Strategic Supply Chain Manager

About Nearfield Instruments

Nearfield Instruments (NFI) is a fast-growing scale-up high-tech company. We design, develop, integrate, market and service advanced metrology machines. Our machines enable our customers - the world’s leading chipmakers – to increase the production yields, and thus, functionality of their microchips, which in turn leads to smaller, more powerful consumer electronics.

Founded in 2016, we bring together the most creative minds (approx. 300 employees) in science and technology and develop a one-of-a-kind, revolutionary high throughput Scanning Probe Microscopy system.

Where will you be working?

The main bottleneck for increasing output in the semiconductor industry is the time spent on quality control using single scanning probe microscopy. Scale-up Nearfield Instruments has developed the unique metrology solution called QUADRA, which increases throughput a hundredfold. As a strategic supply chain manager, you will help us meet the soaring demand from global chipmakers. Your challenge is to take the lead in strategically transforming and maintaining our supply chain. That’s how you will play a crucial part in our ambitious growth strategy.

What will you be doing?

As we’re rapidly transforming from a start-up to a scale-up and beyond, your role is to strategically optimise our supply chain management for mechatronics modules. You will secure a mechatronics supply chain that’s able to meet our own spike in demand. And together with your fellow strategic supply chain managers for electronics and mechanics, you will drive robust supply chain performance. You will also optimise QLTC (Quality, Logistics, Technology and Cost).

Your responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the transformation from procuring single-purpose modules to larger integrated modules, together with the System Integration team. This will enable the ramp-up of production as it will reduce time spent on assembly, integration and testing.

• Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with suppliers of critical components and such integrated modules. You will jointly draw up specifications, aligning them with the needs of your internal stakeholders, and establish cost-down roadmaps.

• Regularly evaluating supplier performance to improve quality, secure timely delivery, control costs and mitigate supply risks, in close collaboration with your strategic suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Working closely with your colleagues from Development & Engineering from an early stage in the process, to align the practicalities of the supply chain with release-for-volume needs. You will, for instance, identify the potential of a design change allowing the use of more widely available and cheaper components.

• Managing and balancing the risks involved in our strategic supply chain, e.g. as a result of dependencies, by leveraging our greater buying potential.

Why is the position interesting for you?

• Opportunity to contribute to scaling breakthrough technology that supports the world’s leading chipmakers;

• chance to strategically shape and optimize complex supply chains in a fast-growing scale-up;

• exciting mix of innovation, international collaboration, and long-term impact on the semiconductor industry.

What are we looking for?

A scale up can provide phenomenal learning and development opportunities but can also be a hectic environment at times. You must fit in such a climate and don’t mind to constantly implementing changes and process improvements, and to go the extra mile on a regular basis and feel comfortable with some uncertainty.

You embrace the freedom and challenge of shaping your role to meet the strategic needs of our deeptech scale-up organisation. To achieve the best possible strategic solutions, you involve, inspire and convince colleagues and suppliers, using your communication skills. You also know how to manage and balance short-term pressure and long-term priorities geared to realising the company’s mission.

Furthermore, you need to recognize yourself in the profile as described below.

• A BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Applied Physics, or another relevant subjec;

• demonstrable experience (around 10 years) in supply chain management of high-tech or complex systems, as well as a relevant network in the Dutch and European high-tech ecosystem;

• collaboration & Stakeholder Management, able to build strong relationships across departments and influence decisions without formal authority;

• an excellent command of spoken and written English, as English is our and our clients’ main language.

What can you expect from us?

At Nearfield Instruments, you’ll be joining the most creative minds in science and technology from all over the world. Fostering a fun, diverse and inclusive culture, we encourage you to be, or become, who and what you want to be. Which is why you will get all the support you need to evolve, and why we care about your work-life balance. We enable you to simplify the logistics of your life by empowering you to get the job done in the way that works best for your role, development and personal circumstances. These are your benefits:

• A good pension scheme;

• personalised training and education for your personal and career development;

• holiday allowance of 8% and plenty of time to relax with 30 days of annual leave, based on a 40-hour week;

• work-from-home allowance;

• commuting allowance;

• a discount on your health insurance.