Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management Lead (Storage & Compute Commodities)
VAST Data
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We're looking for a Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management Lead to own end-to-end commercial strategy for our storage and compute commodities, starting with NAND/SSD and expanding into adjacent categories and related hardware. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, finance, and supply chain — you'll be the primary commercial voice shaping supplier relationships, pricing, and technology roadmaps that directly impact our infrastructure's cost and resilience. You'll bring deep industry knowledge, sharp negotiation instincts, and the credibility to influence technical decisions with commercial reality.
Responsibilities & Duties
- Own the end-to-end sourcing strategy for NAND/SSD commodities, then extend the playbook to additional storage and compute categories.
- Lead commercial negotiations — pricing, contracts, terms, and supply commitments — with key suppliers.
- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance across cost, quality, delivery, and technology alignment.
- Develop and execute supplier strategy, including diversification, risk mitigation, and total-cost-of-ownership optimization.
- Chair and drive cross-functional meetings with engineering, finance, and operations to align sourcing decisions with business needs.
- Influence supplier roadmaps and internal technical decisions by injecting commercial and market perspective into engineering conversations.
- Conduct industry and market analysis — pricing trends, capacity, technology shifts — to anticipate risk and opportunity.
- Perform cost modeling, quotation analysis, and competitive benchmarking to support sourcing decisions.
- Manage escalations related to material shortages, supply constraints, and sourcing activities.
- Track and report supplier performance, savings, and risk metrics to leadership.
- Travel 15–20% for supplier reviews, site visits, and industry events.
Required & Preferred Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in a technical, engineering, or business discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- 8–12+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management.
- Direct experience with NAND/SSD commodity management, including technology fundamentals and supplier landscape.
- Proven track record negotiating commercial contracts, pricing agreements, and supply terms.
- Develop and drive sourcing and supplier strategies, set up key sourcing and supplier management processes
- Strong analytical skills — cost modeling, quotation analysis, and market/industry analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- Comfortable engaging with engineering teams on technical roadmap discussions from a commercial lens.
- Willingness to travel 15–20%.
Preferred
- MBA or Master's degree in a technical, engineering, or business field.
- Experience sourcing data center-scale SSD, NAND, DRAM, or compute (CPU/GPU) commodities.
- Experience managing s processes and material shortage management.
- Background expanding sourcing scope across multiple commodity categories.
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