Global Supply Manager - Cells + Strategic Materials

About the role

Base is looking for a Global Supply Manager to source and own supplier relationships, support new and existing product development and manufacture, and to implement industry-leading sourcing strategy. This role will collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and logistics teams to execute our product roadmap. The primary scope of this role is battery cells and strategic materials - the single largest cost driver in every Base system and the commodity with the most complex, geopolitically concentrated supply chain in the industry. This is a high impact role requiring deep fluency in cell chemistry, upstream raw material markets, and long-term supply strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end RFx processes - scoping technical and commercial requirements, issuing RFQs to cell manufacturers, evaluating responses across chemistry, performance, and cost, and driving supplier selection to award.
• Build and maintain detailed cell cost models - decomposing cathode, anode, electrolyte, and manufacturing cost drivers - to anchor negotiations in first principles and track cost movements against raw material markets.
• Negotiate cell pricing, volume commitments, capacity reservations, and long-term supply agreements - structuring deals that secure supply continuity and protect Base against commodity price volatility at scale.
• Own the commercial relationship with cell manufacturers and upstream material suppliers - operating at the executive level, managing escalations, and building the strategic trust that unlocks preferential allocation and technology access.
• Develop and execute a multi-chemistry sourcing strategy - LFP-primary today, with the flexibility to qualify alternative chemistries - while monitoring upstream lithium, iron phosphate, and graphite market dynamics, geopolitical risk, and cell technology roadmaps to stay ahead of the market.
• Drive supplier readiness across production ramp and sustained manufacturing - managing capacity reservations, forecast commitments, and supply continuity plans that hold up under Base's growth trajectory.
• Synthesize market intelligence, cost analysis, and supply risk into clear recommendations - on contract structure, chemistry selection, supplier diversification, and strategic material positions - and present them to engineering and executive stakeholders.

Requirements

• 5+ years sourcing experience in battery cells, energy storage, or a similarly complex, high-stakes commodity category.
• Strong excel and spreadsheet skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Flexible mindset and temperament.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally. Average 25% travel.
• Preferred Skills
• Strong record of applying first principles thinking toward supplier negotiations.
• Strong record of managing successful escalations up to the executive level within a supplier.
• Ability to learn quickly and prioritize appropriately to meet customer and company needs.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems.
• About this Team
• Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.
• Our Values
• First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.
• Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.
• Give & Get Feedback:

Benefits

Additional Information

About Base Base is America's next-generation power company. We're rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization-electricity-by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today's fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

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