Global Supply Manager - Mechanicals

About the role

Redwood Materials is seeking a Global Supply Manager to oversee supplier sourcing and maintain supplier relationships while supporting product development and manufacturing processes. This role is critical for implementing the mechanical components roadmap within the San Francisco, California, United States facility. The position requires close collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams to manage injection molded plastics, stamped parts, fasteners, connectors, and harnesses. The Global Supply Manager will own strategic supply chain decisions for mechanical components, ensuring alignment with product timelines, cost targets, and quality standards. This involves end-to-end responsibility for supplier engagement, from initial RFx activities through long-term partnership management. The role demands a balance of strategic planning and operational rigor to drive efficiency and reliability. Success in this position requires acting as a central liaison between procurement, engineering, and manufacturing to navigate complex supply chain challenges. The manager must proactively identify risks and implement mitigation plans across the mechanical component supply base while supporting the broader goals of the organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage the entire RFx process, including defining requirements, issuing RFQs, assessing supplier responses, and facilitating the selection process for mechanical components.
• Develop and sustain should-cost models for mechanical components such as plastics, stampings, fasteners, connectors, and harnessing to support negotiation and cost validation.
• Negotiate pricing, tooling, payment terms, and master agreements with suppliers to ensure alignment with cost targets and operational needs.
• Cultivate and manage commercial relationships with key suppliers, monitoring their performance against KPIs and addressing any escalations promptly.
• Ensure supplier readiness throughout new product introduction, production scaling, and ongoing manufacturing, with a focus on cost, capacity planning, and lead time management.
• Provide clear recommendations and updates to engineering and executive teams to support decision-making and trade-off analysis.
• Analyze spend data and market trends to identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier diversification, and risk mitigation.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to streamline mechanical component specifications and reduce complexity without compromising functionality.
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments to validate quality systems, production capabilities, and compliance with internal standards.
• Collaborate with logistics partners to optimize freight and inventory strategies for mechanical components, ensuring cost-effective and reliable supply chain operations.

Requirements

• Experience in sourcing mechanical components, particularly with injection molding, stamping, harness assembly, and off-the-shelf components like fasteners, to ensure effective supplier evaluation and selection.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing cost factors for custom components and tooling, including material, labor, and overhead considerations.
• 1 to 3 years of relevant sourcing experience in a similar capacity, demonstrating an ability to manage supplier relationships and execute procurement strategies.
• Proficient in Excel and other spreadsheet tools to analyze data, build models, and create reports that support sourcing decisions.
• Strong project management capabilities to coordinate multiple initiatives, meet deadlines, and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact effectively with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Adaptable mindset and approach to work, enabling responsiveness to changing priorities, market conditions, and production requirements.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, averaging 25% travel, to support supplier visits, audits, and stakeholder meetings.

Nice to have

• Experience in custom part development to support product innovation and supplier collaboration on new designs.
• Proven ability to apply first principles thinking in supplier negotiations to drive cost optimization and value creation.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Excel and other spreadsheet software for data analysis, modeling, and reporting.
• Strong project management skills to plan, execute, and track sourcing activities and supplier performance.
• Effective communication abilities, both written and verbal, to convey requirements, negotiate terms, and present recommendations.

Practical notes

This role requires flexibility for travel, with an average of 25% expected to support supplier engagement and operational needs. Redwood Materials is committed to building an inclusive team and is open to candidates requiring visa sponsorship. The position offers competitive benefits as part of a comprehensive compensation package.