Strategic Sourcing Director - Key Technologies and Commodities
Core
Lead strategic technology and commodity sourcing initiatives for critical hardware components (compute, storage, memory) to build supply chain resilience for next-generation AI hardware systems.
Role type
Senior strategic sourcing director (hardware/commodities)
Builds
Supply chain resilience and cost-optimized hardware infrastructure for AI systems
Domain
AI infrastructure / Semiconductor and data center hardware (via careerplan.io/jobs/43-001-24-F68-strategic-sourcing-director-key-technologies-and-commodities-at-vast-data)
Deliverable
production ML models
Required skills
Strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, cost modeling (TCO/should-cost), market intelligence, product lifecycle management, cross-functional leadership
Preferred skills
MBA or advanced degree, experience with semiconductor/memory technologies
Technologies
None explicitly listed beyond hardware categories
Responsibilities
Develop multi-year sourcing strategies for key commodities; Cultivate strong relationships with core suppliers and influence their technology roadmaps; Lead complex contract negotiations and finalize pricing/business awards; Create and maintain product specification requirements; Drive hardware cost optimizations through TCO analysis and should-cost modeling; Manage RFI/RFP/RFQ processes and associated contracts; Conduct market intelligence and competitive analysis on emerging technologies
