Lead Material Planner

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Material Planner, you will serve as the operational backbone of Base’s manufacturing supply chain. This is a high-ownership role responsible for ensuring material availability across our vertically integrated factories while balancing inventory health, cost, and production velocity.

You will not simply release POs or manage shortages reactively. You will own the end-to-end material planning strategy for critical components and assemblies - translating production plans and engineering changes into executable supply signals, driving supplier accountability, and building the planning systems and processes required to scale manufacturing at Base Pace.

This role sits at the intersection of Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, and Finance, and is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, thinks in systems, and is energized by building durable infrastructure from first principles.

What You’ll Do

• Own material planning and execution for assigned commodities, components, or assemblies to support production, engineering builds, and ramp events.
• Translate production demand into executable supply plans through ERP while balancing service levels, inventory targets, and cost objectives.
• Design, manage, and continuously refine planning system parameters and master data to accurately reflect supply chain capabilities and constraints.
• Lead material readiness for engineering changes, new part introductions, and product transitions while minimizing obsolescence and line risk.
• Deliver clear-to-build status, material coverage views, run-out risk assessments, and scenario analyses to inform production and leadership decisions.
• Apply analytical rigor to inventory strategy, safety stock sizing, and EOQ optimization across suppliers and production phases.
• Serve as the primary operational interface for assigned suppliers - driving delivery performance, resolving shortages, and escalating cross-functionally when required.
• Partner closely with Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Accounts Payable to resolve constraints and enforce execution discipline.
• Support supplier ramp-up for new programs and production phases, ensuring operational readiness and adherence to Base standards.
• Identify and implement improvements to planning processes, tooling, and reporting as Base scales its factories and product lines.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience in material planning, supply chain operations, manufacturing, or a closely related role within a hardware or industrial environment.
• Strong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems in discrete manufacturing environments, including BOMs, part lifecycles, and procure-to-pay workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data sets, identify risk, and drive clear operational decisions under tight timelines.
• Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration and supplier execution in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• High proficiency in Excel; experience with planning, analytics, or visualization tools is a plus.
• Clear, structured communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong alignment with Base’s operating principles - ownership, bias to action, and willingness to challenge legacy supply chain assumptions.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Odoo ERP.
• SQL and related basic data manipulation skills.
• Experience with electro-mechanical assemblies with a mixture of off the shelf and custom manufactured components, inclusive of those built by large contract manufacturers.

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: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.
• Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.
• Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.
• Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.
• Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.

DO THE BEST WORK OF YOUR LIFE AT BASE.