Senior Supply Chain Manager

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries. We are organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments.

About the Job

This will be our first supply chain hire at Panthalassa. You’ll build the make-vs-buy and partner evaluation muscle for a hardware program that’s scaling fast, with real constraints and real consequences (cost, schedule, and whether we can ship nodes). This is not a purchasing role. You won’t be buying capital equipment or handling real estate transactions. You will, however, roll up your sleeves: call suppliers, visit shops, qualify partners, negotiate agreements, and build a plan that keeps manufacturing moving.

This role is accountable for strategic supply chain enablement, building and stewarding a high-performing supplier network, driving make-vs-buy decisions and ensuring continuity as we scale. You will partner closely with our Logistics & Materials function and our Pilot Line Plant Manager to ensure decisions translate into reliable execution.

Responsibilities:

• Own the make-versus-buy evaluation and decision process for manufactured assemblies and components.
• Build and steward relationships with key vendors, suppliers, and contractor partners for manufacturing activities in the Pacific Northwest.
• Create and maintain a supply chain scaling roadmap that stays aligned with manufacturing ramp plans.
• Develop business continuity plans for critical materials and components (single points of failure are your enemy).
• Evaluate, qualify, and audit suppliers/contract partners, including capability assessments and onsite visits.
• Serve as the DRI for structured supply chain decisions-making (DACI/BVOA), ensuring clarity, documentation and fast alignment across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Operations. 

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years working in supply chain organizations for manufactured products.
• 3+ years developing roadmaps and driving strategic planning.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating suppliers, vendors, and contract partners.
• Experience sourcing raw materials, components, and assemblies for manufactured products.
• Experience with relevant data systems.
• Familiar with DACI’s, BVOA’s, and other structured decision making tools.

Desired Qualifications:

• Balance of experience with outsourcing and insourcing.
• Familiar with global market trends, import/export regulations, and trade risks.
• Experience leading a supply chain organization.
• Strong commercial instincts: negotiating scopes, terms, and relationship agreements without lighting anything on fire.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Travel to vendors and supplier sites as needed.
• Comfortable working on-site with the team (engineering, manufacturing, and ops).

Compensation and Benefits:

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $150,000 - $185,000
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location:

This is an on-site position. Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.