Coherent

Director of Strategic Supply Chain

Coherent$150K — $180K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in supply chain leadership roles, ideally in a global or multi-site environment.
  • Proven success in strategic planning, supplier negotiations, and operational optimization.
  • Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with ERP systems, supply chain planning tools, and digital transformation initiatives.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management abilities.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement a multi-year supply chain strategy that supports business goals, scalability, and market expansion.
  • Lead transformation initiatives focused on digitalization, automation, and advanced analytics.
  • Build a resilient supply chain framework that mitigates risk and enhances continuity.
  • Oversee end-to-end supply chain functions including procurement, planning, logistics, inventory management, and distribution.
  • Optimize global sourcing strategies to improve cost, quality, and delivery performance.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
  • Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to ensure reliability, innovation, and competitive advantage.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape the long-term supply chain strategy for the organization.
  • Engagement in digital transformation initiatives and advanced analytics.
  • Leadership role that allows for significant influence on operational excellence and supplier partnerships.
  • Partnership with various departments including Finance, Operations, and Sales for holistic supply chain management.
  • Focus on continuous improvement and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Director of Strategic Supply Chain is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping, optimizing, and executing the long-term supply chain strategy across the organization. This leader drives operational excellence, strengthens supplier partnerships, and ensures the supply chain is resilient, cost effective, and aligned with the company's growth objectives. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands on operational expertise and thrives in a fast paced, evolving environment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and implement a multi-year supply chain strategy that supports business goals, scalability, and market expansion.
  • Lead transformation initiatives focused on digitalization, automation, and advanced analytics.
  • Build a resilient supply chain framework that mitigates risk and enhances continuity.

Supply Chain Operations
  • Oversee end-to-end supply chain functions including procurement, planning, logistics, inventory management, and distribution.
  • Optimize global sourcing strategies to improve cost, quality, and delivery performance.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

Supplier & Partner Management
  • Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to ensure reliability, innovation, and competitive advantage.
  • Negotiate high-value contracts and long-term agreements that support business objectives.
  • Monitor supplier performance and implement corrective action plans when needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, Sales, and Product teams to align supply chain capabilities with organizational priorities.
  • Serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on supply chain trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Lead cross-functional teams through complex initiatives and change management efforts.

Data & Performance Management
  • Develop and track KPIs to measure supply chain performance, cost efficiency, and service levels.
  • Leverage data analytics to forecast demand, optimize inventory, and improve decision-making.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory, quality, and sustainability standards.

Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in supply chain leadership roles, ideally in a global or multi-site environment.
  • Proven success in strategic planning, supplier negotiations, and operational optimization.
  • Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with ERP systems, supply chain planning tools, and digital transformation initiatives.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management abilities.

What Success Looks Like
  • A supply chain that is agile, cost-efficient, and scalable.
  • Strong supplier partnerships that drive innovation and reliability.
  • Improved forecasting accuracy, reduced lead times, and optimized inventory levels.
  • A culture of continuous improvement and cross-functional alignment.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ

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