Relay is the Intelligent System of Action for the physical economy. While the digital revolution has often left the deskless workforce behind, we are closing that gap by transforming analog frontline operations into a data-rich, AI-powered ecosystem. We aren't just selling radios, we’re building the digital foundation for the 80% of the global workforce that doesn't work at a desk.
Why Join Relay?
- A Proven Winner: Join a hyper-growth company trusted by over 10% of the Fortune 500, continuing to move upmarket with massive impact.
- High Value, High Impact: With 47% of our revenue from $100K+ ARR customers and 135% Net Revenue Retention (NRR), you'll be joining a company rooted in value creation.
- Market-Leading Innovation: The Relay platform captures 1 billion new data points weekly and features award-winning AI tools like TeamTranslate™, with 500% YoY growth.
- World-Class Leadership: Our stellar leadership team is built to help us scale toward our next major milestones.
- The Relay Culture: We’re dedicated to helping you do the best work of your life (BWIML), investing in your growth through L.I.T., living our CHASE values, and learning from incredibly talented, supportive teammates who make the work (and the wins) better every day.
Now, here’s what we’re building, and where you come in.
About the team:
The Hardware & Supply Chain team at Relay drives the end-to-end lifecycle of our physical devices—from component sourcing and supplier partnerships to logistics, fulfillment, and inventory management. As Relay scales rapidly and expands its device ecosystem, a world-class supply chain function is essential to ensuring our products reach customers reliably, cost-effectively, and at the quality our Fortune 500 clients demand.
Role Overview:We are seeking a Senior Director of Supply Chain to build and lead Relay’s supply chain strategy as we scale our hardware business. You will own all aspects of supply chain—procurement, vendor management, logistics, fulfillment, and demand planning—while partnering closely with Engineering, Finance, and Operations to ensure on-time delivery and cost efficiency across our growing product portfolio. This role is open to Raleigh, Chicago, or remote candidates.
This is a senior leadership role with company-wide impact. You will build and mentor a high-performing supply chain team, establish the systems and processes needed to support hyper-growth, and be a key decision-maker as Relay continues to scale toward its next major milestones. This role reports to the Chief Customer Officer.
Please note that we prefer this hire to be based in either our Raleigh HQ or in the Chicago, IL geographic area. For the ideal candidate we will consider a remote hire.
Responsibilities:Hardware Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing: Own the end-to-end procurement strategy for hardware and accessories, ensuring supply continuity and competitive pricing.
- Component Lifecycle Management: Monitor component availability, manage end-of-life transitions, and proactively identify alternate sources to mitigate supply risk.
- Cost Optimization: Drive year-over-year cost reduction through strategic negotiations, volume leverage, and working capital efficiencies.
Vendor Management
- Supplier Relationships: Build and manage a portfolio of strategic supplier partnerships with clear SLAs and performance KPIs.
- Contracts & Compliance: Lead supplier negotiations, contract execution, and ongoing compliance monitoring to protect Relay’s interests and uphold quality standards.
- Risk Management: Develop dual-source strategies and contingency plans for critical components to ensure supply resilience across geopolitical and market disruptions.
Logistics & Fulfillment
- Global Logistics: Oversee inbound and outbound freight, customs compliance, and 3PL partnerships to ensure cost-efficient, on-time delivery to Relay’s customers and distribution centers.
- Order Fulfillment: Partner with Sales Operations and Customer Success to optimize fulfillment workflows, reduce lead times, and meet the high service expectations of Relay’s Fortune 500 customer base.
- Circular Economy: Design and manage efficient reverse logistics processes for device returns, refurbishment, and end-of-life disposition.
Demand & Inventory Planning
- Demand Forecasting: Collaborate with Sales, Finance, and Product to develop accurate demand forecasts that align supply commitments with business growth projections.
- Inventory Optimization: Establish inventory policies and safety stock models that balance working capital efficiency with customer service levels across a multi-SKU hardware portfolio.
- S&OP Leadership: Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, driving cross-functional alignment on supply, demand, and financial targets.
- AI-Enabled Planning: Evaluate and deploy AI tools across forecasting, inventory optimization, and supplier risk monitoring—partnering with Data and Engineering to embed predictive and generative AI into core supply chain workflows.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of supply chain experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing procurement, logistics, and/or planning functions, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proven track record managing hardware supply chains at scale, ideally for consumer or enterprise electronics products.
- Deep experience with contract manufacturer (CM) and ODM relationships, including negotiations and quality management.
- Strong analytical skills and proficiency with ERP/supply chain planning systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle).
- Exceptional cross-functional communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels, from engineering teams to executive leadership.
- MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Operations, or a related discipline.
- Experience scaling supply chain operations at a hyper-growth hardware or IoT company.
- Familiarity with telecommunications hardware, ruggedized devices, or enterprise IoT product categories.
- Hands-on experience evaluating or deploying AI tools for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, or supplier risk monitoring.
About Relay | Culture, Benefits & Perks
Our culture hinges on Relayers getting LIT up in an environment that fosters Learning, Impact, and Teamwork, where we CHASE the best work of our lives. We call this BWIML (Best Work In My Life).
At Relay, we offer:
- 100% Paid Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Long/Short Term Disability, and Life Insurance for you and your dependents
- Generous Paid Time Off
- 401(k) Savings Plan + Company Match
- Baby Cash Reward + Paid Parental Leave
- Wellness Perks: If you’re joining our Raleigh-based HQ, you’ll have access to a world-class onsite fitness center with instructor-led classes, plus tennis, basketball, pickleball, and cycling
- Team Events & Culture: From company celebrations to team outings, we work hard and have fun doing it.
- Latest tech, standing desks, and all the tools and software you need to thrive
The future of frontline work is being built here. Come build it with us. We can’t wait to hear from you.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of supply chain experience
- 5+ years in a senior leadership role
- Proven track record managing hardware supply chains at scale
- Deep experience with contract manufacturer (CM) and ODM relationships
- Strong analytical skills and proficiency with ERP/supply chain planning systems
- Exceptional cross-functional communication skills
- MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain or Operations
- Experience scaling supply chain operations at a hyper-growth hardware or IoT company
- Familiarity with telecommunications hardware or enterprise IoT products
- Hands-on experience evaluating or deploying AI tools for supply chain functions
What We Do
Software powers the workforce...except for 55 million members who aren’t given access to a communication tool or rely on a walkie-talkie. With expense, the active nature of their jobs and guest interaction rendering a smartphone impractical, this subset of the workforce is often completely disconnected - not only from one another, but from critical information that could improve their efficiency and positively impact the bottom line of the companies that employ them. Relay leverages the PTT functionality that active workers rely on, but we’ve stripped away the range limitations, security concerns, physical bulk and the budget prohibitions associated with traditional walkie talkies. More important though is what we’ve added: Relay operates on a powerful and flexible software platform that provides new core functionalities like GPS tracking, emergency alerts and mobile/desktop compatibility - all navigated through a voice interface. The technology that fuels these capabilities enables us to continue building software integrations that will evolve with marketplace demands.
