Director, Supply Chain Operations

What we're building
The marine industry supports recreation, global commerce, and national defense. And yet it runs on technology that hasn't meaningfully changed in fifty years. Until now.
Arc is on a mission to electrify the marine industry. We're rethinking powertrains, software, and vessel designs from first principles. And we're already executing. We started with consumers to develop and harden our core technology. We're now scaling production of our flagship model with new models and sectors on the horizon. Now we're extending our platform to commercial applications, starting with tugs, ferries, and defense, with years worth of signed contracts and a pipeline that spans every vessel type on the water.
The technology is proven, the momentum is building, and the opportunity is enormous. The marine industry is going electric and Arc is building the platform that powers it.
Who we're looking for
We’re looking for a Director of Supply Chain who is fired up by our mission and ready to build the function end-to-end at a fast-scaling hardware startup. This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll operate as both a strategic leader and a day-to-day operator — personally driving critical supplier decisions, building scalable systems, and developing a high-performing, lean team. You will be charged with ensuring Arc’s supply chain scales reliably as we ramp production across recreational (Sport, Coast) and commercial product lines.
You should be comfortable going deep — negotiating key contracts, resolving supply issues in real time, and building processes from first principles — while also stepping back to design the system that enables the company to scale.
You'll thrive here if you move fast, take ownership, and care about the details.
This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters. You'll report to our Head of Operations and work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Finance as a key member of the Operations leadership team.
What you'll do
Source and qualify suppliers across EV components and marine materials to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets
Lead supplier negotiations (pricing, terms, agreements) and manage ongoing performance (scorecards, reviews)
Build a resilient supply base (dual sourcing, lead time reduction, risk mitigation)
Drive make vs. buy decisions and align supply chain to product roadmaps across the business
Translating strategy into an operating model (roles, cadences, decision rights)
Partnering with Engineering, Production and Finance to align assumptions and resolve cross-functional issues.
Own demand translation into procurement and inventory strategy, balancing lead times, MOQs, and working capital
Define and maintain inventory levels and warehouse operations (layout, systems, cycle counts)
Manage inbound logistics, carrier relationships, and freight cost/reliability
Own supply chain performance (OTD, inventory turns, forecast accuracy, supplier quality) and build the systems to support it
Ensure data integrity and reporting across ERP/MRP systems
Lead supply chain readiness for new products (sourcing, prototypes, risk assessment)
Lead the development and execution of supply chain risk mitigation strategies, including supplier diversification, business continuity planning, and real-time disruption monitoring, to ensure supply resilience and maintain on-time delivery performance across a complex product portfolio.
Build and lead a lean, high-performing team across procurement, planning, logistics, and warehouse
Hire and develop talent with a high bar for ownership and output
Establish clear structure and operating cadence as the team scales
Operate as a player-coach, going deep when needed while building team capability
Minimum Qualifications
8+ years of supply chain experience spanning procurement, planning, and/or logistics, with at least 4 years in a leadership role
Experience sourcing and managing suppliers of complex electromechanical components (e.g., motors, power electronics, battery modules, or similar)
Background in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments — startup or scale-up experience strongly preferred with a track record of building or significantly improving supply chain systems, processes, or teams
Demonstrated ability to lead supplier contract negotiations, including terms, pricing, and SLAs
Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and supply chain data management; comfort using data to drive decisions
Proven ability to independently build and manage supply chain financial models, including inventory forecasting, purchase commitments, tariff exposure, and cash flow; able to provide clear, forward-looking visibility to leadership
Strong ownership mindset — bias for action, accountability for outcomes, and willingness to go deep when needed
Bonus Qualifications
Experience in the marine, EV, or adjacent high-performance hardware industries
Familiarity with global inbound logistics and customs/import compliance
Experience scaling a supply chain function through a production ramp
Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace
Enthusiasm for boating and the water
At Arc, we encourage diversity and consider all qualified applicants equally for employment, regardless of background, identity, or status. You're always welcome to reach out even if you don't meet many of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.
Our values
We move with urgency and build with care. We value these five things above all else:
Ownership over both your work and the company's success
Empathy for colleagues and for customers
Humility in problem solving and collaboration
Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly
Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives.
We want people who share and embody these values. It is vital that our values align — we'd be happy to elaborate on any or all of these during the interview process.
What we offer
Salary: $230,000
Highly competitive equity grants are included with full-time offers, as well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact, not just your tenure.
Additionally, Arc offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Healthcare benefits — 99% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision
Parental leave — 14 weeks fully paid for birthing and non-birthing parents
Generous time off — Highly competitive PTO with an opportunity to earn more time with tenure
Income protection — Life and disability insurance for all employees
Retirement savings — Traditional and Roth 401(k) access
Water fund — $500 for you to spend each year to get out on the water, however you choose
Professional development — $500 annual reimbursement for professional development and a monthly AI stipend
Safety support — Annual reimbursement for PPE, ergonomic equipment, and anything that ensures we keep our crew safe
Captain training — Training and access to take Arcboats out with friends and family
Office perks — Daily lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
Relocation assistance — Available depending on role eligibility.