The role of a Strategic Supplier Manager - PCB is to holistically manage and strategically steer the PCB supplier base to support Advantest's long-term business and supply chain objectives. The role is responsible for translating PCB commodity strategies into robust supplier strategies, governing supplier performance, and shaping long-term commercial and contractual frameworks.
The Strategic Supplier Manager drives end-to-end supplier leadership, including contract structuring, investment and capacity planning, and the definition of material buffer concepts to ensure supply resilience and execution reliability. A strong focus lies on enabling fast and reliable NPI, supported by strategic ramp-up and capacity design in close alignment with R&D, product management, quality, and manufacturing stakeholders.
The role proactively drives cost, innovation, risk mitigation, sustainability, and compliance initiatives while building strong, trust-based partnerships with key PCB suppliers. Its goal is to ensure a resilient, scalable, and high-performing PCB supplier network that delivers long-term value, supports rapid innovation and growth, and secures sustainable competitive advantage, while structural and systemic issues are addressed at a strategic level
Job responsibilities
- Strategic Supplier Management: holistically govern strategic PCB supplier relationships along the full supplier lifecycle, defining supplier strategies aligned with business objectives, PCB commodity direction, technology roadmaps and supply network requirements
- Commercial & Contract Management: design and lead long-term commercial and contractual frameworks, including pricing models, investment and capacity commitments, risk allocation and exit logic, to ensure long term value creation and supply stability
- Supplier Performance & Risk Management: establish and steer supplier performance governance, proactively identifying, evaluating and mitigating performance, quality, technology, capacity and supply risks, and driving corrective actions at a strategic level
- Capacity, Investment & Buffer Concepts: drive strategic capacity and investment planning with PCB suppliers, including material buffer concepts and ramp safeguarding measures to ensure resilience, scalability and business continuity
- Fast NPI & Strategic Ramp Design: enable fast and reliable NPI execution by aligning suppliers early on technology, capacity and process readiness, and by defining strategic ramp up and stabilization concepts
- Cross functional Collaboration: collaborate closely with Commodity Management, R&D, Product Management, Quality, Operations and senior stakeholders to align supplier capabilities with future business, technology and growth requirements
- Continuous Improvement: drive continuous improvement initiatives with PCB suppliers, identifying opportunities for innovation, multiple sourcing, supply base optimization and long term supply chain resilience
- KPI and Performance Management: Create transparency and track the following KPIs: OTD, TCO, Cost stability, Quality, Cost improvements. Define mitigation actions, if required
Job requirements
- Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of experiencein strategic supplier management, sourcing, or procurement, ideally within complex technical environments
- Experience in the PCB domain preferred, including exposure to PCB suppliers, technologies, manufacturing processes, or qualification and ramp up scenarios
- Proven experience in contract negotiation and supplier governance, including long term agreements, commercial frameworks, and escalation management
- Experience supporting fast NPI and ramp up activities, working closely with R&D, Product Management, Quality, and Operations
- Experience in investment and capacity related discussions with suppliers, including long term planning, scaling considerations, or buffer concepts
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and stakeholder management skills in complex and dynamic environments
- Experience working with globally matrix-organized teams and across business units