Director of Supply Chain
Location: San Francisco, CA (On-site / Hybrid)
Company: Anode Technology Company
About Us
Anode exists to accelerate the monumental shift away from the supersystem of extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels—toward lightweight capture and consumption from entirely renewable sources. We’re building scalable, silent, flexible, and efficient mobile energy infrastructure to power the zero-emission future. Our mobile battery energy storage systems (mBESS) represent a new category of clean, deployable power.
Position Overview
Anode is seeking its first Director of Supply Chain to establish the foundation of our sourcing, procurement, and cost-management disciplines. This is a hands-on, high-ownership individual contributor role that will evolve into a leadership position as Anode transitions from low-volume prototype builds to serialized production in 2027.
You will manage procurement activities spanning rapid prototype component sourcing to multi-million-dollar supply agreements with OEM partners. You will build and maintain the manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM), establish supplier relationships, and ensure that realized and projected costs are clear, traceable, and actionable. A critical near-term priority is developing a contract manufacturing partnership in 2026 to support Anode’s path to high-volume manufacturing. As our organization scales, you will shape sourcing strategies, supplier relationships, and manufacturing partnerships—laying the groundwork for a supply chain that can grow with the company.
Key Responsibilities
- Contract Manufacturing Partnership: Lead the evaluation, selection, and onboarding of a contract manufacturing partner in 2026 to support both low-volume prototype production and future high-volume serialized manufacturing. Define technical requirements, establish quality standards, and structure partnerships that can scale with product demand.
- Supplier Development & Management: Develop and manage a diverse supplier base spanning local fabricators, component distributors, and major OEM partners. Negotiate terms, monitor performance, and maintain trusted relationships that balance cost, quality, and delivery schedule.
- Cost Management & MBOM Ownership: Build and maintain organized, accurate manufacturing bills of materials that reflect both realized prototype costs and projected production costs. Work with engineering teams to capture design changes and ensure cost implications are visible and tracked.
- Strategic Sourcing & Risk Mitigation: Navigate evolving tariffs, supply disruptions, and regional manufacturing dynamics. Identify alternate sources, evaluate total cost of ownership, and develop long-term sourcing strategies that balance cost competitiveness with supply chain resilience.
- Procurement Execution: Own day-to-day purchasing activities across mechanical, electrical, and system components—driving competitive quotes, placing orders, and ensuring timely delivery to support rapid hardware iteration and prototype builds.
- Operational Foundation: Establish scalable supply chain processes, documentation practices, and cost-modeling frameworks that will support the transition to serialized production—creating systems and standards that can mature with the company.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to translate design requirements into sourcing strategies, manage component lead times, and resolve supply-related technical or schedule challenges.
Qualifications
Must Have:
- 7+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, or procurement roles within hardware or manufacturing environments
- Proven ability to operate both tactically and strategically—comfortable managing immediate procurement needs while building long-term sourcing plans
- Demonstrated success managing complex supplier bases across varied component categories and price points
- Experience with cost tracking, BOM maintenance, and supplier negotiations for electromechanical systems
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials; comfortable engaging directly with engineers to clarify requirements
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills in fast-paced, early-stage environments
Preferred:
- Experience evaluating, selecting, and onboarding contract manufacturers for electromechanical or energy systems
- Background in energy storage, electric vehicles, heavy equipment, or other electrified hardware systems
- Experience scaling manufacturing operations from prototype to low-volume and high-volume production
- Understanding of contract manufacturing models, quality systems (ISO, AS9100, etc.), and supplier qualification processes
- Familiarity with tariff impacts, regional sourcing strategies, and cost-reduction methodologies
- Experience with ERP or PLM systems for BOM and procurement management
Why This Role Matters
As Anode's first supply chain hire, you will define how we source, procure, and cost-manage the components that power our mobile energy systems. Your work will enable engineering and manufacturing teams to move quickly and confidently—turning design intent into reliable, cost-effective hardware. This is a foundational role that will directly shape our operational capabilities and our ability to scale from prototype to production.
