Global Category Director - Electronics

MKS Instruments

2d

About The Position

A Day in Your Life at MKS: As the Category Director – Electronics within our Global Supply Chain organization, you will serve as the enterprise-wide expert for your category. You will own the strategy, performance, and continuous improvement of a complex global supplier landscape—acting as the go‑to authority for all category‑related supply chain matters. In this high‑impact leadership role, you’ll report directly to the Senior Director of Global Supply Chain and help shape the future of our global sourcing capabilities. As a strategic leader, you will guide and develop a team responsible for driving supplier performance, building resilient supply strategies, and ensuring operational excellence. Your work will directly influence business continuity, cost competitiveness, and innovation across the organization. You will make an impact by: Lead category strategy development, performing market analysis, identifying emerging risks and opportunities, and shaping long‑term supply plans Build and manage high‑performing supplier relationships, ensuring quality, delivery, compliance, and strategic alignment with business goals Drive cross‑functional collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and regional supply chain teams to support product roadmaps and growth initiatives Oversee supplier performance management, including scorecards, business reviews, corrective actions, and improvement initiatives Champion risk mitigation, ensuring supply continuity through proactive planning, dual‑sourcing, and effective commercial negotiations Promote operational excellence and continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce cost, and strengthen supply chain resilience Act as the primary point of contact and category subject‑matter expert, representing category needs across the organization Perform additional reasonable duties as business needs evolve

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• 12+ years of experience driving global supply chain or strategic sourcing initiatives
• 8+ years managing global or regional teams
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop teams and influence cross‑functional partners
• Expertise in supplier management, commercial negotiations, forecasting, and strategic sourcing
• Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally moves/positions objects up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for 40% of the time.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Ability to observe documents and details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Operates in a professional office and/or manufacturing environment.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually average.
• We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.
• However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.

Nice To Haves

• CPIM and/or APICS certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy development, performing market analysis, identifying emerging risks and opportunities, and shaping long‑term supply plans
• Build and manage high‑performing supplier relationships, ensuring quality, delivery, compliance, and strategic alignment with business goals
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and regional supply chain teams to support product roadmaps and growth initiatives
• Oversee supplier performance management, including scorecards, business reviews, corrective actions, and improvement initiatives
• Champion risk mitigation, ensuring supply continuity through proactive planning, dual‑sourcing, and effective commercial negotiations
• Promote operational excellence and continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce cost, and strengthen supply chain resilience
• Act as the primary point of contact and category subject‑matter expert, representing category needs across the organization
• Perform additional reasonable duties as business needs evolve

Benefits

• 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
• tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director