Who We Are
Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips â the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world â like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world.Â
What We Offer
Salary:
$141,000.00 - $193,500.00Location:
Santa Clara,CAYouâll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possibleâwhile learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more.Â
At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. Weâre committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits.Â
Global Category Manager
Global Sourcing & Procurement (GSP) | Global Category & Sourcing
Applied Materials â Internal Draft Job Description
Role Summary
The Global Category Manager is the strategic owner of an assigned category of spend, accountable for defining the global category strategy and delivering outcomes across value capture, stakeholder experience, and risk management. This role sets direction (the âWHATâ) through category strategies, supplier portfolio and segmentation decisions, governance, and demand/value roadmaps, while enabling scaled execution (the âHOWâ) through Strategic Sourcing Managers and the Sourcing Center of Excellence (SCoE). Operating in a centerâled âone houseâ model, the Global Category Manager orchestrates crossâfunctional alignment, ensures consistent global standards with regional nuance, and drives measurable business impact for Applied Materials.
Roleat a Glance
Job Title
Global Category Manager
Organization
Global Sourcing & Procurement (GSP) â Global Category & Sourcing
Reports To
Category Leader / Portfolio Leader (per org design)
Primary Purpose
Own the category strategy, supplier portfolio, governance, and outcome delivery across the enterprise.
Primary Interfaces
Business Unit leaders/stakeholders, Strategic Sourcing Managers,SCoELeaders, Supplier Executives, Finance (Value Capture), Risk/TPRM, ContractingCoE/Legal, Operations/BPO
Operating Model
Category defines strategy and guardrails; Sourcing executes and refines through data/insights; one unified global team.
Scope Anchors
Global category strategy + wave plan; supplier segmentation and SRM; demand management; risk and compliance integration; category councils and performance governance.
Mission Alignment (GSP âDefinition of Winningâ)
Value Capture: establish multiâyear value levers (savings, cost avoidance, productivity, revenue enablement) and deliver results through a governed pipeline.
Client Journey: build proactive stakeholder engagement models and predictable delivery experiences through clear intake, governance, and communication.
Risk Management: embed thirdâparty and supplyâmarket risk thinking into category strategies, supplier decisions, and contracting guardrails.
OptimizeCapability: enable the organization through playbooks, standards, and a talent pipeline that improves execution quality over time.
Key Responsibilities
1) Global Category Strategy & Roadmap Ownership
Define andmaintaina multiâyear global category strategy that aligns to Applied and GSP priorities, including clear goals, value levers, and execution waves.
Establish category scope, taxonomy alignment, and a demand/supply perspective (demand signals, business requirements, supply market dynamics).
Develop and refresh a category roadmap that sequences initiatives by impact, urgency, risk, and capacity,maintaininga forwardâlooking pipeline.
2) Supplier Portfolio Strategy, Segmentation & SRM
Own supplier portfolio design and segmentation (strategic, preferred, transactional) and define the engagement model for each segment.
Lead strategic supplier relationship management (SRM) for priority suppliers: performance, innovation, commercial governance, and executive alignment.
Drive supplier rationalization and consolidation opportunities that improve leverage, simplify operations, and reduce total cost of ownership.
3) Business Partnership (BRM) & Stakeholder Governance
Serve as a trusted advisor to business unit leadership; translate businessobjectivesinto category strategies and sourcing priorities.
Lead category councils and governance forums (e.g., value/risk reviews, supplier performance reviews) to drive decisions, alignment, and accountability.
Set stakeholder engagement rhythms and communicationstandardsso the category experience is consistent across regions and teams.
4) Value Capture, Financial Stewardship & Performance Management
Define and govern the category value pipeline (initiatives, baselines, assumptions, milestones) and partner with Finance for validation and reporting.
Establish outcome metrics beyond savings (service levels, speed/cycle time, quality, compliance, risk reduction, innovation) and monitor performance.
Ensure sourcing and contracting approaches are aligned to approved category strategies and buying channel guidance.
5) Risk, Resilience & Compliance Integration
Integrate supplier risk considerations into category plans, including thirdâparty risk management (TPRM) triggers and mitigation actions.
Partner with Risk/TPRM, Legal, Privacy/Data Governance, and Compliance teams to ensure category decisions and supplier selections protect Applied.
Proactivelymonitorsupply market risks and translate signals into actions (dual sourcing, contract protections, contingency plans).
6) Execution Orchestration Through Sourcing (One House Model)
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