Manager, Program Operations

Stealth-mode Battery Startup•San Jose, CA

22h

About The Position

We are a stealth-mode battery startup developing cutting-edge battery technology. Our mission is to revolutionize battery technology to accelerate the global transition to clean energy. By leveraging innovative materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, we are building the future of sustainable energy. Can’t find the company name? It’s not you, it’s us! We’re really excited about the potential of our technology, product, and mission, and have chosen to remain in stealth mode. If the job description piques your interest, please apply. If your skillset is aligned with what we’re looking for, the team will reach out to schedule your interview and tell you a bit more about us (e.g. who we are). Role We are seeking a Manager, Program Operations to build and lead the operational arm of our Programs & Execution organization. Program Operations partners closely with Engineering Program Management (EPM), Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure our R&D and NPI programs have the materials, planning, and execution support required to meet critical build and program milestones. The Manager, Program Operations will lead two core capabilities: Engineering Project Specialists (EPS) and Material Control. Together, these teams will connect program demand to execution through build forecasting, material planning, Clear to Build (CTB), purchasing and supplier execution, shortage management, inventory control, receiving, shipping, kitting, allocation, and material traceability. This is not a strategic sourcing role. Global Supply Management (GSM) retains ownership of supplier strategy, sourcing, commercial negotiations, and strategic supplier relationships. Program Operations partners closely with GSM while owning the tactical execution required to translate program needs into material and build readiness. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can build a new function, establish scalable operating mechanisms, and remain close enough to execution to solve problems in a fast-moving R&D and NPI environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
8+ years of experience in hardware NPI, program operations, materials management, supply execution, manufacturing operations, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience supporting dynamic engineering or NPI builds with changing BOMs, schedules, priorities, and material requirements.
Strong working knowledge of material planning, BOM management, CTB/build readiness, purchasing, supplier delivery management, inventory control, and shortage resolution.
Experience leading cross-functional execution across Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality.
Experience establishing scalable processes and operating mechanisms in a fast-moving or rapidly growing organization.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn incomplete or changing information into clear execution priorities.
Strong communication and leadership skills, including the ability to escalate risks clearly and drive accountability across organizational boundaries.
Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in batteries, automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, semiconductors, advanced materials, or other complex hardware industries.
Experience in an EPS, NPI Operations, Materials Program Management, Operations Program Management, or similar program-facing materials function.
Experience building or scaling a Program Operations, NPI materials, or material-readiness organization.
Experience leading both professional program/planning roles and hands-on Material Control functions.
Experience with ERP/MRP, PLM, purchasing, and inventory-management systems.
Experience managing material allocation across multiple concurrent programs and development builds.
Experience supporting the transition from development/NPI into sustained manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Build, lead, and scale the Program Operations function, including EPS and Material Control.
Partner with EPMs to translate program schedules, engineering requirements, and build plans into material demand, forecasts, and execution priorities.
Establish and own the company’s Clear to Build (CTB) process, providing a single view of material availability, shortages, allocations, risks, and recovery actions.
Own material planning and build forecasting across development programs, including reconciliation of changing requirements and competing material demand.
Lead tactical supply execution, including purchasing coordination, supplier commits, delivery tracking, expediting, shortage resolution, and escalation.
Establish a clear operating interface with GSM, separating program-level execution from strategic sourcing and commercial ownership.
Own Material Control, including inventory accuracy, receiving, shipping, storage, material transactions, kitting, allocation, traceability, and cycle counting.
Ensure critical materials are available, properly controlled, allocated, and staged to support engineering, prototype, validation, and NPI builds.
Identify material constraints and critical-path items early and drive mitigation and recovery plans before they impact program milestones.
Establish operating rhythms, dashboards, metrics, and reporting that provide EPMs and leadership with clear visibility into material and build readiness.
Partner across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, GSM, Finance, and Facilities to resolve cross-functional execution issues.
Define and continuously improve the systems, processes, roles, and controls required to scale Program Operations as the company grows.
Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team across both program-facing EPS roles and operational Material Control roles.
Develop effective handoffs as products mature from R&D/NPI into sustained manufacturing operations.