What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Category Manager - White Space Hardware position at NorthMark Strategies?
We are seeking a Senior Category Manager- White Space Hardware to own and drive the global strategy for White Space Hardware procurement supporting HPC and large-scale data center deployments. This role is responsible for end-to-end category leadership, from market intelligence and sourcing strategy through contracting, supplier management, and competitive benchmarking, managing annual spend ranging from $500M to $1B .
The ideal candidate brings deep experience navigating long lead-time, high-demand hardware environments, excels in fast-paced and complex organizational structures, and has a strong background in supply chain strategy and execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead global category management strategy for White Space Hardware used in HPC and data center infrastructure
- Own the full source-to-contract lifecycle, including:
- Market intelligence and supplier landscape analysis
- RFP/RFQ strategy and execution
- Commercial negotiations and contract development
- Ongoing supplier performance and risk management
- Develop and maintain benchmarking models to assess pricing, commercial terms, and supply strategies against industry competitors
- Partner closely with engineering, infrastructure, finance, legal, and operations teams to align procurement strategy with technical and business requirements
- Design and execute supply chain strategies for long lead-time, capacity-constrained, and high-demand equipment
- Proactively identify and mitigate supply risk, capacity constraints, and geopolitical or macroeconomic impacts
- Manage and optimize annual category spend of $500M–$1B , ensuring cost competitiveness, continuity of supply, and scalability
- Drive continuous improvement across sourcing, contracting, and supplier engagement processes
- Operate effectively within complex, multi-entity organizational structures, aligning priorities across regions, business units, and legal entities
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, with a strong preference for Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- 12 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain leadership
- Proven experience managing large-scale spend portfolios ($500M–$1B )
- Deep understanding of data center, HPC, or infrastructure hardware procurement
- Demonstrated expertise in supply chain strategy and management, particularly for long lead-time, high-demand equipment
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of successful negotiations and contract execution
- Experience thriving in fast-paced, high-growth, and ambiguous environments
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and executive presence
Preferred Qualifications
- Category management or supply chain–related certifications are a plus (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent)
- Experience working in highly complex, multi-entity or matrixed organizations
- Background supporting hyperscale, cloud, AI, or HPC infrastructure environments
- Strong analytical skills with experience in cost modeling, benchmarking, and market analysis
Salary : $500