Director of Procurement Strategy and Market Intelligence - Western Digital

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Director of Procurement Strategy and Market Intelligence to lead the development and execution of procurement strategies that align with our business objectives. This role will focus on market research, competitive analysis, and supplier management to ensure that our procurement function remains efficient, cost-effective, and forward-thinking. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of global supply chains, market dynamics, and data-driven decision-making.  This person will also act in a Chief of Staff capacity to the CPO by driving strategic initiatives, managing key projects, coordinating cross-departmental efforts, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Procurement Development:
  • Develop and implement long-term procurement strategies aligned with the company's business goals.
  • Oversee the identification and evaluation of new suppliers, markets, and business opportunities to improve procurement performance.
  • Define procurement objectives and performance metrics to drive improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and quality.
• Market Intelligence & Analysis:
  • Lead the gathering and analysis of market data to understand industry trends, commodity price fluctuations, and potential supply chain disruptions.
  • Provide actionable insights from market intelligence to inform procurement decisions and strategic planning.
  • Monitor competitor activities and the supplier landscape to identify potential opportunities and risks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Work closely with internal stakeholders, including finance, operations, and marketing, to ensure procurement strategies align with overall business needs.
  • Collaborate with the finance team to develop accurate procurement forecasts and budget planning.
• Leadership & Team Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing procurement strategy and market intelligence team.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and innovation within the team.
• Risk Management & Compliance:
  • Analyze market risks, including geopolitical and economic factors, and create strategies to mitigate supply chain risks.
  • Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Reporting & Communication:
  • Report to senior management on procurement performance, market trends, cost-saving initiatives, and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Provide regular updates and recommendations to the executive team on procurement strategy and market intelligence insights.

• Strategic Planning and Execution: 

  • Collaborate with procurement leadership to develop and execute strategic initiatives. 

  • Conduct in-depth analysis of procurement operations to identify opportunities for improvement. 

  • Develop and implement operational plans to achieve procurement goals and objectives. 

  • Oversee the development and implementation of procurement policies and procedures. 

• Operational Excellence: 

  • Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and alignment with organizational goals. 

  • Streamline procurement processes and improve efficiency through process optimization. 

  • Develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure procurement performance. 

  • Analyze procurement data to identify trends and opportunities for cost savings. 

• Team Management and Development: 

  • Provide leadership and mentorship to procurement team members. 

  • Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the procurement organization. 

  • Identify training and development needs for procurement staff. 

• Stakeholder Management: 

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. 

  • Effectively communicate procurement strategies and initiatives to stakeholders. 

  • Resolve conflicts and issues related to procurement operations. 

  • Provide executive-level support to procurement leadership, preparing presentations, and coordinating cross-team inputs for critical meetings and decisions. 

  • Conduct research and analysis on procurement-related topics. 

  • Prepare reports and presentations for senior management. 

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, or a related field. 

• 12+ years of experience in procurement or a related field. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Proven ability to operate in a proactive way anticipating the needs of stakeholders. 

• Enacts high-quality work and has demonstrated ability to drive outcomes effectively representing C-suite. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

• Excellent project management and organizational abilities. 

• Proven ability to lead and develop teams. 

• Proficiency in procurement software and tools. 

• Master’s degree or MBA preferred. 

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.