Director of Supply Chain

About the Company Kodiak Robotics, Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become a leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for commercial trucking and the public sector. It delivers freight daily across the southern United States. In 2024 it became the first known company to publicly announce delivering a driverless semi-truck to a customer. Kodiak also leverages its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense. About the Role We are looking for a Director of Supply Chain to manage and scale our end‑to‑end supply chain function. This high‑impact leadership role is responsible for planning, procurement, inventory management, contract manufacturing, warehouse operations, and supply chain finances and compliance. The Director will partner closely with the Partnership team to support strategic relationships with OEMs and Tier1 suppliers, establish a robust supply chain control environment, ensure real‑time visibility into material status, and enable accurate tracking of purchases through vehicle builds. They will build the processes, team, and infrastructure needed to grow production from dozens to thousands of units while driving continuous cost reduction and operational excellence. The role requires a hands‑on leader with experience operating in a public company environment, compliance with finance and audit, and a high level of responsiveness and ownership of supply chain issues. Key Responsibilities Supply Chain Strategy & Leadership Own end‑to‑end supply chain strategy, performance, and risk management across a multi‑tiered, outsourced manufacturing model Build and lead a high‑performing supply chain organization spanning planning, procurement, inventory management, and manufacturing/contract manufacturer oversight Develop and execute the roadmap to scale supply chain operations from low‑volume to high‑volume production Serve as the primary supply chain interface with Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Operations, and Commercialization teams Establish and enforce a strong internal control environment across all supply chain activities, including procurement, inventory tracking, and vendor management Drive accountability, responsiveness, and execution rigor across the supply chain function, setting clear expectations for communication and delivery Drive a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies to improve quality, reduce lead times, and eliminate waste Planning & Demand Management Lead S&OP and demand planning processes to align supply with customer commitments and sales forecasts Own master production scheduling, inventory targets, and risk mitigation planning Drive system‑based planning through SAP MRP Ensure accurate, system‑driven visibility into material requirements, purchase order status, and supply risks at any point in time, including the ability to report status of open purchase orders and allocation to specific vehicle builds Manage excess and obsolete inventory exposure; own E&O review cadence and disposition decisions Procurement & Vendor Management Develop and execute supplier strategy, including selection, onboarding, and performance management for domestic and global suppliers Coordinate with the Partnerships team on suppliers with strategic commercial relationships, ensuring alignment on commercial terms and relationship ownership Manage commodity strategy across electronics, mechanical, and automotive components Perform supplier qualifications, audits and drive continuous improvement Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers and contract manufacturers Oversee tactical purchasing execution and ensure procurement processes are compliant with internal controls, audit requirements, and public company standards, including approval workflows and system‑based controls within SAP Manage the flow of consigned materials to contract manufacturers and coordinate multi‑tier sub‑assembly builds across the supply base Contract Manufacturing & Upfit Operations Own the strategy and day‑to‑day management of contract manufacturers who build sub‑assemblies from a combination of procured and consigned components Coordinate the complex flow of components and sub‑assemblies across multiple contract manufacturers, culminating in final integration at the upfitter or OEM Ensure traceability of components and sub‑assemblies through to final vehicle allocation and build completion Partner with Engineering on new product introduction (NPI), design‑for‑manufacturability, and prototype‑to‑production transitions Manage build plans, manufacturing engineering support, and in‑house labor/build activities as needed Inventory, Warehouse & Logistics Oversee warehouse management, including receiving, storage, cycle counts, logistics, and reverse logistics Ensure inventory accuracy and compliance through physical controls and system‑controlled transactions (SAP), including support of the reconciliation between physical, system, and financial records Strengthen working capital management and inventory valuation processes in partnership with finance and accounting Financial & Compliance Accountability Own the financial performance of the supply chain function, including cost reduction targets and working capital optimization Partner with FP&A on supply chain planning, BOM analysis, and forecasting, including alignment to financial plans Partner with accounting on inventory valuation, allocations, write‑downs, and deployment accounting Ensure timely, accurate, and audit‑ready reporting aligned with public company requirements and SOX‑compliant