Global Category Manager, Electronics Passives

As the Global Category Manager for passive electronic components—capacitors, magnetics (such as inductors, ferrite bead, transformers), and resistors—you will develop and execute a global category strategy supporting innovation and scale across Molex’s five divisions. Your priorities will be supply assurance, competitive cost structures, and faster new product introductions. You will build and manage a world‑class global supply base, drive supplier performance, and align supplier capabilities and technology roadmaps with Molex’s product roadmaps.

Working with R&D, Product Development, Business Units, architecture teams, and global supply chain partners, you will translate category strategy into sourcing decisions and long‑term value. You will lead requests for information (RFIs), requests for quotation (RFQs), supplier business reviews, and technology roadmap discussions, and provide market intelligence and quarterly category insights to senior leaders. Supplier relationship management and continuous improvement will be central to your success in the passive electronic components category.

This role is based in Lisle, IL, with an expectation to work onsite four days per week when not traveling and requires up to 40% domestic and international travel.

Our Team

Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle and medical.

What You Will Do

• Lead the global strategy and execution for Molex’s Passives category in a highly visible Global Category Manager role with broad business impact
• Build and shape a world‑class electronics passives supply base that supports all five Molex divisions and enables speed, flexibility, and resilience in a fast‑paced global market
• Partner across functions to define and manage the preferred supplier list (PSL) and approved parts list (APL), guiding supplier selection, segmentation, and performance. Align supplier technology roadmaps with Molex product innovation.
• Collaborate with Business Units, Regional Category Managers, R&D, Sourcing Engineering, and New Product Development teams to translate category strategy into action and ensure the supply base supports both technical requirements and commercial growth objectives
• Influence product economics from the start by engaging suppliers early in new product development, optimizing initial cost structures, and delivering sustainable savings through multi‑sourcing and value engineering
• Build strategic partnerships with passive electronic component suppliers and develop influential executive‑level relationships. Strengthen these relationships through business reviews, technology roadmap sessions, industry events, and supplier performance engagements.
• Champion supply assurance across the full product lifecycle from new product development and mass production through end‑of‑life transitions while driving process improvements that deliver best‑in‑class results
• Lead requests for information (RFIs) to support total cost of ownership (TCO) assessments. Establish best practices for evaluating and capturing cost advantages across supplier manufacturing locations and Molex production facilities.
• Lead requests for quotation (RFQs) and develop negotiation strategies using component pricing, target cost analysis, and market intelligence. Deliver measurable savings, maximize business value, and support Molex’s cost reduction objectives.
• Partner with Engineering to develop and manage a multi‑year pipeline of value analysis and value…