Director, Supply Chain Operations

Arc Boat Company•Torrance, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Every idea starts with a problem. Ours was simple: Boats are special — but they’re loud, pollutant, unreliable, and stuck in the past. Gas-powered boats dominate not because they’re great, but because no better option has existed. Until now. Arc is here to change that. We’re building 100% electric boats from the ground up — quicker, quieter, easier to maintain, and better for the water they ride on. We’re not just swapping gas for batteries. We’re rethinking every detail on the boat — from propulsion and powertrain to software and ownership model — applying first-principles engineering from aerospace and EVs to deliver a better boating experience. Electric boats haven’t taken over yet. The tech hasn’t been ready. The talent hasn’t been focused here. That’s our opportunity — and we’re moving fast. We’re looking for a Director of Supply Chain who is fired up by our mission and ready to build the function end-to-end at a fast-scaling hardware startup. This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll operate as both a strategic leader and a day-to-day operator — personally driving critical supplier decisions, building scalable systems, and developing a high-performing, lean team. You will be charged with ensuring Arc’s supply chain scales reliably as we ramp production across recreational (Sport, Coast) and commercial product lines. This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters. You’ll report to our Head of Operations and work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Finance as a key member of the Operations leadership team. You should be comfortable going deep — negotiating key contracts, resolving supply issues in real time, and building processes from first principles — while also stepping back to design the system that enables the company to scale. You’ll thrive here if you move quickly, take ownership without waiting for direction, and hold a high bar for both yourself and your team.

Requirements

8+ years of supply chain experience spanning procurement, planning, and/or logistics, with at least 4 years in a leadership role
Experience sourcing and managing suppliers of complex electromechanical components (e.g., motors, power electronics, battery modules, or similar)
Background in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments — startup or scale-up experience strongly preferred with a track record of building or significantly improving supply chain systems, processes, or teams
Demonstrated ability to lead supplier contract negotiations, including terms, pricing, and SLAs
Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and supply chain data management; comfort using data to drive decisions
Proven ability to independently build and manage supply chain financial models, including inventory forecasting, purchase commitments, tariff exposure, and cash flow; able to provide clear, forward-looking visibility to leadership
Strong ownership mindset — bias for action, accountability for outcomes, and willingness to go deep when needed

Nice To Haves

Experience in the marine, EV, or adjacent high-performance hardware industries
Familiarity with global inbound logistics and customs/import compliance
Experience scaling a supply chain function through a production ramp
Enthusiasm for boating and the water

Responsibilities

Source and qualify suppliers across EV components and marine materials to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets
Lead supplier negotiations (pricing, terms, agreements) and manage ongoing performance (scorecards, reviews)
Build a resilient supply base (dual sourcing, lead time reduction, risk mitigation)
Drive make vs. buy decisions and align supply chain to product roadmaps across the business
Translating strategy into an operating model (roles, cadences, decision rights)
Partnering with Engineering, Production and Finance to align assumptions and resolve cross-functional issues.
Own demand translation into procurement and inventory strategy, balancing lead times, MOQs, and working capital
Define and maintain inventory levels and warehouse operations (layout, systems, cycle counts)
Manage inbound logistics, carrier relationships, and freight cost/reliability
Own supply chain performance (OTD, inventory turns, forecast accuracy, supplier quality) and build the systems to support it
Ensure data integrity and reporting across ERP/MRP systems
Lead supply chain readiness for new products (sourcing, prototypes, risk assessment)
Lead the development and execution of supply chain risk mitigation strategies, including supplier diversification, business continuity planning, and real-time disruption monitoring, to ensure supply resilience and maintain on-time delivery performance across a complex product portfolio.
Build and lead a lean, high-performing team across procurement, planning, logistics, and warehouse
Hire and develop talent with a high bar for ownership and output
Establish clear structure and operating cadence as the team scales
Operate as a player-coach, going deep when needed while building team capability