Director, Data Center Equipment Category Manager

The role

This person will lead and develop a team of category managers and own the multi-year category strategy for datacenter infrastructure equipment. They will manage sourcing events, negotiations, and supply security for electrical and mechanical equipment.

What you will do

• Lead and develop a team of category managers across electrical, mechanical, and modular equipment
• Own the multi-year category strategy for datacenter infrastructure equipment
• Secure supply in a constrained market through manufacturing slots and capacity commitments
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events from specification through contract execution
• Serve as lead negotiator on high-value equipment agreements
• Partner with Design, Engineering, Construction, and Development to standardize specifications
• Sequence equipment awards and deliveries against live construction schedules
• Own the owner-furnished vs. contractor-furnished equipment strategy
• Deliver systematic cost reduction through various modeling and engineering methods
• Build strategic partnerships with OEMs, integrators, and manufacturer representatives

Required qualifications

• 10+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management
• At least 5 years focused on datacenter, mission-critical, energy, or heavy industrial electrical and mechanical equipment
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of people leadership managing category managers or sourcing professionals
• Owned multi-year category strategies for high-spend, supply-constrained equipment categories
• Knowledge of the datacenter equipment supply base
• Recognized as a lead negotiator who has personally closed large master supply agreements
• Experience sequencing long-lead equipment against a live construction schedule
• Experience setting process, policy, or governance standards
• Ability to brief and persuade executives

Nice to have

• Experience at a hyperscaler, AI cloud, colocation provider, or datacenter developer
• Experience on the OEM or integrator side
• Hands-on experience with prefabricated and modular power or cooling solutions
• Experience with high-density AI infrastructure, including liquid cooling and CDUs
• Engineering background or technical fluency in electrical distribution and cooling systems
• Experience standing up a category management function or team

Benefits

• Generous cash & equity compensation
• Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• Wellness and commuter stipends for select roles
• 401k Plan with 2% company match (USA employees)
• Flexible paid time off plan

About the company

Lambda is a leader in AI cloud infrastructure serving tens of thousands of customers. Founded in 2012, the company has 500+ employees and is growing fast.