Senior Global Supply Manager - Critical Minerals

About The Role

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SUPPLY CHAIN 
Rocket Lab’s Supply Chain team is responsible for the flow of all materials, products, and components through the business. With many of our own products functioning as critical components to our own and our customers’ missions, the Supply Chain team has a direct impact on the success of our rocket and satellite programs. They set up the assembly kits that enables our technicians to put together our Electron & Neutron rockets, manage inventory, look after shipping and receiving, manage direct and indirect procurement, and inspect and ensure that all of our materials and products are compliant and up to standard. They are the chain that links our teams together, and are critical to our success.

SENIOR GLOBAL SUPPLY MANAGER II – CRITICAL MINERALS (GERMANIUM)

Based on site at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Global Supply Manager, Critical Minerals (Germanium) will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of Rocket Lab's rocket and satellite programs. In this role, you'll serve as the domain expert and single leader for Germanium, a strategic critical mineral essential to our products, securing the raw materials that power our missions.

You'll lead sourcing strategies, build strong supplier partnerships, and drive supply chain resilience from early development to serial production, collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver world-class results. As the lead for Germanium, you'll own the global mandate end-to-end: market intelligence, tiered supply chain mapping, supplier and government relationship management, should-cost modeling, contracting, and stockpiling strategy.

Rocket Lab's Supply Chain team is the backbone of our operations, ensuring the seamless flow of materials, components, and products that power our missions. From managing procurement to ensuring compliance and quality, this team is critical to the success of our Electron & Neutron rockets and Space Systems programs.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Own the commodity strategy for Germanium, with explicit focus on supply chain resilience, geopolitical risk mitigation (concentration in mining and refinement).
• Identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain, ensuring resilience and reliability.
• Maintain expert-level market intelligence and deliver regular updates on pricing, disruptions, and geopolitical signals.
• Conduct market research and stay ahead of industry trends to inform strategic decisions.
• Host cross-functional tag-ups, lead strategy reviews, and conduct executive briefings on market conditions and mitigation plans.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with program goals for cost, quality, and delivery.
• Lead RFI/RFQ/RFP processes across miners, refiners, processors, and component suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations on a first principles basis to secure best-in-class terms; perform should-cost and TCO analysis and maintain cost models to deliver on competitiveness targets.
• Negotiate key agreements (offtake, pricing, capacity reservations, payment terms) suited to volatile, concentrated markets.
• Evaluate and recommend strategic interventions (stockpiling, prepayments, JVs, equity investments, vertical integration), partnering with Corporate Development and Finance.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, from initial RFIs to contract execution and beyond.
• Build trusted relationships with suppliers, industry associations, and U.S./allied government bodies (DoD, DPA Title III, DLA, DOE); represent Rocket Lab externally for germanium.
• Engage with Legal/Contracts to establish the right contractual framework to support our programs and commodity strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement in supplier performance through metrics, scorecards, and regular reviews.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, supplier management, or commodity management, with direct exposure to critical minerals or their downstream products (e.g., germanium, gallium, rare earth magnets, tungsten, antimony, lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese).
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, engineering, or related technical field—or equivalent years of work experience (9+ years of total work experience).
• Demonstrated experience navigating concentrated, geopolitically sensitive supply chains.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% of the time, including travel to mines, refiners, and processors.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) in materials science, chemical sciences, or metallurgical/mining engineering; MBA is a big plus.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, or other disruptive manufacturing industries with deep raw material dependencies.
• Experience working with U.S. government programs supporting domestic critical mineral supply (e.g., DPA Title III, DOE Loan Programs Office, DLA National Defense Stockpile).
• Experience structuring or supporting non-traditional commercial arrangements (long-term offtake, prepayments, equity investments, JVs).
• Strategic thinker with a track record of building commodity roadmaps alongside engineering and finance stakeholders.
• Experience in a rapid growth environment with constantly shifting priorities.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills; excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven cross-functional leadership and ability to influence at all levels of an organization.
• APICS certification; experience with AS9100 and export controls.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay,  you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package , giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$110,000—$160,000 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT  

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at View email address on us.fitly.work dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. 

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.