Head of Supply Chain Management

ABOUT SKIP:Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement. Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for over 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building a product that will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead. We are a passionate team of engineers, designers, and innovators and are looking for foundational team members to help bring our vision to life.LOCATION:San Francisco Bay Area with significant international travel required (primarily Asia).ABOUT THE ROLE:This is a unique opportunity to be the foundational Supply Chain leader at Skip. As the first dedicated supply chain hire, you will build our entire supply chain function from the ground up. You will be responsible for developing the strategy, processes, and partnerships necessary to source components, manufacture, and deliver MO/GO to customers. This is a highly strategic and hands-on role requiring close collaboration with Engineering, Product, and Finance teams to ensure we can scale efficiently while meeting cost, quality, and delivery targets.Key Responsibilities:Supply Chain Strategy & Process Development:Design, implement, document, and own the end-to-end supply chain strategy, processes, and systems (including procurement, planning, logistics, inventory management, and supplier quality) from the ground up, ensuring scalability for future growth. Supplier Sourcing & Management (Asia Focus):Identify, evaluate, qualify, onboard, and strategically manage key suppliers and contract manufacturers (CMs), primarily located in Asia, for complex electromechanical components and assemblies (such as PCBA, battery packs, custom plastics, machined metal parts, sensors, motors). Build and maintain strong, collaborative, long-term partnerships focused on mutual success. Procurement & Cost Management:Lead all procurement activities from sourcing and RFQ through purchase order placement and supplier payment. Negotiate favorable contracts, pricing, payment terms, and lead times. Develop should-cost models and drive continuous cost reduction initiatives across the supply base. Manufacturing & Quality Oversight:Partner closely with Asian CMs to manage production planning, capacity alignment, and execution. Ensure adherence to stringent quality standards by implementing and overseeing QC processes, monitoring yields, analyzing defect data, and driving timely corrective and preventive actions. Planning & Inventory Control:Develop and manage light weight demand forecasting models, supply planning processes, and Material Requirements Planning (MRP). Implement effective inventory management strategies (e.g., safety stock, Kanban) to optimize stock levels across global nodes, minimize Excess & Obsolete (E&O) inventory risk, and ensure consistent material availability for production. Logistics & Compliance:Manage all aspects of international logistics, including selecting and managing freight forwarders, ensuring customs clearance, and maintaining import/export compliance for shipments originating from Asia to global distribution points or warehouses. Continuously optimize logistics costs, lead times, and reliability. NPI & Engineering Collaboration:Serve as the primary supply chain interface for New Product Introduction (NPI). Work intimately with Engineering and Product teams from the earliest design stages, providing critical input on Design for Manufacturability (DFM), component selection (considering cost, availability, and reliability), cost analysis, and overall manufacturing readiness. Systems & Reporting:Play a key role in the selection, implementation, and ongoing management of supply chain information systems (specifically ERP/MRP). Define, track, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to cost, delivery, quality, and inventory, providing regular performance updates and actionable analysis to the leadership team. Team Building (Future):Initially operate as a hands-on individual contributor, while simultaneously laying the groundwork and defining the structure needed to scale the supply chain team effectively as the company grows.Qualifications:Experience:10+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in end-to-end supply chain management, with a demonstrable track record working with complex electromechanical or hardware products(e.g., consumer electronics, robotics, medical devices, IoT hardware). Asia Manufacturing Expertise:Proven, deep experience sourcing, qualifying, negotiating with, and managing the performance of suppliers and contract manufacturers based in Asia. Must understand the nuances of operating in this region. Startup/Growth Stage Experience:Demonstrated success building supply chain processes, systems, and functions from the ground up within a fast-paced, ambiguous, and resource-constrained startup environment. Experience scaling operations through rapid growth phases is essential. Technical Acumen:Solid understanding of manufacturing processes common in electromechanical products, such as Surface Mount Technology (SMT), injection molding, CNC machining, die-casting, final assembly, and testing protocols. Ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications.. Systems Proficiency:Deep familiarity and hands-on experience with light weight PLM systemsis required; direct experience implementing systems as well as advanced proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets for data analysis, modeling, and planning is mandatory. Core Skills:Exceptional negotiation, analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills. Proven project management capabilities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with engineering, finance, product teams, and external partners across different cultures. Education:Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, or a closely related field. Attributes:High degree of ownership, self-motivation, adaptability, attention to detail, and a bias for action. Ability to thrive under pressure and navigate ambiguity effectively. Sense of humour, tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling.This is a full time position working at the Skip office in the San Francisco Bay Area, starting in June 2025. Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status. Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates' ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States. Unfortunately Skip cannot sponsor visas at this time.To apply, send via email a CV and cover letter to people@

Created: 2025-05-22