Strategic Sourcing, Director

Blackwing; Torrance, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Equity ownership

Medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Free daily meals onsite

PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Career growth

Collaboration with operators

Ground-up energy tech

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Sourcing Leader to build and guide a lean, high-impact sourcing team. This role will set supplier strategy across the supply chain, drive TCO reduction, and establish strategic partnerships with key suppliers.

You will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to improve policies, processes, and scalability. Ideal candidates have 15+ years in strategic sourcing or supply chain management, 5 years in people leadership, and a proven track record of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply chain, Operations or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing or Supply chain Management.
• 5 years in People Leadership roles, managing Sourcing/Procurement teams.
• Proven track record negotiating large, complex, high-value contracts in safety-critical industries.
• Experience across multiple commodities (Raw material, Direct Materials, Indirect, Services).
• Experience operating in fast growth and highly regulated environments.
• Experience building or scaling a Strategic Sourcing team from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Own cross-functional supplier selection and lead negotiations for critical components and services.
• Design and drive sourcing policies and procedures maximizing efficiency and scalability.
• Implement and deploy cost modeling to identify and prioritize high-impact sourcing opportunities.
• Present sourcing strategy and results to executive leadership.
• Build and maintain deep partnerships with best-in-class suppliers.
• Track industry and market trends, integrating new data into sourcing strategy.
• Proactively identify, monitor and mitigate supply base risks.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

People Leadership

Negotiation

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply chain/Operations or related field

Job description

About Valar Atomics

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 leada lean, high-impact sourcing team, setting supplier strategy across the supply chain.
• DriveTotal Cost of Ownershipreduction andoptimumvalue creation through market analysis,should-costmodeling,RFx processes, and negotiations.
• Develop and enforcestrategic partnerships andsuppliersagreements that protect functional relationships and ensure compliance.
• Partners cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders into improvepolicies and processes for efficiencyand scalability.

Key Responsibilities

• Owncross-functionalsupplierselectionandleadnegotiationsfor critical components and services.
• Design and drivesourcingpolicies and procedures that maximize efficiencyand scalability.
• Implement and deploycost modeling toidentifyand prioritize high-impact sourcing opportunities.
• Present sourcing strategy and results to executive leadership.
• Build andmaintaindeep partnerships with best-in-class suppliers.
• Track industry and market trends, integrating new data intosourcingstrategy.
• Proactivelyidentify,monitorand mitigatesupply baserisks.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply chain, Operations or related field.
• 15+ years of experience inStrategic SourcingorSupply chainManagement
• 5 years in People Leadership roles, managing Sourcing | Procurement teams
• Proventrack recordnegotiating large, complex, high value contracts in safety critical industries.
• Experience across multiple commodities categories (Raw material,Direct Materials, Indirect, Services)
• Experienceoperatingin fast growthand highly regulated environment.
• Experience building or scaling a Strategic Sourcing teamfunctionfrom the ground up.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• MBA orMaster's degree inSupply chain, Operationsor related field.
• Nuclear industry experience
• Strong negotiation and business acumen (Contract, pricing structures, Total Cost of Ownership, should cost modeling)
• Strong cross-functional leadership
• Start-up | Fast growth company experiencea plus.
• CPIM, CPSM certificationa plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Comprehensive medical benefits
• 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).

Salary

$225,000—$275,000 USD