Head of Supply Chain & Global Operations

Sauron

$225K — $250K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8-15+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or operations in consumer electronics
  • Deep experience with top-tier contract manufacturers
  • Proven track record of scaling hardware products from NPI to volume production
  • Strong negotiation skills with suppliers and manufacturing partners
  • Experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments

Responsibilities

  • Identify and onboard contract manufacturers across multiple regions
  • Build and maintain executive relationships with contract manufacturer partners
  • Negotiate contracts, pricing, and long-term agreements
  • Design and implement the supply chain strategy from sourcing to fulfillment
  • Partner with engineering to transition from prototype to mass production
  • Source and qualify critical component suppliers
  • Own cost targets and drive continuous cost reduction efforts

Benefits

  • Equity offerings
  • Focus on diversity and inclusivity in the workforce
  • Opportunity to build a supply chain function from the ground up
  • Potential for leadership roles in the future
  • Engagement with cutting-edge technology in robotics and AI hardware
Full Job Description
The Role

We're hiring a Head of Supply Chain & Global Operations to own and build our entire supply chain function, with a primary focus on developing and managing deep relationships with contract manufacturers (CMs), suppliers, and strategic partners.

This is a zero-to-one leadership role. You will define how we source, build, and scale physical products-balancing speed, cost, quality, and resilience. This role reports directly to the CEO.

What You'll Do

Contract Manufacturer Strategy & Relationships

  • Identify, evaluate, and onboard contract manufacturers across regions (U.S., Mexico, Asia, etc.)
  • Build and maintain executive-level relationships with CM partners
  • Negotiate MSAs, pricing, capacity allocation, and long-term agreements
  • Act as the primary point of accountability for CM performance (quality, delivery, cost)


Supply Chain Architecture

  • Design and implement end-to-end supply chain strategy (sourcing  production  fulfillment)
  • Develop multi-sourcing strategies to reduce risk and increase flexibility
  • Build systems for demand planning, forecasting, and inventory management


Scaling Production

  • Partner with engineering and operations to transition from prototype to mass production
  • Drive DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFX improvements with suppliers
  • Ensure rapid iteration cycles while maintaining production stability


Supplier Network Development

  • Source and qualify critical component suppliers
  • Build strategic supplier partnerships for key technologies and components
  • Monitor supplier health, geopolitical risk, and long-term viability


Cost & Performance Optimization

  • Own COGS cost targets and continuous cost reduction efforts
  • Implement KPIs and dashboards for supply chain performance
  • Drive operational excellence across vendors and internal teams


Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Work closely with hardware, firmware, and product teams
  • Partner with finance on budgeting, forecasting, and unit economics
  • Build and lead the supply chain team over time


What We're Looking For

  • 8-15+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or operations within the consumer electronics space (with a mix of operational scale and early stage startup experience)
  • Deep experience working with top tier contract manufacturers
  • Proven track record scaling hardware products from NPI to volume production
  • Strong negotiation experience with suppliers and manufacturing partners
  • Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments (startup or high-growth business unit)


You likely have:

  • Built or significantly scaled a supply chain function from scratch
  • Managed global supplier networks and manufacturing footprints
  • Strong intuition for balancing speed vs. cost vs. quality
  • Comfort operating with ambiguity and high ownership


Bonus Points

  • Experience with robotics and camera systems, AI hardware, or complex electromechanical systems
  • Background in both domestic and international manufacturing ecosystems
  • Experience navigating tariffs, trade regulations, and geopolitical constraints
  • Prior experience hiring and leading high-performing supply chain teams


What Success Looks Like

  • Reliable, scalable manufacturing pipeline with strong CM partnerships
  • Clear visibility into cost, timelines, and risks across the supply chain
  • Ability to rapidly iterate hardware without breaking production
  • Supply chain becomes a strategic advantage, not a bottleneck


Compensation: $225-250k base + equity + benefits

We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you're excited about this role, but do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed above, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $225,000 - $250,000 per year.

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