Manager, Direct Materials

Aspen Aerogels, Inc.; Northborough (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. seeks a strategic Direct Materials Manager to lead category management for manufacturing in the US and Mexico, focusing on cost-out, supply continuity, and supplier performance.

You will develop category strategies, own supplier negotiations, and drive risk mitigation across global sourcing teams. The role requires leadership of a high-performing team, collaboration with planning, operations, engineering, quality and finance, and accountability for direct materials results

Responsibilities

• Lead direct materials category management for the US and Mexico, co-develop 3–5 year category strategies and execute annual plans.
• Own category plans, negotiations and supplier relationships for key materials (batting, silanes, wet/dry chemicals, industrial gases).
• Manage supplier relationships regionally and with Asia for supplier development and audits.
• Secure supply for critical materials via long-term contracts and dual sourcing to mitigate single-source risk.
• Develop and maintain a supplier risk register covering capacity, financial, geopolitical and origin risks.

Skills

People leadership

Strategic sourcing

Supply risk management

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Description

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions. The Company's aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e-mobility, and clean energy. Aspen's PyroThin products enable solutions to thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle ("EV") market. The Company's Cryogel and Pyrogel products are valued by the world's largest energy infrastructure companies. Aspen's strategy is to partner with world-class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform into additional high-value markets. Aspen is headquartered in Northborough, Mass.

What we value-

At Aspen, our values reflect who we are and how we work both with each other and our customers, suppliers, and communities. They shape our interactions, guide our decisions, and inspire us to bring our best. Whether collaborating internally or externally, our values drive us to make a meaningful impact within Aspen and in all our relationships.

Aspen's CORE Values

We Do the Right Thing

We are Problem Solvers

We are Allies

We Drive Forward

What you will do-

We are seeking a strategic, hands‑on Direct Materials Manager to lead direct materials category management for manufacturing operations in the United States and Mexico, working with a global supply base.

This role owns supply security, cost and supplier performance for the direct materials portfolio. The Direct Materials Manager is a player‑coach: personally leading critical categories (batting, silanes, wet and dry chemicals, and industrial gases) while leading and developing a team of Global Category Leaders. The successful candidate will co‑develop and execute multi‑year category strategies and deliver the annual direct materials cost‑out plan, supplier risk mitigation and capacity commitments, ensuring continuity of supply for automotive and industrial customer programs.

This is a people leadership role that also includes category management of critical top spend categories. The Direct Materials Manager is accountable for direct materials results (cost‑out delivery, supply continuity and supplier performance), makes decisions within delegated authority and escalates only on defined thresholds.

How will you do it-

• Lead direct materials category management for the US and Mexico: co‑develop the 3-5 year category strategies with the Director of Global Sourcing and own their execution through category priorities and annual plans.
• Personally own category plans, commercial negotiations and supplier relationships for batting, silanes, wet and dry chemicals, and industrial gases.
• Own suppliers commercially for direct materials categories regardless of supplier location (contracts, pricing, performance and cost‑out), partnering with the Global Sourcing Leader, Asia on supplier identification, development, audits and on‑the‑ground follow‑up for Asia‑based suppliers.
• Secure supply for critical and capacity‑constrained materials: lock annual volume commitments, negotiate long‑term agreements, and qualify additional sources to reduce single‑source exposure.
• Build and maintain a supplier risk register covering capacity, financial, geopolitical and country‑of‑origin risks, including customer sourcing restrictions that apply across all supply tiers; develop and execute mitigation plans.
• Own delivery of the direct materials cost‑out portfolio and build the pipeline of new opportunities: set project plans and milestones, coordinate cross‑functional actions and secure Finance validation of savings achieved through negotiation, dual sourcing, material substitution, should‑cost analysis and value engineering.
• Lead supplier performance management for the direct materials supply base, including scorecards, corrective actions and quarterly business reviews, with the Director of Global Sourcing joining reviews with strategic suppliers.
• Lead supplier changes and new source qualification with Engineering, Quality and Program Management, including APQP/PPAP and customer notification requirements.
• Own the direct materials market and risk outlook: consolidate commodity, capacity and pricing intelligence from the Category Leaders and the Global Sourcing Leader, Asia, and turn it into early sourcing actions.
• Make sourcing, supplier selection and commercial decisions within delegated authority and resolve escalations at the right level; elevate to the Director of Global Sourcing only on defined thresholds such as production interruption risk, material financial exposure or customer program impact.
• Own the content, actions and follow‑through of the weekly direct materials operating review, covering cost‑out progress, supply risks and open escalations.
• Partner with material planning teams to ensure a clean hand‑off between strategic sourcing and day‑to‑day execution, including purchase orders and deliveries.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Planning, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Program Management and Finance to align sourcing plans with demand, product launches and cost targets, including through the monthly cross‑functional cost‑out review.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises Global Category Leaders - Direct Materials.
• Sets objectives and priorities, coaches and develops the team by making individual development plans, and conducts performance reviews.
• Builds primary and backup coverage for every critical category and participates in hiring and onboarding for the team.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Direct materials cost‑out delivered vs. plan
• Supplier on‑time delivery to need date
• Supply continuity: no production interruptions caused by direct materials supply
• Inventory vs. target (shared with Planning)
• Share of critical spend dual‑sourced
• Spend under agreement (% of spend covered by a supply or pricing agreement)
• Supplier quality PPM (shared with Supplier Quality)
• Escalations requiring leadership involvement

Skillsets & Character Traits:

• People Leadership & Coaching: Builds accountable, high‑performing teams; delegates clearly and develops talent.
• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: Expertise in category strategy, long‑term agreements, index‑based pricing and complex supplier negotiations.
• Supply Risk Management: Anticipates capacity and market shifts and acts before they become shortages.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making: Uses spend, cost‑driver and market data to set priorities and make sound decisions.
• Cross‑