
Analytical and data fluent with the ability to interpret trends and develop strategy.
Strong communication, cross functional leadership, and the ability to influence at senior levels.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a global supply chain strategy for cable backplane systems, including sourcing for high speed cables, PCBs, connectors, plating, quick turn prototypes, and high precision tooling.
Lead sourcing for new product introductions to support fast design cycles and aggressive customer timelines.
Align purchasing activity with engineering and operations to ensure technical requirements and manufacturability are supported.
Own total cost management for the cable backplane product line and drive multi year cost roadmaps.
Oversee forecasting, capacity planning, and supply continuity for long lead materials and constrained technologies.
Build strategic supplier relationships in high speed cable, PCB fabrication, tooling, and custom interconnect manufacturing.
Perform supplier evaluations and business reviews, driving improvements in quality, delivery, and cost.
Partner with suppliers on capacity investments, lead time reduction, and technology alignment with next generation backplane needs.
Ensure suppliers meet Amphenol standards for process control, quality systems, and environmental compliance.
Lead supplier audits for critical components within the cable backplane portfolio.
Lead complex negotiations for multi year agreements, tooling investments, long term supply contracts, and key service agreements.
Establish contracts that secure pricing, quality, service levels, and continuity for mission critical materials.
Monitor contractual obligations and renegotiate proactively to maintain favorable positions as technology and market conditions evolve.
Manage contractual escalations and risk mitigation for sole-sourced technologies.
Ensure inventory strategies align with customer forecasts, program schedules, and long lead supply realities unique to backplane systems.
Build contingency plans for constrained commodities such as high layer count PCBs, plating processes, and specialized cable materials.
Partner with logistics teams to optimize global movement, storage, and handling of sensitive or high value interconnect materials.
Work with quality engineering to define and maintain material specifications for cable backplane products including PCBs, cables, and mechanical elements.
Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives when quality issues occur at suppliers.
Maintain documented supplier performance histories that guide sourcing decisions and risk assessments.
Support engineering with DFM, DFT, and manufacturability feedback from the supply base.
Conduct cost modeling for cables, PCBs, plating, tooling, and other backplane related components.
Lead supplier consolidation efforts and evaluate make vs buy opportunities to strengthen competitiveness.
Benchmark costs across global regions and adjust sourcing strategies to align with market trends and customer requirements.
Track KPIs such as supplier OTD, cost savings, inventory health, and prototype cycle times.
Provide executive level reporting on supply chain performance, risks, and mitigation plans.
Use data to generate insights, improve accuracy of forecasting, and strengthen operational decision making.
Lead root cause investigations for supply disruptions and implement sustainable improvements.