Head of Commodity & Sourcing

About the Role: This role is for a builder—a leader who doesn’t sit back and delegate but leans in, takes ownership, and thrives in the detail. You’ll be responsible for shaping and executing our global sourcing strategy across key technologies and commodities, while also establishing operational discipline and leading from the front. Beyond strong commercial instincts and supply chain know‑how, the ideal candidate will bring a solid technical understanding of Flash storage, compute systems, and networking technologies—enabling smart, context‑driven decisions when evaluating suppliers, negotiating contracts, and partnering with engineering.

Key Responsibilities: Own the Commercial Supply Base: Lead strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management for core technologies, including SSDs, processors, memory, interconnects, PCBs, and networking components. Lead the RFQ process for new components and provide sourcing recommendations. Stay deeply engaged in the operational details—negotiating directly, resolving escalations, reviewing component‑level BOMs, and guiding design‑for‑cost decisions. Hire, mentor, and manage a high‑performing sourcing organization while remaining a hands‑on operator and problem‑solving yourself. Manage supplier performance through scorecards and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs). Facilitate quarterly supplier product roadmap reviews with VP of Operations Strategy. Partner closely with Engineering and Product teams to understand requirements, influence design decisions, and align supplier capabilities to VAST’s roadmap. Secure long‑term agreements (LTAs) that optimize for cost, continuity, and risk, while keeping a pulse on component market trends and lifecycle dynamics. Establish best‑in‑class sourcing processes, performance metrics, and review cad to ensure discipline, transparency, and speed. Maintain accurate sourcing data (pricing, lead times) in the MRP system. Drive cost reduction projects to meet Purchase Price Variance (PPV) targets.

What You Bring: 15+ years of sourcing and supply chain experience in high‑tech or enterprise hardware industries. Proven experience managing complex sourcing categories and high‑value supplier negotiations. A technical background with working knowledge of Flash storage, compute architecture (CPU/GPU), and networking (Ethernet, Infini Band, etc.). A hands‑on, roll‑up‑your‑sleeves leadership style—you drive the work, not just the team. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business (Master’s preferred). Experience leading teams of managers and ICs through periods of rapid growth. Exceptional communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to travel internationally to key supplier locations. Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at VAST Data by 2x