Supply Chain Manager

Job DescriptionJob Description

About Ion Storage Systems

The batteries powering today's electric vehicles, defense systems, and AI data centers are reaching the limits of what lithium-ion chemistry can deliver. Ion Storage Systems is building what comes next.

Spun out of the University of Maryland in 2019, ION is backed by a combination of leading venture capital investors and next- technology programs from the U.S. Army and Department of Energy, translating solid-state battery breakthroughs into real-world products at commercial scale. We are moving from deep R&D into commercial production and licensing partnerships - and we need the operational backbone to deliver.

The Opportunity

The work you do here will directly enable technology that powers cleaner transportation, stronger defense, and more resilient energy infrastructure. We have strong supply chain foundations in place. Now we need someone to take them to the next level as ION moves into commercial production and higher-volume activity.

This is a high-visibility role with direct access to senior leadership and reach across the entire organization. We are at a scale inflection point that requires outside expertise - and the person who fills this role will have a direct hand in shaping how ION buys, tracks, and reports on spend as we grow.

What to Expect

ION is a fast-moving, early-stage company. Priorities shift, ambiguity is part of the job, and not everything has a playbook yet. We are building the structure as we scale - if you are someone who helps create it rather than waiting for it, you will thrive here. The people around you will be invested in the mission and in your success - because at ION, the two are ultimately intertwined.

What You'll Own

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Be the procurement partner ION's employees want to work with - responsive, high-touch, and easy to do business with; make it simple for the organization to buy the right things the right way.
• Own end-to-end procurement of production materials and R&D consumables - cost, quality, and delivery.
• Negotiate supplier and subcontractor agreements with a focus on total cost of ownership; represent ION well at the table and bring value back to the organization
• Conduct vendor due diligence, onboard new suppliers, and hold them accountable to defined KPIs

Planning & Operations

• Partner with Operations and Cell R&D to build accurate demand forecasts and ensure materials are planned, purchased, and delivered to meet production schedules
• Manage current procurement systems effectively while driving ION's transition to a full ERP/MRP solution over the next 12–18 months; take direct ownership of the Purchasing and Receiving modules at implementation

Budget & Expense Management

• Implement and enforce procurement budgets established by Finance, ensuring spend accountability across departments and contract manufacturing activities
• Own the enforcement of ION's expense reporting policies; identify exceptions, escalate where appropriate, and drive compliance across the organization
• Track procurement spend against budget in real time; surface variances and deliver timely analysis to Finance and leadership

Process & Reporting

• Assess existing supply chain policies and procedures; identify opportunities, build a prioritized improvement roadmap, and execute it
• Design and deliver recurring supply chain reporting - daily, weekly, monthly - that gives leadership the information they need to make good decisions

What We're Looking For

Required

• Typically 5+ years of progressive procurement experience with direct ownership of supplier negotiations and contract management - though we will consider exceptional candidates with less experience and demonstrated trajectory
• 3+ years of MRP/ERP experience in a manufacturing environment
• Deep knowledge of production materials, inventory management, and supply chain workflow
• Strong commercial negotiation skills with the ability to represent the company confidently in supplier-facing discussions
• Experience enforcing procurement budgets and expense policies across a cross-functional organization
• Knowledge of shipping safety requirements and regulations, including hazardous materials handling and transportation compliance

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field
• Experience with ISO documentation and process standardization
• Background in ERP implementation projects and/or multi-site procurement coordination
• Professional certification in supply chain or procurement (CPSM, CPIM, or CSCP)

Who Thrives Here

• Owners - you take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks; when something can be better you say so and you drive it forward
• Operators - disciplined and detail-oriented, but able to zoom out and see the strategic picture; as comfortable in a spreadsheet as in a leadership briefing
• Service-minded - you understand that procurement exists to enable the people it supports; your internal customers would describe you as the person who always finds a way
• Adaptable - you learn quickly, bring a positive attitude into uncertain situations, step up when the work is unfamiliar, and make the team around you better for being there

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $115,000 base, with flexibility to reflect candidates who are more or less experienced than our target profile
• Stock options - we are asking you to bet on ION, and we want you to share in what we build together
• Medical, dental, vision, , and life insurance
• 401(k) with 4% company match beginning after your first paycheck
• 17 days PTO to start, increasing with tenure, plus company and floating holidays
• $1,000 annual wellness allowance
• Professional development budget to support certifications, continuing education, and skill building
• Location: Beltsville, MD - onsite to start, with hybrid flexibility as the role matures

The Interview Process

Three rounds: screening call, hiring manager interview, cross-functional panel. We move quickly for the right candidate. We hire for trajectory as much as credentials, so apply even if you do not meet every requirement on the list.

Company Description

Ion Storage Systems Inc., located in Beltsville, MD, is a rapidly growing company commercializing its breakthrough lithium metal battery technology based on discoveries made at the University of Maryland. The company is committed to developing products that will impact everyday life on a global scale. Our technology improves product performance and safety in a variety of applications, including defense and aerospace, consumer electronics, electrified transportation, and renewable energy storage. Our team is made up of innovative, driven, and creative individuals who are passionate about their work. The company offers an inclusive environment, growth opportunities, and encourages work/life balance.

To all recruitment agencies: Ion Storage Systems, Inc., will not accept agency resumes for this role. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs email, or to any Ion Storage Systems employees or any other company email address. Ion Storage Systems is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Ion Storage Systems, Inc., is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to , , , , ancestry, , , gender , origin, , citizenship, marital status, , or Veteran status.

We are unable to offer employer sponsorship for this position.

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