Senior Program Manager, Procurement - Strategic Initiatives

Rivian•Irvine, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rivian Purchasing & Supply Chain team is looking for a highly analytical and results-driven Senior Program Manager to drive critical strategic initiatives that shape our purchasing and commercial strategies. Reporting directly to the Director of Global Supply Management, you will pivot away from traditional part procurement to lead complex, cross-functional programs focused on financial optimization, cross-commodity data analysis, and commercial strategy enhancement. In this role, you will serve as a strategic partner to purchasing leadership and global supply managers. You will build and leverage advanced data models to conduct robust cost estimate analyses, synthesize complex supplier quotes, and construct data-backed negotiation strategies. Your work will directly impact Rivian’s bottom line, driving visibility into "should-cost" models and refining how our purchasing organization evaluates commercial opportunities. This onsite position is located onsite in Irvine, California and reports to the Director of Global Supply Management (Interiors & Exteriors).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related quantitative field required.
3+ years of technical program management, supply chain, or strategic procurement experience within the automotive industry (OEM or Tier 1 supplier).
Proven background in advanced data analytics, financial modeling, and cost structure breakdown. Demonstrated skill in turning raw commercial data into strategic negotiation insights.
Strong foundational knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier quote evaluation, RFQ/RFP structures, and commercial negotiation mechanics.
Advanced proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel/VBA, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or Python).
High efficiency in leveraging modern AI tools and data platforms (e.g., Gemini, Claude, Glean, and Databricks) to accelerate analytical workflows and cross-functional data synthesis.
Familiarity with enterprise supply chain and ERP tools (e.g., SAP) and cost estimation frameworks.
Exceptional presentation and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams, synthesize complex data into executive summaries, and collaborate directly with leadership.
Self-starter who thrives in high-ambiguity environments; capable of managing complex, unstructured strategic initiatives with limited guidance.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to travel as needed based on business demands (expected average: 10–25%).

Responsibilities

Concurrently manage high-impact, cross-functional purchasing initiatives reporting directly to the Purchasing Director. Drive execution on key strategic milestones, process improvements, and executive-level reporting across vehicle programs.
Conduct deep-dive cost estimate analyses and build analytical models to evaluate supplier quotes, cost breakdown structures (CBDs), and raw material cost drivers. Translate complex financial inputs into actionable commercial insights.
Partner with Global Supply Managers to develop data-driven negotiation strategies. Utilize should-cost outputs, market trends, and parametric cost models to identify commercial gap opportunities and equip teams for high-stakes supplier negotiations.
Standardize and optimize the RFQ data analysis process. Benchmark supplier proposals across commodities to identify pricing anomalies, cost-reduction leverage points, and total cost of ownership (TCO) impact.
Build, refine, and maintain analytical tools, dashboards, and databases to track program progress, cost-saving initiatives, and spend metrics. Identify gaps in system functionality and improve data accuracy across purchasing systems.
Act as the strategic connective tissue between Purchasing, Finance, Cost Engineering, and Vehicle Systems Engineering. Regularly present initiative statuses, commercial risk assessments, and financial trade-off proposals to executive leadership.
Monitor automotive macroeconomic trends, technology landscapes, and supply market dynamics. Proactively identify financial and commercial risks, developing analytical frameworks to mitigate cost exposure.