Director, Procurement

Who we are

Demand for critical minerals to power the energy transition is growing exponentially. Yet, we know mining deeper and broader, and building landfills higher and wider, works against our fight to save the planet. At Nth Cycle, we see the path forward. We believe the critical minerals needed for the energy transition are already in circulation today. We just didn’t have a clean, profitable way of retrieving them, until now.

Nth Cycle is a metal processing technology company. Our electro-extraction technology helps recyclers and miners capture more critical minerals—for use in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, among other things—while dramatically reducing costs and emissions. We are the heart of metals processing; we are the crucial step that profitably separates critical minerals from other elements, transforming them into production-grade feedstocks for the energy transition.

Our Culture

You won’t find another team like ours. We believe in open, honest communication, and enjoying our work while changing the world. And we value the perspectives and opinions of our colleagues while pushing each other to excel.

We’re a dynamic team looking for a new team member who’s also passionate about addressing climate change and advancing the clean energy industry. Consistent with our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we value colleagues with the ability to work on diverse teams and with a diverse range of people.

If this is you, keep reading.

Position Description

The Director of Procurement is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management functions to support Nth Cycle’s manufacturing and technology deployment. This role ensures cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable sourcing of materials, equipment, and services critical to scaling clean energy and battery recycling solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management:

• Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with company growth and sustainability goals.
• Ensure the quality, consistency, and timely delivery of specialized tech components, such as cathodes and anodes, and metallic coatings often while navigating complex and tight technical specifications and volatile raw material prices.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers for critical materials (e.g., metals, chemicals, components).
• Build long-term supplier partnerships and negotiate contracts.

Cost & Risk Management:

• Drive cost reduction initiatives without compromising quality or ESG standards.
• Monitor commodity markets (e.g., nickel, cobalt, lithium supply chains).
• Mitigate supply chain risks (geopolitical, environmental, logistics disruptions).

Operations & Execution:

• Collaborate with the Engineering Team to understand electrode and coating requirements, including chemical composition, particle size, and electrical performance.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory planning, and supplier performance.
• Ensure on-time delivery for pilot plants and commercial systems.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and R&D teams.

Sustainability & Compliance:

• Ensure suppliers meet environmental and ethical sourcing standards.
• Support circular economy goals and responsible material sourcing.
• Maintain compliance with regulations and internal policies.

Team Leadership:

• Build and lead a high-performing procurement team.
• Establish KPIs, processes, and procurement systems.
• Mentor team members and foster cross-functional collaboration.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 8–12+ years of procurement/sourcing experience, including leadership roles.
• Experience in manufacturing, cleantech, chemicals, or metals industries.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier development skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with battery materials, recycling, or critical minerals supply chains.
• Knowledge of ESG and responsible sourcing frameworks.
• Startup or scale-up experience (highly valued at Nth Cycle).

Key Skills:

• Strategic thinking and execution.
• Supplier negotiation and relationship management.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Cross-functional leadership.
• Risk assessment and mitigation.

Compensation:

$150K–$200K

What Makes This Role Unique:

• Direct impact on scaling clean energy infrastructure.
• Work at the intersection of sustainability, manufacturing, and innovation.
• Opportunity to build procurement from the ground up in a fast-growing climate tech company.