Purchasing Manager

Valar Atomics; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Onsite meals provided

PPE stipend

Autonomy and growth

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Purchasing Leader to build and lead a high-impact purchasing team across direct and indirect spend, aligning with manufacturing and growth. You will drive on-time, on-quality, on-cost PO placement and scale purchasing processes while partnering with Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Sourcing.

This role requires building a scalable procurement function in a regulated environment, including adherence to 10 CFR 830, and leading performance-driven initiatives

Qualifications

• 8+ years in purchasing or supply chain leadership.
• 3+ years leading a purchasing team.
• Experience with ERP/MRP environments.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, regulated setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team of Buyers and Senior Buyers, setting priorities and goals.
• Own team-wide KPIs and drive corrective action.
• Escalate and resolve supplier issues and risks.
• Develop and standardize purchasing processes and controls.
• Ensure compliance with 10 CFR 830 and audit-ready records.
• Collaborate with Sourcing, Engineering, and Quality.
• Hire and onboard purchasing talent.
• Report performance and risk mitigation to Supply Chain leadership.

Skills

Team leadership

Procurement strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or Operations

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Manufacturing organization, Supply Chain secures the materials, equipment, and supplier partnerships required to support manufacturing and business operations. The team builds resilient supply chains while ensuring quality, cost, and delivery performance.

The Role

• Build and lead a high-impact purchasing team, overseeing Buyers and Senior Buyers across direct and indirect spend categories.
• Drive on-time, on-quality, on-cost PO placement and delivery across the full purchasing organization.
• Develop and enforce purchasing policies, processes, controls and systems that scale with Valar's production ramp.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Sourcing to align purchasing execution with business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team of Buyers and Senior Buyers, setting priorities, workload, and performance goals across direct and indirect categories.
• Own team-wide KPIs and drive corrective action where needed.
• Escalate and resolve complex supplier issues, schedule risks, and cross-functional roadblocks beyond buyer | Senior buyers scopes.
• Develop, standardize, and continuously improve purchasing processes, procedures, controls andsystems across the team.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with nuclear industry regulatory requirements (10 CFR 830) and maintain accurate, audit-ready purchasing records.
• Partner with Sourcing, Engineering, and Quality to align purchasing execution with supplier strategy and program milestones.
• Hire and onboard Purchasing talents. Build the purchasing capabilities and capacities as the purchasing team scales with production.
• Report purchasing performance, risks and risks mitigation plans to Supply Chain leadership.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or Operations.
• 8+ years of experience in purchasing or supply chain, including 3+ years leading a purchasing team.
• Experience managing both direct and indirect spend categories.
• Hands-on experience in an ERP/MRP-driven environment.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment with a strong sense of urgency. Detail-oriented, results-driven, strong communicator, and team player.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Nuclear, aerospace, automotive or other highly regulated industry experience.
• Experience building or scaling a purchasing team from the ground up.
• APICS/CPIM certification.
• Start-up / fast-growth company experience a plus.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
• Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).