Global Category Specialist Power Components

ABB seeks a Senior Global Category Specialist for Power Components in Quartino, CH. This hybrid role focuses on strategic sourcing of semiconductors and passive components, requiring deep technical expertise and global negotiation skills.

This senior individual contributor position reports directly to the Global Procurement Manager. The primary purpose is to develop and implement global category strategies for critical power semiconductor and passive components. Success in this role demands a blend of deep technical knowledge regarding power electronics bills of materials, strong commercial judgment, and the capability to manage complex supplier relationships across multiple sites worldwide.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement global sourcing strategies for key components such as IGBTs, capacitors, SCRs, thyristors, displays, and fuses.
• Oversee international RFQ/RFP processes, including total cost of ownership analysis, cost benchmarking, and commercial negotiations with tier-1 semiconductor suppliers.
• Establish and maintain long-term agreements and global frame contracts with strategic partners.
• Coordinate with Supplier Quality Engineering and R&D teams to handle supplier qualification and onboarding procedures.
• Evaluate global spend patterns, supplier concentration, and market trends to create dual-source or multi-source strategies that reduce supply risk.
• Track power semiconductor market shifts, component lifecycles, and obsolescence, implementing last-time-buy plans when necessary.
• Achieve year-over-year cost reductions through volume consolidation, competitive sourcing, design-to-cost efforts, and value analysis/value engineering initiatives.
• Partner with global Engineering and New Product Introduction teams to guide component selection and ensure strategic alignment from concept to mass production.
• Manage the full contract lifecycle, including drafting, review, execution, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
• Provide regular reports to senior management on category performance metrics such as cost savings, on-time delivery, quality, and risk.
• Assist global sites in executing local procurement activities that align with the overarching global category strategy.
• Ensure strict adherence to ABB procurement policies, trade-compliance regulations, and supplier sustainability standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical, Electronics, Power Electronics Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
• Five to twelve years of experience in strategic procurement or category management, specifically within power electronics or semiconductor components.
• Comprehensive technical understanding of IGBTs, thyristors, SCRs, capacitors, fuses, and display technologies used in industrial power electronics.
• Demonstrated success in global supplier negotiations, managing long-term agreements, and executing category strategies.
• Proficiency with SAP Ariba, Jaggaer, or comparable sourcing platforms, along with advanced skills in MS Excel and Power BI.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 20–30% of the time.
• Fluent proficiency in English is mandatory.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with power electronics products such as drives, converters, UPS systems, traction equipment, and renewable energy systems.
• Additional language skills in Italian, German, or Spanish.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CIPS, or equivalent qualifications.

What the company offers

• Opportunities for professional growth and empowerment to lead initiatives.
• A dynamic team environment designed to support individual success.
• Transparent compensation details provided during the first interview stage for EU-based locations.

About the company

ABB supports industries in operating more efficiently and sustainably. The company fosters an inclusive culture that welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Supporting industries to run leaner and cleaner.
• Welcoming people from all backgrounds and experiences.