Principal Procurement/Purchasing Specialist

About the role

The Principal Procurement/Purchasing Specialist will lead strategic sourcing and commercial management for MLCC, inductors, and embedded substrates. This senior position drives cost optimization, ensures supply continuity, and shapes end‑to‑end supplier strategy across engineering, product, and finance teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, LTAs, capacity agreements, price adjustments, and payment terms for MLCC, inductors, and embedded substrates.
• Define and own supplier strategy, influencing selection and allocation of key component suppliers.
• Execute cost‑optimization initiatives using cost breakdown analysis, should‑cost modeling, and localization strategies.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Product groups to align component readiness throughout NPI, ramp‑up, and lifecycle phases.
• Maintain supply continuity by managing capacity planning, allocation, and long‑term supply assurance.
• Identify and mitigate supply‑chain risks such as capacity constraints, geopolitical exposure, cost volatility, and supplier dependency.
• Oversee contract governance, including MSAs, NDAs, pricing frameworks, and commercial agreements.
• Drive supplier performance through structured reviews, KPI tracking, and continuous improvement.
• Escalate and resolve critical issues related to quality, delivery, capacity, and commercial disputes.
• Act as the strategic interface between internal functions and component suppliers to align roadmap, cost, and execution priorities.

Required profile

• 10+ years of procurement/purchasing experience, preferably in semiconductor or electronics.
• Fluent English; Japanese language skills are a plus.
• Hands‑on experience or strong familiarity with passive components (MLCC, inductors, embedded substrates).
• Advanced Excel and data‑analysis capabilities; proficient in PowerPoint for executive presentations.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and negotiation abilities.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, or program management.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel
• PowerPoint
• Cost breakdown analysis
• Should‑cost modeling
• Data analysis