Category Manager - Memory; m​/f​/d

About The Role

The Category Manager – Memory will develop, drive and own the global category sourcing strategy and savings objectives specifically for Memories. The successful candidate will manage all activities relating to the global supply base, including contracts, commercial/pricing, supply assurance, innovation, cost reduction initiatives, and conflict resolution. The successful candidate will implement category strategies through alignment with HARMAN business units, engineering, quality, and manufacturing activities.

This position is ideal for professionals with deep expertise in automotive semiconductor procurement, strategic sourcing, and supplier development.

• Develop, drive and own the global strategy for complex categories and align with business objectives and support growth and profitability.
• Build and own appropriate supplier relationships with the category supply base and present a single unified HARMAN International interface to the supply base.
• Works with Best Cost Analytics & HW & Component Engineering on technology roadmap plans and ensure long-term competitive cost of components.
• Manage difficult supplier negotiations and event driven cost reductions to meet annual cost reduction goals and Should Cost targets.
• Conduct consistent commercial terms/conditions including a long-term capacity outlook commitment for high priority suppliers.
• Drive supply base optimization and new supplier development to maximize category leverage.
• Lead the source board preparation and create sourcing proposal for management decision.
• Oversee the execution of RFx efforts into the supply base, prepare the response evaluation and proposal for sourcing decisions.
• Coordinate the supplier performance management, including quarterly business reviews and escalation support.
• High Potential as successor for category directors. Acting as backup for category directors.
• Support category directors to coordinate cross-category initiative/strategies.
• Coaching and providing guidance to category managers.

• Bachelor’s Degree in business or technical related field
• 10+ years of experience in procurement, with a focus on memory or semiconductor sourcing
• Proven success in automotive electronics purchasing, supplier negotiations and cost management
• Strong understanding of memory/ semiconductor supply chains, pricing models, and manufacturing cost structures
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Success in collaborating with key work partners and able to maintain relationships at the working level.

• Experience in an automotive Tier 1 or OEM environment
• Familiarity with infotainment systems, ADAS, or vehicle connectivity platforms
• Knowledge of semiconductor lifecycle management and obsolescence planning

• Willingness to travel up to 30% (domestic and international)

• HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation
• Employee discounts on Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
• Extensive training via HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness and tuition reimbursement benefits
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program
• A diverse, inclusive, and innovation-driven workplace

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job‑related performance. ()