Job Description

About the Role?:

The Category Manager will manage and execute the category sourcing strategy and savings objectives specifically for Automotive SOC & Processors. The successful candidate will manage all activities relating to global supply base including contracts, commercial/pricing, supply assurance, innovation and conflict resolution. The successful candidate will implement category strategies through alignment with HARMAN business units, engineering, quality and manufacturing activities. This position requires knowledge of the business units technology and product roadmaps and specific expertise in the procurement of semiconductors and associated manufacturing cost structure.

What you will do:

Responsible to manage and make critical decisions on all aspects of supplier relationship including contracts, commercial/pricing, supply assurance and conflict resolution.
Develop and execute sub-category strategies for semiconductors technologies supporting the business across all the divisions.
This role requires extensive interfacing with engineering, quality and supplier; it requires knowledge of the business units’ technology and product roadmaps.
The role requires a sophisticated level of relationship management interfacing with global suppliers, requiring balancing of interests to maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
This person will be an escalation/communication point for Harman International and the supply partner.
Responsible to drive the technology roadmap engagement with strategic suppliers and Engineering to deliver these technologies in Harman products to meet the time to market and cost objectives of the business.
Establish consistent commercial terms/conditions and present a single unified Harman International interface to the supply base
Establish strong supplier relationships, effectively manage category supply base, perform advanced and intricate negotiations, and use event driven cost reductions to meet annual cost reduction goals
Drive supplier rationalization strategy to maximize category leverage
Manage the RFQ/ quote process
Work with supply base to establish robust quality operating systems to support “zero defect culture
Serve as a point of contact for BU sourcing issues and opportunities related to category management
Establish goals, improvement plans, business reviews and monthly reporting related to areas of responsibility
Actively monitor vendor and internal performance against contracts, industry benchmarks, and previous baselines on a quarterly basis. Develop and submit reports for senior management.
Identify and evaluate market changes and new technologies -- make appropriate fact-based recommendations for adoption by HARMAN stakeholders.
Track and report on performance metrics

What you need:

Bachelor’s Degree in business or technical related field.

Minimum 5 years of procurement experience.

Prior experience in semiconductors technologies. Commodity sourcing and negotiating direct materials in an automotive electronics environment using strategic category management techniques to achieve results.
Proven ability to lead and achieve cost, quality, and time to market commitments
Strong negotiation and relationship building skills
Success in collaborating with key work partners and able to maintain relationships at the working level
Strong presentation and writing skills
Ability to gather relevant information systematically; consider a broad range of issues or factors; grasp complexities and perceive the relationship among problems or issues; seek input from others
An effective team player committed to organizational goals; fostering collaboration among team members
Establish challenging performance standards; create enthusiasm, a feeling of investment, and a desire to excel
Ability to speak clearly and express self well in groups and in one-to-one conversations
Demonstrate resourcefulness to effectively leverage and focus resources across organizational/geographic boundaries
Fluent in English both oral and written.