Category Manager - Electronics & EMS

Enterprise Recruitment Ltd; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Enterprise Recruitment Ltd in Cambridge is seeking a Category Manager, Electronics & EMS to own the category strategy and drive strategic sourcing across electronics components, semiconductors, PCBAs and EMS providers.

You will lead a small team and collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality to build a robust global supplier network, enabling the company to grow from prototype to production and scale-up.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in electronics procurement and category management.
• Experience with engineering/manufacturing environments and supplier negotiations.
• Proven ability to develop category strategies and manage global suppliers.
• Experience leading small teams and influencing at technical and senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Own category strategy for electronics, semiconductors, PCBAs and EMS providers.
• Drive strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier development.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements and manage contracts.
• Lead and develop a small procurement team and collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality.

Skills

Electronics procurement

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier relationship management

Stakeholder management

Job description

This key role will drive the development and execution of category strategy across electronic components, semiconductors, PCBAs and Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS). We're looking for an experienced Category Manager, Electronics & EMS, to take full ownership of category strategy, drive strategic sourcing initiatives, develop and strengthen global supplier partnerships, and build a resilient, competitive supply chain capable of supporting the company's ambitious growth plans.

You'll be joining one of Europe's fastest-growing engineering start-ups, offering an agile, entrepreneurial environment with minimal bureaucracy and the freedom to shape and implement new strategies around cutting-edge technologies. Based at a state-of-the-art facility, you'll have access to multi-million-pound resources, world-class engineering capabilities and the infrastructure needed to turn innovative ideas into reality.

This key role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape the supply chain as the business transitions innovative products from prototype and development through production and commercial scale-up.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and wider business stakeholders, you'll develop a robust and competitive global supplier network, ensuring the business has access to the technical capability, capacity and commercial support required to deliver its ambitious growth plans.

You'll take ownership of category strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, contract management, supply chain risk and supplier development. You'll also lead and develop a small team, while playing an instrumental role in shaping the future procurement function.

The successful candidate will bring a strong background in electronics procurement and manufacturing supply chains, combining commercial acumen with the technical understanding needed to engage confidently with engineering teams, challenge supplier capability and navigate complex component availability and sourcing challenges.

You will be site-based with occasional travel to suppliers once or twice per month.

Key Requirements:

• Significant experience in electronics procurement, category management or strategic sourcing within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical and commercial understanding of electronic components, semiconductors, PCBAs and EMS providers.
• Demonstrable experience developing category strategies, managing global suppliers and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Exposure to NPI, prototype development, and the transition to volume manufacturing, ideally in a quality-critical or highly regulated environment.
• Previous people management or team leadership experience, with strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence at both technical and senior management level.