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Global Supply Manager, Soft Goods

Apple· Operations and Supply Chain
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Cupertino, CA$163.5k - $246.2kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Apple seeks an experienced Global Supply Manager (GSM) to manage end-to-end commercial and operational lifecycle of custom Soft Goods materials, spanning early sourcing through NPI, ramp, and mass production across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, Audio, and Home product categories.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute comprehensive material supply chain and sourcing strategies supporting components and accessories across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, Audio, and Home categories.
  • Build detailed should-cost models and lead commercial negotiations with suppliers to achieve target costs while maintaining manufacturing viability.
  • Manage NPI operational budgets, and structure, track, and audit capital expenditure (CapEx) and tooling/equipment amortization plans.
  • Formulate, model, and execute data-driven supplier allocation recommendations, balancing risk, cost, capacity, quality metrics, and strategic vendor development.
  • Lead the end-to-end identification, onboarding, and qualification of new material suppliers to expand technical capabilities and enhance supply chain resilience. Draft and execute commercial agreements and statements of work for new material development programs.
  • Own end-to-end capacity planning and mass production (MP) equipment coordination, ensuring machinery, tooling, direct labor staffing, and vendor engineering support are in place to meet ramp demand curves.
  • Serve as the primary operations lead for material issues during production ramp, collaborating with Quality, Technical Operations, and suppliers to quickly resolve yield fallout and process bottlenecks.
  • Assemble cross-functional material readiness reviews, consolidate executive briefings, and lead formal upward escalations to operations and product leadership.
  • Provide on-site management at material supplier facilities during development builds and ramp to audit line readiness and enforce operational controls.
  • Proactively identify technical, quality, and supply risks early in the program, establishing effective mitigation and dual-sourcing plans.
  • Track post-launch yield curves, field performance, and shifting demand to drive necessary supply chain and production adjustments.
  • Manage buffer stock strategies, lead-time changes, and capacity rebalancing to protect supply continuity while minimizing excess and obsolete (E&O) liabilities.
  • Support ongoing engineering change orders (ECOs) and continuous yield and cost improvement initiatives throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Serve as the main commercial and operational contact for assigned global material suppliers, driving alignment with Apple’s performance and quality expectations.
  • Evaluate and qualify new supplier candidates across technical capabilities, quality systems, financial health, and scalability.
  • Partner with Industrial Design (ID), Product Design (PD), and Operations teams to assess material feasibility, resolve design-versus-manufacturing trade-offs, and scale new material technologies.
  • Travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in global supply chain management, product development, operations, or manufacturing.
  • Experience defining and executing supply chain strategies, including new supplier identification, onboarding, qualification, and data-driven allocation recommendations to drive strategic initiatives.
  • Strong background in bottom-up should-cost modeling, price negotiations, supplier financial assessments, managing NPI operational budgets, and structuring tooling/equipment amortization plans.
  • Proven ability to build capacity models, develop robust production plans, coordinate equipment qualification, and support labor planning at suppliers.
  • Demonstrated leadership in resolving quality, yield, and supply continuity issues under tight timelines during production ramp.
  • Experience assembling cross-functional readiness reviews, consolidating executive briefings, and leading formal upward escalations to leadership teams.
  • Experience monitoring post-launch demand and yield signals to execute supply chain adjustments and manage inventory risks.
  • Experience modeling and recommending data-driven supplier allocations that balance cost, capacity, risk, and supplier performance.
  • Bachelor’s degree.

Skills

Required:Supply chain strategyShould-cost modelingNPI budgeting and CapEx managementCapacity planningSupplier qualification and onboardingCross-functional leadershipRisk management and dual-sourcing

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
  • retirement benefits
  • discounted products and free services
  • reimbursement for certain educational expenses including tuition
  • discretionary bonuses or commission payments and relocation may be eligible
  • Apple shareholder opportunities through discretionary stock programs
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Last updated Sep 25, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Apple

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

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