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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Global Supply Manager II to lead supplier relationships and ensure material readiness for Rocket Lab Robotics programs in Pasadena, CA. This role sits at the intersection of strategic sourcing, supplier management, schedule execution, and vendor follow-up, working closely with manufacturing engineering, quality, production planning, programs, and finance.
Key responsibilities include developing and executing sourcing strategies aligned with program goals for cost, quality, delivery, and technical performance. You will manage the handoff from manufacturing engineering through RFQ, vendor evaluation, and selection, ensuring purchase orders, supplier expectations, technical data packages, quality requirements, and delivery commitments are clearly established. You'll build and maintain supplier relationships from initial RFIs through contract execution, PO management, production support, and delivery closure.
You will maintain purchase order schedules with vendors, actively track delivery commitments, and drive recovery plans when deliveries or commitments are at risk. You'll manage expected delivery dates and material readiness status to support accurate build planning and production schedules. Vendor site visits will assess supplier capability, production readiness, schedule risk, quality performance, and capacity. You'll develop vendor scorecards and conduct regular performance reviews covering delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, and risk.
Additional duties include leading supplier negotiations on cost, quality, schedule, and contractual terms; ensuring appropriate contractual flow-downs are communicated and tracked; collaborating across functions to resolve supplier issues and reduce program risk; identifying and mitigating supply chain risks including long-lead materials, capacity constraints, and single-source exposure; and identifying cost savings and cost-avoidance opportunities.
Required qualifications: 8+ years in procurement, sourcing, supplier management, supply chain management, or vendor program management. Bachelor's degree or equivalent (12+ years total work experience). Experience managing supplier delivery performance, purchase order schedules, and schedule recovery actions. Experience working cross-functionally with manufacturing engineering, quality, production planning, programs, finance, legal, and contracts teams.
