Global Supply Manager - Special Projects
Divergent
Job Description
Global Supply Manager - Special Projects Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer-specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector.
Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production. Purpose The Global Supply Manager â Special Projects will be responsible for managing global supplier relationships, executing sourcing initiatives, and ensuring the supply of missionâcritical components for special projects and programs. This role requires deep collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, and Finance to support an aggressive product development and production ramp roadmap.
The GSM operates with considerable independent judgment, executing sourcing and supplier strategies aligned to departmental objectives, while ensuring that commercial decisions support engineering performance, total cost of ownership, and program timing. This individual will play a critical role in building a scalable procurement function that supports the companyâs rapid growth and global expansion. The successful candidate will be both a strategic thought partner to functional leaders and a handsâon operator capable of driving sourcing initiatives, optimizing spend, and developing supplier partnerships that align with Divergentâs longâterm objectives. 1.
Strategic Sourcing & Commodity Ownership Develop sourcing strategies for assigned categories, including: â Components: Gas fluid handling and pneumatics, electrical and mechanical assemblies, motors, bearings, valves, COTS, etc. â Material processing: machining, grinding, coatings, nonâdestructive testing (Visual, Ultrasonic, Radiographic), etc. â Indirect: facility equipment, services, consumables, MRO Analyze global supply markets to identify capable suppliers for performance, cost, scalability, and risk. Lead supplier selection process from RFx through sourcing award, including shouldâcost analysis, total landed cost modeling, and commercial/technical tradeoff recommendations. Define and improve sourcing SOPs for assigned categories in partnership with Purchasing leadership.
May support development of multiâyear commodity strategy and supplier roadmap for assigned categories (S5). Serve as category subject matter expert, advising crossâfunctional partners on supply market dynamics and risk exposure (S5). 2. Program Support & NPI Procurement Act as the sourcing lead for internal product development, supporting program platform milestones (concept through SOP).
Translate project BOMs and schedules into actionable procurement plans across prototype, pilot, and production phases. Support engineering in managing design iterations with suppliers and ensuring manufacturability and scalability. Track and manage part readiness for critical build events.
Independently identify supply risks and implement mitigation plans to protect program timing. Lead complex crossâfunctional readiness reviews for highâvisibility build events (S5). 3. Supplier Management & Technical Collaboration Serve as the primary commercial interface for global suppliers; ensure accountability across pricing, lead time, quality, and risk.
Drive supplier development and qualification processes in collaboration with Quality and Engineering teams. Work with suppliers on value engineering, lead time optimization, capacity ramp, and risk mitigation. Manage longâlead items, soleâsource suppliers, and supplier tooling with high rigor.
Lead structured supplier performance reviews and corrective action followâup. Influence executiveâlevel supplier discussions related to capacity, longâterm agreements, or strategic partnerships (S5). 4. Cost Management & Negotiation Build and maintain cost models for key components based on process knowledge, materials, labor, and margin benchmarks.
Conduct cost reduction initiatives, VA/VE sessions, and alternate source qualification efforts. Lead negotiations on pricing, payment terms, tooling amortization, and IP protection. Track actual vs. forecasted material costs; report on sourcing variances and mitigation plans.
Lead complex negotiations involving longâterm agreements or capacity reservations with limited oversight (S5). Provide strategic cost modeling insights to support productâlevel or commodityâlevel margin improvement initiatives (S5). 5. CrossâFunctional Integration Partner with: â Hardware & Product Engineering: Support designâforâsupply, technical feasibility reviews, and change management. â Manufacturing & Integration: Align sourcing with line build sequencing and materials flow. â Hardware Program Managers: Communicate part status against schedule, mitigate delivery risk. â Finance: Ensure procurement budgets and capital forecasts are aligned and reconciled. â Legal: Support supplier contract development, including MSAs, NDAs, and licensing/IP terms.
Act as a resource to peers and junior team members on sourcing best practices. May inform crossâfunctional sourcing strategy discussions at the product or platform level (S5). Basic Qualifications Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls.
Bachelorâs degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical field; advanced technical degree or MBA is a plus. 4+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management in highâtech hardware environments (capital equipment, automotive, aerospace, robotics, additive manufacturing). Demonstrated experience managing technically complex, highâvalue component categories (e.g., motion systems, optics, sensors, highâprecision mechanicals). Proven success managing suppliers through NPI, rapid development, and lowâtoâmid volume production.
Strong contract negotiation skills and experience with longâlead procurement strategies, tooling agreements, and commercial risk mitigation. ERP and PLM fluency (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Arena, Windchill). Data fluencyâable to synthesize and report supply KPIs, BOM cost trends, and supplier performance metrics.
Demonstrated ability to operate with significant autonomy and influence decisions within and between teams (S5). Preferred Qualifications Experience sourcing in highly regulated environments (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949). Familiarity with additive manufacturing, aerospace product development, industrial automation, or digital fabrication.
Technical ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, BOMs, and material/process specs. International sourcing experience and crossâborder logistics exposure. Recognized internally as an advanced individual contributor or category expert within a defined technical domain (S5).
This position is based onsite in our Torrance, CA office. Compensation At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels S04 â S06 as evaluated through our interview process.
S04/GSM: $94,610 â $130,090 S05/Sr. GSM: $109,240 â $150,210 S06/Lead GSM: $126,160 â $173,470 Benefits Holistic Compensation Package: Competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary resultsâbased incentive bonus opportunities. Wellness and Time Off: Paid vacation, sick time, company holidays, and a yearâend shutdown.
Paid parental leave to support growing families. Comprehensive Health and Wellness: HMO and Premium PPO options, companyâsponsored life insurance, shortâ and longâterm disability coverage. Investment in Growth: Reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives.
Collaborative and HighâPerforming Environment: Innovative team within a fastâpaced, missionâdriven company. Equal Employment Opportunity Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic.
Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veteransâ Readjustment Assistance Act. E-Verify Our company participates in EâVerify. EâVerify is a program that electronically confirms a candidateâs eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form Iâ9).
Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO) Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please. #J-18808-Ljbffr