Vice President of Global Supply Chain

Job description

Position Summary

Cohu is a global technology and market leader in semiconductor test and inspection & metrology markets.

The Vice President, Global Supply Chain will oversee the supply chain and procurement on a global basis for all Cohu’s business lines.

This role will provide strategic thought leadership and hands-on engagement to grow an integrated supply chain.

The VP will drive multi-year supply chain initiatives and strategies across the organization, focusing on purchasing, strategic sourcing, material availability, supply chain risk reduction, organizational process improvement, supply chain operational efficiency, and inventory management.

This position reports to the VP, Global Operations and Supply Chain, and is based in Singapore or Malaysia (Melaka or Penang) on a standard (local) employment contract.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, implement, and manage global best practices across all supply chain functions to drive improvement in overall business results.
  
  
• Drive continuous improvement by utilizing KPIs, tools, metrics, and systems to achieve best-in-class performance.
  
  Identify strategies to deliver year-over-year cost improvements.
  
  
• Plan and implement activities related to the timely, cost-effective procurement, inventory control, planning, and quality control of materials, as well as coordinating global procurement efforts.
  
  
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and material control systems to reduce costs, streamline procedures, and implement solutions.
  
  
• Ensure the availability of materials in the supply chain and the maintenance of inventory at minimum acceptable levels for all global manufacturing sites.
  
  
• Collaborate with key Business Unit and manufacturing leaders to rationalize the supply chain, develop global commodity strategies, and ensure sourcing decisions are aligned to a best-in-class supply chain.
  
  
• Global owner for inventory, collaborating with finance/accounting and factory leaders to minimize liability, drive consistent procurement practices that reduce errors.
  
  
• Establish, develop, and manage strategic internal and external partner, supplier, and customer relationships.
  
  
• Partner with and influence R&D, critical suppliers, and other stakeholders at the leadership level, while managing complex third-party relationships.
  
  
• Oversee New Product Introduction sourcing and industrialization, ensuring alignment with commodity strategies, targeted costs, quality, and lead-time.
  
  
• Negotiate major contracts and coordinate purchasing activities with the engineering and manufacturing departments to maintain inventories at planned levels.
  
  Review and plan requirements for acceptable global inventory.
  
  
• Monitor and understand corporate financial measurements that dictate changes in department activities.
  
  
• Select, develop, and evaluate personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function.
  
  Hire, manage, and retain a high-performance supply chain team, including acting as a mentor and coach for the team.
  
  

Management Responsibility

Oversee direct staff of supply chain and procurement professionals located in the U.S., Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, along with matrixed organizations in Cohu’s global development centers in the U.S. and Germany.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

Master’s degree in Supply Chain preferred.

Professional certifications in Logistics, Operations, and/or Purchasing ideal.

Professional Affiliations: Membership with CIPS/BPICS or equivalent highly desired.

Experience: 15+ years of progressive responsibility and leadership in Operations and Supply chain management, with an expert level knowledge in materials management; preferably in semiconductor equipment manufacturing.

Skills/Technical Requirements

• A proven track record of achievement in Global Supply Chain Management for a large enterprise.
  
  
• Strong demonstrated leadership and management skills with the ability to lead people.
  
  
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to customize messaging based on the intended audience.
  
  
• Experience in companies that design and manufacture large, complex electro-mechanical systems, as well as machine fabrication.
  
  
• Detailed knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (Oracle Cloud products preferred), how these systems interact across various functions, with the ability to optimize utilization and execution.
  
  
• Extensive supply chain knowledge to create policies, develop new teams, and lead transformative change.
  
  
• Experience coordinating multi-site manufacturing and distribution of products.
  
  
• Excellent negotiation skills within an engineering manufacturing environment.
  
  
• Experience in creating and implementing new processes to increase efficiency.
  
  
• Experience in supplier process development, quality management, and understanding of failure analysis and problem-solving.
  
  
• Ability to function successfully in a highly dynamic, high-pressure environment while remaining calm and confident.
  
  

Job Conditions/Physical Demands

Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment but will spend time at supplier sites and factory floors.

Regular domestic and international travel is required.

Protective Equipment

In designated areas

Required Skill Profession

Management & Operations