Strategic Category Manager
Cradlepoint

Job Info

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Overview

This is a US Remote Opportunity

Cradlepoint was born in Boise and built for wireless. We are a team of authentic, hard-working, and innovative people driven by a shared vision toConnect Beyond the limits of wired networks. We help customers - big and small, across industries and around the world - utilize LTE and 5G cellular technology to connect people, places, and things, anywhere.We're at the forefront of the Wireless WAN and 5G - the next big waves in networking - and we remain as hungry and humble as the day we started. If you're hungry to be part of something big, come join us.
Responsibilities

How Will You Contribute to the Company?

Cradlepoint is looking for a Strategic Category Manager to be responsible for managing strategic component supplier costs, contracts, relationships, and roadmaps for assigned electronic, electro-mechanical, and mechanical categories. In this role, the individual will lead component sourcing and selection activities in partnership with Cradlepoint's R&D team. It will be critical for the individual in this role to develop close collaboration with Hardware Engineering, Program Management, Technical Operations, and other cross-functional teams. During the product development process, you are responsible for identifying key technologies and partners as well as negotiating pricing agreements. It is the Strategic Category Manager's primary objective to ensure suppliers meet or exceed commercial and technical requirements throughout the life cycle of the product(s).

What Will You Do?

Cost

• Negotiate and manage the cost of strategic components, as determined by Strategic Sourcing and R&D
• Develop negotiation scripts and proposals
• Study cost trends and latest events that may impact cost of assigned categories and prepare strategies to mitigate and manage
• Project manage Value Analysis/Value Engineering projects in partnership with R&D and Procurement Engineering

Contracts

• Negotiate Master Agreements, Pricing Agreements, and/or Statements of Work with strategic component suppliers
• Manage component supplier performance according to mutually agreed contracts

Relationships

• Lead preparation for supplier business reviews with strategic component suppliers
• Develop strong, mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers in assigned categories
• Provide transparent and helpful feedback to suppliers in assigned categories to progress the strategic relationship with suppliers
• Partner with product teams to successfully transition from Engineering proto typing to design validation, and into mass production

Roadmaps

• Develop strategic roadmaps for suppliers in assigned categories that include cost trends and management, key relationship maps, risk management (e. cost, people, continuity of supply, quality, etc), spend analysis, etc.
• Partner with R&D to align strategic component supplier roadmaps with product roadmaps to ensure supplier selection keeps or exceeds pace with technology and product roadmaps
• Manage the life cycle of key components, including EOL plans from the OEM, last-time-buy decisions in partnership with Inventory Planning, and longevity strategies for new product development

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or equivalent work experience
• Five to seven (5-7) years of experience in a sourcing, procurement, supply chain, product development, and/or project management role, within the electronic manufacturing industry
• Supply chain experience managing cross functional teams and projects (e. alternative component qualification, cost reduction, etc) in an electronics product company
• Familiarity with world-class sourcing methods and tools
• Knowledge of and experience with New Product Development in manufacturing (CM, OEM, ODM, or JDM)
• Experience negotiating supplier agreements (e. Pricing Agreements, Master Agreements, Statement of Work, etc)
• Ability to be innovative in issues related to strategic sourcing, vendor relations, quality assurance and the associated measurement systems
• Strong analytical skills (e. cost modeling, quotation analysis, supplier selection)
• High level of accountability, ownership, and ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance

Bonus Points:

• Fluent in Mandarin language
• Technical experience or education (e. mechanical or electrical engineering)

Note: Did you know that women and other marginalized groups often hold back on applying to jobs if they don't meet 100% of all listed requirements? We don't want you to hold back! If you don't check every single box above but still feel like you could successfully do the work, we encourage you to apply! We'd love to connect and see how you could add to our team.

Why Cradlepoint?

At Cradlepoint, we're one team - all in on inclusion. Celebrating the uniqueness of our individual team members across the globe helps us build diverse teams where we all can thrive. Our connected, community-focused culture enables each one of us to perform at our best and fully be ourselves.

Our Cradlepoint values drive everything we do:

• Stay humble and hungry: Be a curious learner, resilient, and competitive.
• Don't point a finger; lend a hand: We are one team! Communicate, provide support, and lift others.
• Make a difference: Prioritize, innovate, differentiate, and think big for customer success. Make a difference in work and in our communities.
• Keep it simple: Eliminate complexity. Reduce time to value.
• Enjoy the ride: Celebrate - appreciate - grow.
• Trust, Respect, and transparency: Be ethical, data-driven, respectful, and straight shooters who share openly.

We are creating the future of global connectivity & community. Come join us. You belong here.

Compensation and Benefits at Cradlepoint

At Cradlepoint, we know that our people are the key to our success. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to help with your individual needs and goals.

Your Pay:

The salary range for this position is listed below. The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.

• $82,005-$126,945

Your pay also includes the opportunity for an annual bonus. This variable pay opportunity is dependent upon the attainment of agreed to goals and objectives as determined by Cradlepoint's Senior Leadership team. Certain eligibility and pro-ration rules apply.

Your Health:

Cradlepoint offers excellent, competitive employee benefits, such as: subsidized, nationwide PPO medical benefit options including a low-deductible Point of Service Plan and a qualifying High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), with a generous company-provided HSA contribution. For California employees, we offer a subsidized HMO option through Kaiser. Cradlepoint also offers subsidized dental and vision coverage.

Your Financial Security:

We invest in both your short and long-term financial wellbeing. Cradlepoint's 401(k) plan has a 4% company match and immediate vesting. Employees will also receive company-paid employee basic life and AD&D insurance and company-paid disability benefits.

Your Time:

Your work-life balance is important to us. Cradlepoint provides generous paid time off, including: 15 days of Flexible Time Off (FTO), four paid quarterly well-being days, and 11 paid annual holidays (includes nine company holidays and up to two floating holidays). Please note that an employee's FTO balance and floating holidays may be prorated in the first year, based on start date. Cradlepoint also offers paid maternity-leave benefits and six weeks 100% paid family leave for all employees.

Additional Benefits:

Cradlepoint offers other company-paid benefits such as a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program, a free Headspace membership, LinkedIn Learning access, Talkspace mobile therapy, and volunteer paid time off.

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Cradlepoint's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging mission is to create an inclusive work environment where all employees' differences are celebrated, their thoughts matter, and everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves to work. We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aim to attract, develop, and engage top talent from a diverse candidate pool. It is our policy and commitment to provide equal opportunity employment for all persons and not discriminate in employment decisions by placing the most qualified person in each job, without regard to any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

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