Senior Manager, Sourcing

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Senior Manager, Sourcing, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Quality and Supply Chain, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and manage the Vast Global Sourcing team.
• Develop global commodity and category sourcing strategies that deliver superior quality, cost, and delivery performance, responsible for the strategy, supplier selection and performance management of the commodities and categories.
• Collaborate closely with Vast’s Leadership, Manufacturing, Engineering and Functional teams to define and drive execution of Vast’s sourcing strategies
• Effectively work cross functionally and across multiple geographies with key suppliers to deliver superior quality, cost, delivery and technical solutions to meet Vast requirements
• Ensure Vast is working with best-in-class suppliers and mitigating risks by rigorously analyzing component and manufacturing costs, performing risk analyses, forecasting industry trends, and leveraging your own expertise in commodity/category markets and production processes
• Develop and deploy strategic vertical integration strategies including development of dual/multi sources of supply to ensure continuity of supply.
• Negotiate and deliver favorable commercial terms that optimize costs, lead times, and risk to Vast by managing the end-to-end sourcing process from supplier development through qualification, negotiation, and contracting and final product delivery.
• Secure best-in-class pricing through detailed price analysis and negotiations, continual cost reductions, cost avoidance, and logistics optimization
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Business discipline
• Solid understanding of commercial terms, contract structures, and IP concepts
• Fact-based, detail-oriented, data-driven decision making along with strong analytical skills; ability to thrive in the face of ambiguity and make decisions based on partial information
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; an optimistic, high-energy “people person” with a strong desire to build collaborative relationships and make things happen
• Deep category/commodity experience including strategic sourcing, market/pricing mechanics, and manufacturing processes in a fast-paced, highly fluid environment;
  
  
  

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience within an aerospace industry
• Ability to work both independently and collaborate cross-functionally on multiple tasks and projects; a team-player
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction.
• Fact-based, detail-oriented, data-driven decision making along with strong analytical skills; ability to thrive in the face of ambiguity and make decisions based on partial information
  
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
  
  
  

Salary Range: California

$130,000—$190,000 USD

Compensation And Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R.

• 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
  
  
  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.