processes Lead recurring inventory counts and ensure timely resolution of discrepancies Ensure compliance with company procurement policies, GAAP inventory requirements, and applicable trade/import regulations for global sourcing Drive year‑over‑year cost reductions through supplier negotiations, design collaboration, and process improvements Commercial & Customer Support Support the Commercialization and Sales teams by ensuring supply availability aligns with customer delivery commitments Provide clear, real-time updates on order status, supply risks, and allocation of materials to specific vehicle programs with a high standard for responsiveness and accuracy Provide supply chain data, lead times, and capacity information to support customer‑facing communications and proposals Key role in S&OP to balance demand signals against supply constraints and optimize delivery timelines Qualifications Required 12+ years of progressive supply chain leadership experience, including 5+ years in a senior management or director‑level role Proven experience leading a supply chain function within a public company environment, including exposure to audit, controls, and financial reporting requirements Demonstrated experience scaling manufacturing or supply chain operations from low‑volume/prototype to high‑volume production in a hardware or electro‑mechanical product environment Demonstrated ability to both build supply chain functions from early‑stage/immature processes and optimize established operations Deep experience managing outsourced/contract manufacturing models with multi‑tier supplier networks, including consignment and complex sub‑assembly flows Strong background in procurement, commodity management, and supplier negotiations across domestic and international supply bases Strong understanding of supply chain control environments, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and system‑based controls Experience with S&OP processes, demand planning, MRP/ERP systems (SAP strongly preferred), and inventory management best practices Proven track record of delivering continuous cost reductions and process improvements (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent) Strong financial acumen; experience owning supply chain P&L and balance sheet elements, BOM cost management, and working capital targets including experience with CIP accounting and cost tracking for labor and overhead Experience ensuring compliance with procurement policies, inventory accounting standards (GAAP), and trade/import regulations Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field Preferred Experience in autonomous vehicles, automotive, aerospace, robotics, or related advanced hardware industries Hands‑on experience with SAP S/4HANA (Public Cloud strongly preferred) Familiarity with vehicle OEM, upfit, retrofit, or aftermarket integration processes MBA or advanced degree APICS (CSCP/CPIM), ISM (CPSM), or equivalent professional certification Experience working in a high‑growth, venture‑backed, or startup‑to‑scale environment Experience supporting NPI and design‑for‑manufacturability initiatives in close partnership with Engineering Pay Range The pay range listed below reflects the base salary in our SF/Silicon Valley location , across several internal levels. Actual starting pay will be based on job‑related factors including work location, experience, relevant training, education, skill level and performance during interview. Total compensation at Kodiak includes base pay, equity, bonus and a competitive benefits package. California Pay Range: $190,000 – $245,000 USD EEO Statement At Kodiak, we strive to build a diverse community working towards our common company goals in a safe and collaborative environment where harassment of any kind is strictly prohibited. Kodiak is committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. In alignment with its business operations, Kodiak adheres to all relevant statutes, regulations, and administrative prerequisites. Consequently, roles that carry more sensitive requirements may be limited to candidates that can satisfy additional scrutiny and eligibility for such positions may hinge on verification of a candidate’s residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status. Should the position require, and Kodiak determines that a candidate’s residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status necessitate an export license, bar the candidate from the position, or otherwise fall under national security‑related restrictions, Kodiak will consider the candidate for alternative positions unaffected by such restrictions, under terms and conditions set forth at Kodiak’s sole discretion, or, as an alternative, opt not to proceed with the candidate’s application. If applicable, Kodiak may provide visa sponsorship for eligible candidates. We use a third‑party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications. As part of the evaluation process, we provide Endorsed with job requirements and candidate‑submitted applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team, and no automated system makes the ultimate decision regarding hiring. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. We began using Endorsed on January1, 2026. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your application may be processed by AI systems as part of the screening and selection process. If you have any questions or would like to request a separate review of your application, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with 'Separate Review Request' in the email subject line. #J-18808-Ljbffr