Material Program Manager

Job Summary

The Material Program Manager (MPM) plays a key role in ensuring material readiness throughout the product lifecycle, from development and New Product Introduction (NPI) to high-volume production. This position is responsible for managing material strategy, supplier performance, inventory risk, and program-related costs for assigned programs. The MPM serves as the primary interface between Supply Chain, Engineering, Planning, Manufacturing, and external suppliers to ensure material availability aligns with build schedules and program milestones. The role is also responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and procuring materials and services to support NPI and production requirements.


Responsibilities

• Lead material planning and sourcing strategies for test interface solutions.
• Identify and qualify new suppliers globally, ensuring compliance with quality and NPI program requirements.
• Manage material readiness throughout all program phases, including concept development, prototyping, NPI phase gates, and production ramp-up.
• Partner closely with Product Development to ensure supply continuity and inventory optimization for assigned NPI programs.
• Drive early engagement with suppliers during NPI to validate material readiness, ramp capability, and capacity planning, including localization efforts to support both NPI and production requirements.
• Monitor lead times, allocation risks, and component obsolescence; proactively mitigate risks through alternative sourcing strategies or strategic purchases.
• Represent Supply Chain in cross-functional program meetings, providing updates on material status, cost exposure, and delivery risks.
• Manage supplier forecasts, minimum order quantities (MOQ), non-cancellable/non-returnable (NCNR) liabilities, and inventory buffers in alignment with demand volatility.
• Drive the resolution of material shortages, quality issues, and last-time-buy requirements in coordination with Quality and Engineering teams.
• Monitor contract compliance and performance obligations, and assist in managing commercial contracts and supplier spend.
• Identify and assess supplier risks, including financial stability, geopolitical exposure, cybersecurity, and ESG considerations.
• Develop and enforce procurement policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and governance frameworks.
• Prepare executive-level program updates on material readiness, spend, and risk management.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts to achieve the best value for the company.
• Support should-cost modeling, benchmarking, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.
• Issue purchase orders based on MRP requirements and requests from the NPI Program Management team.
• Monitor supplier deliveries and expedite orders to meet NPI schedules.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent work experience. Professional certifications such as CPSM or APICS are an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in semiconductor supply chain, materials management, or NPI program management.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, including front-end and back-end test operations, and related material dependencies.
• Experience working with global suppliers across the United States, Asia, and Europe.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and planning tools.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous environments and influencing teams without direct authority.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Access.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read and interpret machined part drawings.
• Strong computer skills, including file and data transfer management.
• Understanding of machined part fabrication techniques and manufacturing processes.