Senior Global Supply Manager II

The role

The Senior Global Supply Manager II ensures supplier performance and material readiness for Rocket Lab Robotics programs. You will lead supplier relationships, manage procurement execution, and maintain purchase order schedules to support build planning.

What you will do

• Develop and execute sourcing and supplier management strategies.
• Manage the handoff from manufacturing engineering after RFQ and vendor selection.
• Build and maintain supplier relationships from RFI/RFQ through delivery closure.
• Maintain purchase order schedules and track delivery commitments.
• Manage and update expected delivery dates and material readiness status.
• Conduct vendor site visits to assess capability and production readiness.
• Develop and maintain vendor scoring and supplier scorecards.
• Lead supplier negotiations on cost, quality, schedule, and contractual terms.
• Ensure appropriate contractual flow-downs are communicated and tracked.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve supplier issues and mitigate risks.

Required qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, supplier management, supply chain management, or vendor program management.
• Bachelor's degree or 12+ years of total work experience.
• Experience managing supplier delivery performance, purchase order schedules, and schedule recovery.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including manufacturing engineering, quality, and finance.
• Ability to communicate clearly with vendors and escalate risks.
• Experience reviewing technical data packages, drawings, specifications, or contractual flow-downs.
• Ability to travel to supplier sites and work in vendor production environments.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice to have

• Experience in aerospace, robotics, defense, automotive, medical device, semiconductor equipment, or other high-reliability manufacturing industries.
• Experience conducting supplier site visits, vendor assessments, or supplier audits.
• Experience developing supplier scorecards and performance metrics.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of material.
• Experience with AS9100, export controls, and quality clauses.
• Experience in a rapid-growth environment with prototype-to-production transitions.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly self-motivated.
• APICS, CPSM, or similar supply chain, procurement, or operations certification.

Benefits

• Company stock
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount)
• Medical plans (HMO, PPO, and zero cost HDHP)
• HSA company contribution
• Dental and vision coverage
• Paid vacation and sick time
• 11 paid holidays
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• Paid parental leave
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merch, and other employee discounts

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted refugee/asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State/Commerce.

About the company

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The Supply Chain team manages the flow of all materials, products, and components to support rocket and satellite programs.