As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.
About the Role
The Category Manager - Memory will develop, drive and own the global category sourcing strategy and savings objectives specifically for Memories. The successful candidate will manage all activities relating to global supply base including contracts, commercial/ pricing, supply assurance, innovation, cost reduction initiatives, and conflict resolution. The successful candidate will implement category strategies through alignment with HARMAN business units, engineering, quality, and manufacturing activities.
This position is ideal for professionals with deep expertise in automotive semiconductor procurement, strategic sourcing, and supplier development.
What You Will Do
- Develop, drive and own the global strategy for complex categories and align with business objectives and support growth and profitability.
- Build and own appropriate supplier relationships with category supply base and present a single unified HARMAN International interface to the supply base.
- Works with Best Cost Analytics & HW & Component Engineering on technology roadmap plans and ensure long-term competitive cost of components.
- Manage difficult supplier negotiations and event driven cost reductions to meet annual cost reduction goals and Should Cost targets.
- Conduct consistent commercial terms/ conditions including a long-term capacity outlook commitment for high priority suppliers.
- Drive supply base optimization and new supplier development to maximize category leverage.
- Lead the source board preparation and create sourcing proposal for management decision.
- Oversee the execution of RFx efforts into the supply base, prepare the response evaluation and proposal for sourcing decisions.
- Coordinate the supplier performance management, including quarterly business reviews and escalation support.
- High Potential as successor for category directors. Acting as backup for category directors.
- Support category directors to coordinate cross-category initiative/strategies.
- Coaching and providing guidance to category managers.
What You Need to Be Successful
- Bachelor’s Degree in business or technical related field
- 10+ years of experience in procurement, with a focus on memory or semiconductor sourcing
- Proven success in automotive electronics purchasing, supplier negotiations and cost management
- Strong understanding of memory/ semiconductor supply chains, pricing models, and manufacturing cost structures
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Success in collaborating with key work partners and able to maintain relationships at the working level.
Bonus Points if You Have
- Experience in an automotive Tier 1 or OEM environment
- Familiarity with infotainment systems, ADAS, or vehicle connectivity platforms
- Knowledge of semiconductor lifecycle management and obsolescence planning
What Makes You Eligible
- Willingness to travel up to 30% (domestic and international)
What We Offer
- HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation
- Employee discounts on Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
- Extensive training via HARMAN University
- Competitive wellness and tuition reimbursement benefits
- “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program
- A diverse, inclusive, and innovation-driven workplace
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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in business or technical related field
- 10+ years of experience in procurement, with a focus on memory or semiconductor sourcing
- Proven success in automotive electronics purchasing, supplier negotiations and cost management
- Strong understanding of memory/semiconductor supply chains, pricing models, and manufacturing cost structures
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Willingness to travel up to 30% (domestic and international)
- Experience in an automotive Tier 1 or OEM environment
- Familiarity with infotainment systems, ADAS, or vehicle connectivity platforms
- Knowledge of semiconductor lifecycle management and obsolescence planning
Harman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harman and has not been reviewed or approved by Harman.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, often including medical, dental, and vision plans, with HSAs/FSAs and disability or life insurance also referenced. Wellbeing support such as EAP access and onsite occupational health services is also part of the package in some regions.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Lifestyle-oriented benefits include employee product discounts and region-specific perks like free fruit deliveries, Cycle to Work schemes, and meal coupons or allowances. Flexible schedules and work-from-home options are also part of the overall offering where roles and projects allow.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is repeatedly characterized as solid or market-aligned for many roles, with salary payments described as consistent and on time. Compensation is also tied to performance in some accounts, reinforcing a perception of basic fairness for a portion of employees.
Harman Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. Looking for a challenge where your experience is valued? Come see what you can achieve as a leader with HARMAN!
