Director, Business Unit Supply Chain Strategy

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Wilmington (MA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 281,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Paid vacation days

Parental leave

Job summary

MKS Instruments, Inc. seeks a Director of Business Unit Supply Chain Strategy embedded in Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls to align market demand with the global supply network.

You will define business requirements, drive strategic suppliers, and lead cross-functional teams to ensure supply readiness for growth and product roadmaps. You will report to the VP & GM of the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses, establishing review cadences and executive visibility on risks and recovery

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business or related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive supply chain or related experience in a technical environment.
• Proven ability to develop and execute supply strategies for growth and continuity.
• Experience identifying, qualifying and developing critical suppliers.
• Track record of resolving recurring supply issues with structured action plans.
• Ability to translate market demand and product roadmaps into supply requirements.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and matrix-organization influence.
• Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier performance, capacity planning, and risk mitigation.
• Strong analytical skills and executive-level communication ability.

Responsibilities

• Own the business unit supply strategy and drive execution for growth and roadmaps.
• Resolve recurring supply issues with cross-functional root-cause analysis and sustained actions.
• Identify capacity gaps early and align owners around mitigation plans.
• Develop strategic suppliers to increase capacity and continuity.
• Lead supplier qualification for new materials and changes with proper documentation.
• Influence sourcing roadmaps for critical technologies and geographic footprints.
• Partner on capacity expansion and risk mitigation for demand growth.
• Provide business perspective in supplier reviews for growth-critical partners.
• Support new product introduction with supply readiness and manufacturability checks.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Supply chain strategy

Root-cause analysis

Supplier development

Capacity planning

Risk mitigation

Executive communication

Sourcing strategy

Product management collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business

CPIM, CSCP or equivalent certification

Job description

Key Mission of the Role

Own the business unit supply strategy and ensure the supply network is ready to support growth, product and technology roadmaps, and customer commitments for the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses. This role is accountable for defining business requirements, providing clear visibility to supply risks, and aligning Global Supply Chain and cross-functional leaders around timely, sustainable solutions.

A Day in Your Life at MKS

As the Director of Business Unit Supply Chain Strategy, you will serve as the senior supply chain leader embedded in the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses. Working through a matrixed organization, you will connect market demand, customer priorities, and product roadmaps with the capabilities of the global supply network and drive accountable plans before supply risks affect execution. You will partner with Global Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Product Management to develop strategic suppliers, strengthen capacity and continuity, and support new product introduction. You will also drive permanent resolution of recurring supply issues through clear ownership and sustained corrective action. You will establish the business review cadence for supply readiness, elevate decisions and risks requiring executive action, and track recovery and mitigation plans through sustained closure. In this role, you will report to the Vice President & General Manager of the Plasma, Reactive Gas, and Controls businesses.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Define the business unit supply strategy and drive its execution by translating market growth, customer commitments, and product and technology roadmaps into clear supply requirements.
• Ensure recurring supply issues are resolved permanently by driving cross-functional root-cause analysis, corrective actions, clear ownership, and verification that solutions are sustained.
• Identify critical supply gaps and capacity constraints early, assess their business impact, and align the appropriate functional owners around mitigation plans.
• Drive the identification, qualification, and development of critical suppliers needed to increase capacity, reduce concentration risk, and strengthen supply continuity.
• Drive cross-functional execution of customer approval and qualification requirements for new suppliers, materials, and supply changes, ensuring documentation, testing, and timelines support customer commitments.
• Define business requirements and influence sourcing roadmaps for critical technologies and commodities, including the capabilities, geographic footprint, capacity, quality, and cost structure needed to support the business.
• Partner with Supply Chain and suppliers on capacity expansion, capital requirements, readiness plans, and risk mitigation for anticipated demand growth.
• Provide the business perspective in supplier selection, development, and performance reviews, particularly for suppliers that are critical to growth or continuity.
• Support new product introduction and product roadmap execution by ensuring future supply requirements, manufacturability, scalability, and supplier readiness are addressed early.
• Establish a focused business review cadence for strategic supply risks, recurring issues, supplier qualification, capacity readiness, and execution of the business unit supply strategy.

Travel Requirements:

Up to 50% travel required.

Skills You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, sourcing, supplier development, operations, engineering, or manufacturing in a complex technical environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute supply strategies that support business growth, capacity expansion, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
• Proven experience identifying, qualifying, and developing critical suppliers, including coordination across engineering, quality, operations, and procurement.
• Track record of driving permanent resolution of recurring supply or supplier problems through structured root-cause analysis, corrective action, and sustained follow-through.
• Ability to translate market demand, product roadmaps, and business priorities into clear supply requirements, risks, and actions.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills in a matrixed global organization.
• Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier performance, capacity planning, risk mitigation, and business continuity.
• Strong analytical and business acumen, with the ability to assess capacity, cost, quality, lead time, and risk tradeoffs.
• Clear executive communication skills and the ability to convert complex supply issues into business implications, decisions, and accountable actions.

Preferred Skills:

• Understanding of semiconductor equipment, vacuum, advanced manufacturing, or related technology markets.
• CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain certification.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information so others will understand.
• Operates in a professional office and/or laboratory/manufacturing environment.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually average.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary Pay Range: $168,300.00 - 280,500.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
• Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
• Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.

MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [e-mail] .

At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action, and solving our customers’ toughest challenges. It's not just a job – it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on-the-job and formal training, as well as educational assistance. Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path. Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice-to-have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.

Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets. With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data. We're the behind-the-scenes support for some amazing technology. MKS Inc., enables technologies that transform our world. MKS Inc, Product Overview