Mgr, Category Mgmt

Join UCT and be part of the fastest-growing sector in the world! We indirectly touch every semiconductor chip that goes into every smartphone, smart car and device that uses artificial intelligence. This is a critical time for the semiconductor industry and for UCT - as technology evolves, we evolve with it. UCT is a diverse workplace where every talented employee is committed to continuous innovation, challenging the status quo and exceeding customer expectations. If you are a person with a relentless drive to succeed, a strong focus on quality with a passion for success – join us today! 

UCT is looking for a talented Category Manager to join us in Malaysia!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Category Management & Sourcing

• Develop and execute category strategies to optimize cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance.
• Lead full-cycle sourcing activities including market analysis, supplier evaluation, RFP/RFQ management, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Conduct spend analysis to identify savings opportunities, supplier consolidation options, and demand optimization levers.
• Partner with Operations, Finance, Engineering, Quality, and Logistics, to ensure category strategies support business needs.
• Monitor industry trends, cost drivers, supply chain risks, and emerging technologies.

Localization & Supplier Transfer Leadership

• Lead the end‑to‑end localization strategy for all critical and non‑critical components in support of the Israel‑to‑Malaysia production transfer.
• Drive supplier scouting, technical capability assessment, sample qualification, and FA/FFF validation cycles for localized parts.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to manage multi‑stage supplier qualifications, resolve deviations, and close rejections.
• Develop and maintain local supply base capability roadmaps, ensuring continuity, capacity, cost competitiveness, and risk diversification.
• Establish and govern local sourcing timelines, ensuring alignment with build schedules, phase‑in/phase‑out plans, and transfer milestones.
• Manage cost modeling, negotiation, and award decisions for localized suppliers across machined parts, assemblies, tubing, fittings, valves, and other direct commodities.
• Partner with site teams to ensure localized parts meet technical, quality, and regulatory requirements for Malaysia operations.
• Own cross‑site communication between FSI (Israel), FSM (Malaysia), and corporate GSCM to ensure clarity on specifications, drawings, revision changes, FA results, and sample feedback loops.
• Monitor and mitigate risks related to sample delays, qualification bottlenecks, limited supplier engagement, and forecast inaccuracies.
• Provide leadership updates on localization progress (priority list, overall completion %, supplier readiness) and escalate risks requiring executive intervention.

NPI & Change Management Support

• Support NPIs by validating BOM completeness, source validation, part classification, and system readiness (QIR/PIR/Source List) for new or localized parts.
• Lead sourcing and supplier alignment for new gas sticks, family valves, substrate programs, and new models requiring new localization streams.
• Integrate localization strategy into NPI timelines to avoid delays in samples, FA approval, and mass‑production readiness.

Educational/Certification Requirement: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, supplier localization, or direct materials management.
• Proven experience managing technical commodities (machined parts, metal fabrication, assemblies, valves, precision components) and supporting multi‑stage supplier qualification.
• Strong proficiency in advanced Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, data modeling) and familiarity with analytics tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP MM (material master, sourcing, PIR, Source List, RFQ/PO processes); exposure to Oracle or NetSuite is a plus.
• Demonstrated capability in spend analysis, cost modeling, supplier evaluation, and competitive sourcing strategies.
• Solid understanding of contracting, negotiation methodologies, supplier performance management, and risk mitigation.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills with a data‑driven mindset.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to influence and collaborate across Engineering, Quality, Operations, and cross‑site teams.
• Preferably experienced in localization programs, supplier transfer, NPI sourcing, or managing multi‑country supply chains..

At Ultra Clean Technology, we do not just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Ultra Clean Technology is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under laws and regulations.