Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Procurement Specialists and supply chain contributors; set clear goals and expectations, deliver regular feedback, and build a high-performing, accountable team culture
Own commodity strategy and sourcing decisions across assigned categories, including custom-engineered and long-lead components; lead supplier selection, RFQs, and competitive bidding processes
Build and maintain strong relationships with a global supplier base; lead business reviews, drive performance accountability on quality, delivery, and cost, and manage escalations to resolution
Lead negotiation of piece price agreements, tooling contracts, general terms and conditions, NDAs, and other commercial agreements; ensure Lightship’s commercial interests are protected
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Program Management, and Finance to support new product introduction, design changes, cost targets, and phase gate milestones; serve as the supply chain voice in cross-functional program reviews
Identify and execute cost reduction opportunities; track and report supply chain spend against budget; own savings targets and present results to VP and executive leadership
Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks — single-source dependencies, geopolitical exposure, supplier financial health, tariff and trade impacts, and capacity constraints
Oversee inbound freight and carrier relationships; ensure on-time delivery of materials to support production schedules; drive continuous improvement in freight cost and transit performance
Build and enforce procurement process discipline across the team; ensure accurate and timely PO management, vendor master data, and inventory records in NetSuite ERP; drive adoption of tools and workflows that scale
Conduct regular supplier and partner site visits to assess capability, audit performance, and strengthen relationships; travel up to 25%

Requirements

7+ years of supply chain or procurement experience, with at least 2 years in a people management role leading a team of 2 or more direct reports
Demonstrated experience managing procurement of custom-engineered or manufactured components in a production environment — not purely commodity or indirect purchasing
Proven track record of leading end-to-end supplier negotiations, including piece price, tooling, and commercial terms
Working knowledge of ERP systems — specifically managing purchase orders, receipts, vendor records, and inventory in a manufacturing context
Experience partnering directly with Engineering through product development and design change cycles, including BOM management and NPI activities
Strong communicator with the ability to influence cross-functionally, present to senior leadership, and represent supply chain in executive-level discussions
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, resource-constrained startup environment where process must be built and not just followed.

Benefits

Healthcare, Dental, Vision
401k
Flexible Paid Time Off - that we actually want you to use!
8 Company Holidays + the company observes a period of scheduled downtime during the end of the year for a week, allowing all employees to enjoy a break
12 weeks paid parental leave
$2,000 per year towards an RV trip of your own &/or professional development opportunities - we call this a LightTrip

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

procurementsupply chain managementsupplier negotiationcost reductioncommodity strategyRFQsvendor managementBOM managementNPI activitiescommercial agreements

Soft Skills

team managementmentoringcommunicationinfluencingrelationship buildingperformance accountabilityproblem-solvingcross-functional collaborationgoal settingfeedback delivery