Purchasing Manager

Valar Atomics Inc.; Torrance, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free daily meals onsite

PPE stipend

Career growth in startup environment

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a senior leader to build and oversee a high-impact purchasing team that secures materials, equipment, and supplier partnerships for scalable production.

You will drive on-time delivery, develop robust purchasing policies, and partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Sourcing to align purchasing with business priorities.

The role includes equity, unlimited PTO, onsite meals, PPE stipend, and rapid growth in a fast-growing advanced energy company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or Operations.
• 8+ years in purchasing or supply chain with 3+ years leading a team.
• Experience managing both direct and indirect spend categories.
• Hands-on ERP/MRP experience.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment with urgency and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• 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 production ramp.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Sourcing to align purchasing execution with priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Purchasing

ERP/MRP

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP/MRP software

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).

$160,000 - $220,000 USD