Senior Manager, Category Management

Sandisk; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandisk in Milpitas, CA seeks a Senior Manager, Category Management - 3rd Party Controller (U.S. Based) to own the global category strategy for 3rd party controllers.

You will shape long-term sourcing direction, supplier selection, and risk-mitigated supply aligned to roadmaps and business goals. The role interfaces with engineering, business units, operations, finance, quality and legal to influence critical decisions on controller roadmap, supplier portfolio, and sourcing models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 12+ years in global category management or semiconductor sourcing.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor sourcing, especially controllers/ASICs/SoCs.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent analytical capability in cost modeling and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the global 3rd party controller category strategy, including long-range sourcing vision and supplier portfolio design.
• Lead strategic discussions with senior leadership to align on controller sourcing direction and investments.
• Define supplier selection criteria and lead cross-functional decisions based on technology, roadmap, capacity and cost.
• Partner with engineering, product, quality, operations, finance and legal to align on strategy and governance.
• Monitor technology trends, supplier roadmaps, and geopolitical risks to inform decisions.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and long-term agreements to optimize value and supply assurance.

Skills

Executive communication

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Supply Chain/Business

MBA preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Sandisk understands how people and businesses consume data and we relentlessly innovate to deliver solutions that enable today’s needs and tomorrow’s next big ideas. With a rich history of groundbreaking innovations in Flash and advanced memory technologies, our solutions have become the beating heart of the digital world we’re living in and that we have the power to shape.

Sandisk meets people and businesses at the intersection of their aspirations and the moment, enabling them to keep moving and pushing possibility forward. We do this through the balance of our powerhouse manufacturing capabilities and our industry-leading portfolio of products that are recognized globally for innovation, performance and quality.

Sandisk has two facilities recognized by the World Economic Forum as part of the Global Lighthouse Network for advanced 4IR innovations. These facilities were also recognized as Sustainability Lighthouses for breakthroughs in efficient operations. With our global reach, we ensure the global supply chain has access to the Flash memory it needs to keep our world moving forward.

Description

Senior Manager, Category Management - 3rd Party Controller (U.S. Based)

This role owns the global category strategy for 3rd party controllers, with responsibility for shaping long-term sourcing direction, supplier selection, executive alignment, and commercial outcomes. The position requires a highly strategic leader who can engage effectively with internal executives and external supplier leadership to define controller strategy, assess technology and supply market options, drive sourcing and qualification decisions, and secure resilient, competitive supply solutions aligned with business, product, and technology roadmaps. This U.S.-based role serves as a key interface across engineering, business units, operations, finance, quality, and legal to influence critical decisions on controller roadmap, supplier portfolio, sourcing models, and risk mitigation strategies.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Category Strategy Leadership: Develop and lead the global 3rd party controller category strategy, including long-range sourcing vision, supplier portfolio design, technology alignment, commercial strategy, and risk mitigation plans.
• Executive Engagement: Lead strategic discussions with senior and executive leadership to align on controller sourcing direction, business trade-offs, supplier strategy, investment priorities, and selection decisions.
• Supplier Selection and Roadmap Alignment: Define supplier selection criteria and lead cross-functional sourcing decisions for 3rd party controllers based on technology capability, roadmap fit, capacity, quality, cost competitiveness, geographic footprint, and long-term strategic value.
• Cross-Functional Strategic Leadership: Partner closely with engineering, product, quality, operations, planning, finance and legal to drive alignment on controller strategy, sourcing models, approved vendor approaches, and business continuity plans.
• Market and Technology Intelligence: Monitor controller technology trends, competitive dynamics, supplier roadmaps, industry capacity, cost structures and geopolitical or supply chain risks to inform executive decisions and sourcing strategy.
• Commercial and Contract Leadership: Lead complex commercial negotiations, contract strategy, pricing frameworks, business allocation decisions, and long-term agreements that optimize total value, flexibility and supply assurance.
• Supply Resiliency and Risk Management: Establish risk management strategies for controller supply, including dual-sourcing, qualification roadmaps, capacity reservation, continuity planning and escalation management for critical issues.
• Supplier Performance and Governance: Drive executive business reviews and performance governance with key suppliers to improve accountability, execution, innovation support and strategic alignment.
• NPI and Product Enablement: Influence early design and NPI decisions by aligning sourcing strategy with product requirements, qualification timelines and supplier readiness to support time-to-market and scalability.
• Strategic Project Leadership: Lead high-impact strategic initiatives related to controller sourcing, supplier development, cost competitiveness, business continuity and long-term roadmap execution across global stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field; advanced degree such as MBA or Master’s degree is preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in global category management, strategic sourcing, supplier management or semiconductor supply chain leadership, with substantial experience in highly complex semiconductor categories.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor sourcing, with strong preference for experience in controllers, ASICs, SoCs or adjacent complex semiconductor components and ecosystems.
• Demonstrated success building and executing long-term category strategies that influence product, technology and business outcomes.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in highly matrixed global organizations and influence senior cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to lead fact-based discussions, frame trade-offs and recommend strategic supplier decisions to senior leadership.
• Excellent analytical capability in supplier evaluation, cost modeling, scenario planning, risk assessment and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex sourcing programs across multiple time horizons, balancing urgent execution needs with long-term strategic objectives.
• Strong track record of negotiating with strategic suppliers and engaging credibly with supplier executives on roadmap alignment, business allocation, investment support and commercial strategy.

Preferred

• Executive-level communication, presentation and influencing skills.
• Strong strategic sourcing, supplier selection and commercial negotiation capability.
• Ability to translate technology, market and supply risk insights into sourcing recommendations and executive decisions.
• Strong financial, analytical and business acumen, including cost modeling and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Excellent stakeholder management across engineering, operations, finance, quality and executive leadership.
• High proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint and data-driven business presentations.

Additional Information

Sandisk is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Sandisk thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Sandisk is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [e-mail] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.