Lead Program Manager, Procurement - Strategic Initiatives

About Rivian

Rivianis on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

The Rivian Purchasing & Supply Chain team is looking for a highly analytical and results-driven Lead Program Manager to drive critical strategic initiatives that shape our purchasing and commercial strategies. Reporting directly to the Director of Global Supply Management, you will pivot away from traditional part procurement to lead complex, cross-functional programs focused on financial optimization, cross-commodity data analysis, and commercial strategy enhancement.

In this role, you will serve as a strategic partner to purchasing leadership and global supply managers. You will build and leverage advanced data models to conduct robust cost estimate analyses, synthesize complex supplier quotes, and construct data-backed negotiation strategies. Your work will directly impact Rivian’s bottom line, driving visibility into "should-cost" models and refining how our purchasing organization evaluates commercial opportunities.

This onsite position is located onsite in Irvine, California and reports to the Director of Global Supply Management (Interiors & Exteriors).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Initiative Program Management: Concurrently manage high-impact, cross-functional purchasing initiatives reporting directly to the Purchasing Director. Drive execution on key strategic milestones, process improvements, and executive-level reporting across vehicle programs.
• Cost Estimate & Financial Analysis: Conduct deep-dive cost estimate analyses and build analytical models to evaluate supplier quotes, cost breakdown structures (CBDs), and raw material cost drivers. Translate complex financial inputs into actionable commercial insights.
• Negotiation Strategy & Should-Cost Modeling: Partner with Global Supply Managers to develop data-driven negotiation strategies. Utilize should-cost outputs, market trends, and parametric cost models to identify commercial gap opportunities and equip teams for high-stakes supplier negotiations.
• Supplier Quote Synthesis & RFQ Frameworks: Standardize and optimize the RFQ data analysis process. Benchmark supplier proposals across commodities to identify pricing anomalies, cost-reduction leverage points, and total cost of ownership (TCO) impact.
• Systems & Data Analytics: Build, refine, and maintain analytical tools, dashboards, and databases to track program progress, cost-saving initiatives, and spend metrics. Identify gaps in system functionality and improve data accuracy across purchasing systems.
• Stakeholder & Leadership Alignment: Act as the strategic connective tissue between Purchasing, Finance, Cost Engineering, and Vehicle Systems Engineering. Regularly present initiative statuses, commercial risk assessments, and financial trade-off proposals to executive leadership.
• Risk Mitigation & Benchmarking: Monitor automotive macroeconomic trends, technology landscapes, and supply market dynamics. Proactively identify financial and commercial risks, developing analytical frameworks to mitigate cost exposure.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related quantitative field required.
• Automotive Domain Expertise: 6+ years of technical program management, supply chain, or strategic procurement experience within the automotive industry (OEM or Tier 1 supplier experience highly preferred).
• Data & Financial Analysis: Proven background in advanced data analytics, financial modeling, and cost structure breakdown. Demonstrated skill in turning raw commercial data into strategic negotiation insights.
• Strategic Sourcing Knowledge: Strong foundational knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier quote evaluation, RFQ/RFP structures, and commercial negotiation mechanics.
• Technical & Tools Proficiency:
  • Advanced proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel/VBA, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or Python).
  • High efficiency in leveraging modern AI tools and data platforms (e.g., Gemini, Claude, Glean, and Databricks) to accelerate analytical workflows and cross-functional data synthesis.
  • Familiarity with enterprise supply chain and ERP tools (e.g., SAP) and cost estimation frameworks.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional presentation and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams, synthesize complex data into executive summaries, and collaborate directly with leadership.
• Operational Style: Self-starter who thrives in high-ambiguity environments; capable of managing complex, unstructured strategic initiatives with limited guidance.
• Travel Requirements: Willingness to travel as needed based on business demands (expected average: 10–25%).

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $137,800 - $172,200 for Irvine, CA based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, please email us at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.