Supply Chain Program Manager

About the role

The Supply Chain Program Manager is a critical cross-functional role responsible for owning end-to-end supply chain execution across assigned programs and product builds at Wayve. This includes prototype development, new product introduction (NPI), and supporting fleet launches. This role serves as the primary Supply Chain lead ensuring meeting program deliverables, supplier compliance, and seamless coordination across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary Supply Chain lead for assigned programs or internal product builds (e.g., prototypes, new product introduction, subassembly).
• Own end-to-end material readiness to support program milestones across R&D, Engineering, Operations, and Manufacturing.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Finance, and Suppliers to align supply chain activities with program timelines.
• Act as the strategic liaison between hardware engineering and the procurement teams, managing demand aggregation.
• Translate engineering BOMs and aggregate Technical Program Manager demand into procurement plans.
• Identify long-lead items and critical path components early in the product lifecycle.
• Track material status through build phases and escalate gaps or risks proactively.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Team Leads to ensure direct purchasing, indirect purchasing, and logistics suppliers are meeting compliance requirements, including legal, environmental, regulatory (e.g., TISAX, ISO), and ethical sourcing standards.
• Partner with legal and compliance teams to ensure appropriate supplier agreements, NDAs, and risk controls are in place.
• Develop contingency plans for supply disruptions and actively manage supply chain risks.
• Serve as the primary program manager for upfitter and partner relationships, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
• Drive upfitter/partner activities to ensure vehicles meet overall program timelines and quality standards.
• Proactively identify and resolve issues impacting vehicle build readiness, coordinating between internal teams and external partners.
• Maintain clear communication cadence with upfitters and stakeholders, tracking milestones and escalating risks as needed.
• Define, track, and report on key supply chain performance metrics including, material availability, total cost saving, inventory cycle count accuracy.
• Establish program-level supply chain dashboards and reporting cadences to provide visibility to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Analyse KPI trends to identify root causes of supply chain underperformance and drive corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams.
• Leverage KPI insights to continuously improve supply chain processes, reduce waste, and increase overall program efficiency.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain program management, NPI, and hardware operations.
• Strong understanding of BOM management, material planning, and procurement processes.
• Automotive, consumer, hardware, or robotic industry experience preferred.
• Familiarity with supplier compliance frameworks including TISAX, ISO standards, and ethical sourcing requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional programs across Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.

Pay

The reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $184,200 to 240,000, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.

Schedule

This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid).