Regional Category Manager (Electronics Components & Wires Lead)

SUMMARY: Responsible for leading sourcing efforts throughout the new product development cycle, ensuring supplier readiness, cost efficiency, and alignment with product launch timelines. This role plays a strategic part in supporting growth by driving supplier engagement, managing sourcing workflows, and enabling cross-functional collaboration across teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute a regional category strategy that aligns with the  global category strategy by working closely with all stakeholders
• Maintain  alignment with all programs and projects of the businesses to achieve the best economical outcome.
• Champion change and innovation.  Leads initiatives that span virtual teams across the world and cultures.
• Provide leadership and guidance in the following ways; stimulate creativity / innovation in others, foster new ideas, support those who initiate change and take risks, promote a global perspective. 
• Foster a collaborative environment among stakeholders while building and maintaining strong relationships across various functions. Leverage and build enthusiasm and support for adoption.
• Assists in defining category procurement strategy for the ADS Division of Molex that is aligned with the overall corporate strategy
• Drives Total Cost of Ownership reductions for category through analytics, clearly defines category taxonomy and manage baseline.
• Aggressively negotiate terms in accordance with internal policies. Collaborate with SPOC to build a robust pipeline of savings opportunities with internal & external stakeholders using multiple levers & tactics (e.g., negotiations, change of suppliers, value analysis/value engineering etc.)
• Coordinate across corporate, functions, divisions to share best practices and adherence to guidelines.
• Evaluate overall needs of select business and to negotiate an accepted portfolio meeting the most strategic needs of the category.
• Advise business about similar strategies employed by other “best in class” companies and other Koch entities.
• Closely collaborate with adjacent business depts. to ensure adequate and timely delivery of agreed services in line with agreed service levels.
• Partner and collaborate with Procurement staff of other Molex divisions and Koch entities in order to support cross divisional business initiatives and explore Procurement synergies and “Best in Class” companies.
• Act as the single point of contact for identifying synergy opportunities with new acquisitions’
•  Provide leadership for supplier material traceability efforts on behalf of corporate procurement.
• Manage ongoing supplier relationships.
• Ensure optimal balance between value for money and cost savings is achieved, while ensuring quality and excellent customer service.
• Monitor market dynamics for categories across regions.
• Continually look for opportunities for cost reductions and cost avoidance.
• Manage category projects across businesses and company-wide when and where applicable and lead projects based on category expertise
• Understand, support and comply with current Molex policies and practices related business programs.  Including but not limited to government regulations, International Standards Organization (ISO) and Environmental, and/or Health and Safety (EH&S), Six Sigma & Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management (TQM), and Management Systems.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES  

• Completion of a Bachelor’ s degree from a four year college or university
• Requires 8 years of experience in procurement with a focus on direct spend, including at least 3 years in category management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively influence, network, and work with culturally diverse teams at different levels within the organization in a positive manner.
• Good organizational skills including program / project management governance.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact at all levels within the organization as well as deliver oral presentations on moderately complex subject matter.
• Demonstrated experience driving cross functional collaboration across business units and geographies.
• Extensive knowledge of category technologies and products.
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills.

State Posting Requirements (Remote)

QUALIFICATIONS  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, talk, hear, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, and controls, and reach with arms and hands. The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move from 10 to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely works near moving mechanical parts and is rarely exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and travel is usually limited to 30%.

ITAR COMPLIANCE  This position requires access to or use of information which is subject to the federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  All applicants for this position must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR.  ITAR defines “U.S. Person” as U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., person admitted as a refugee to the U.S., person granted asylum in the U.S., or person granted the status of alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence to the U.S. under 8 U.S.C. §1160(a) (for special agricultural workers) or 8 U.S.C. §1255(a)(1) (an amnesty program).

[Equal Opportunity Employer - Disability/Vet]

This job may require applicant to conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.  Learn more about the ITAR here.  

Salary : $100,000 - $175,000