Senior Supply Chain Manager

Nscale•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Senior Supply Chain Manager – Long-Lead Equipment is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the end-to-end supply chain strategy for complex, long-lead materials and capital equipment. This role ensures continuity of supply for critical items with extended lead times by driving rigorous forecasting, supplier collaboration, risk management, and cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Project Management, Finance, and Operations. You will be the primary owner of long-lead equipment strategy, from early project scoping through delivery, installation, and commissioning.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field.
Experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations, with significant responsibility for long-lead materials or capital equipment.
Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with tight deadlines and high business impact.
Strong experience with ERP/MRP systems and advanced planning tools.
Excellent negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate it into clear actions and recommendations.
Effective communicator, able to influence at multiple levels and work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in [industry: e.g., manufacturing, energy, construction, data centers, semiconductors, etc.] with complex capital projects.
Background managing global supplier bases and international logistics.
Experience implementing or improving long-lead planning processes and tools at scale.

Responsibilities

Develop and own the long-lead equipment strategy across assigned programs, including make-vs-buy, sourcing, and inventory strategies.
Partner with Project Management and Engineering to translate project timelines and specifications into material demand plans and procurement milestones.
Build multi-year plans for long-lead components and equipment, aligning with business growth, capacity expansion, and cost targets.
Create and maintain detailed forecasts for long-lead items, incorporating project schedules, engineering changes, and historical consumption.
Run scenario and sensitivity analyses to understand the impact of delays, scope changes, and schedule shifts.
Collaborate with Finance to align spend forecasts and cash-flow impacts for major equipment purchases.
Identify, qualify, and manage strategic suppliers for long-lead equipment, including OEMs and key component manufacturers.
Lead sourcing events (RFI/RFQ/RFP), contract negotiations, and frame agreements that secure capacity, pricing, and lead-time commitments.
Develop supplier scorecards and conduct regular business reviews to drive performance, reliability, and continuous improvement.
Own the full purchase-to-delivery lifecycle for long-lead equipment, ensuring on-time delivery to project sites or facilities.
Coordinate closely with Logistics, Site Operations, and Installation teams on shipping plans, customs requirements, staging, and sequencing.
Monitor and proactively manage purchase orders, exceptions, and changes, resolving issues before they impact project timelines.
Identify supply, schedule, quality, and capacity risks for long-lead items and develop mitigation plans, including alternate sources, safety stock, and dual-sourcing strategies.
Maintain and regularly update a risk register for critical equipment and components.
Escalate and resolve critical issues with suppliers and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and decision-making.
Define and refine processes, tools, and KPIs for managing long-lead equipment across the organization.
Partner with IT / Systems teams to improve ERP/MRP, procurement, and tracking workflows for long-lead items.
Drive standardization of BOM structures, lead-time assumptions, and planning parameters to improve data quality and planning accuracy.
Act as the primary point of contact for long-lead equipment topics for Project Management, Engineering, Construction, and Operations.
Lead cross-functional reviews to align on equipment priorities, trade-offs, and decisions.
Mentor and support more junior supply chain and procurement team members.