Strategic Sourcing Manager

Help us tackle the growing wildfire crisis with the latest advancements in AI and IoT

Who we are

The problem: Every minute matters in fire response. As climate change amplifies the intensity of wildfires—with longer fire seasons, dryer fuels, and faster winds—new ignitions spread faster and put more communities at risk. Today, most wildfires are detected by bystanders and reported via 911, meaning it can take hours to detect a fire, verify its exact location and size, and dispatch first responders. Fire authorities need a faster way to detect, confirm, and pinpoint fires so that they can quickly respond—preventing small flare-ups from becoming devastating infernos.

About Pano: We are a 175+ person growth-stage hybrid-remote start-up, headquartered in San Francisco. We are the leader in early wildfire detection and intelligence, helping fire professionals respond to fires faster and more safely—with the right equipment, timely information, and enhanced coordination—so that they can stop a new ignition before it grows. Pano AI combines advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence into an easy-to-use, web-based platform. Leveraging a network of ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras atop high vantage points, as well as satellite and other data feeds, Pano AI produces a real-time picture of threats in a geographic region and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence.

Pano AI has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative AI Companies in 2023, and as one of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2026—ranking #1 in the Sustainability category. The company was also named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025 and identified by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 15 climate tech companies to watch in 2024. Pano AI has been featured in leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC.

The company serves dozens of government and enterprise customers across 16 U.S. states, five Australian states, and British Columbia, Canada, and currently monitors more than 50 million acres of land worldwide. It has raised $89 million in venture capital from investors including Giant Ventures, Liberty Mutual Ventures, Tokio Marine Future Fund, Congruent Ventures, Initialized Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and T-Mobile Ventures. Learn more at https://www.pano.ai/.

The Role

The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance. This role partners cross-functionally with engineering, operations, quality, and finance to drive value across the supply base while ensuring alignment with business objectives.

The ideal candidate brings deep category expertise, strong commercial acumen, and proven experience leading complex sourcing initiatives across a global supplier base.

What you’ll do

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing plans for assigned categories (e.g., direct materials, indirect spend, services)

• Lead supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding processes

• Drive cost reduction initiatives through negotiation, value engineering, and market analysis

• Conduct RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ) and evaluate supplier proposals

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure performance, innovation, and risk mitigation

• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs such as cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness

• Partner with internal stakeholders (engineering, quality, operations) to align sourcing strategies with product and business needs

• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including capacity constraints, geopolitical risks, and single-source dependencies

• Lead contract negotiations and ensure compliance with legal and company policies

• Analyze market trends, cost drivers, and industry benchmarks to inform sourcing decisions

• Support new product introduction (NPI) efforts with early supplier involvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the supply base

• Serve as a key advisor to leadership on supply market dynamics, risks and opportunities.

• Mentor and develop sourcing team members; may directly manage a team

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field

• 10-15 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, andsupply chain management

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills

• Experience managing suppliers in a manufacturing or operations environment

• Proven ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions

• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and sourcing tools

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Experience with global sourcing and international suppliers

Final compensation for full-time employees is determined by a variety of factors, including job-related qualifications, education, experience, skills, knowledge, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, full-time roles are eligible for stock options. Our benefits package also includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a matching 401(k) plan, and flexible paid time off.