Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning Leader (SIOP)

Who we are:

We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution.  Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G. 

We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries.

What you can expect:

At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, we:

Build Solutions: If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution-oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world-class solutions in sustainable ways.

Deliver Quality: When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top-tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come first.

Lead responsibly: We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in mind.

Win Together: Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get better.

Position Overview:

The Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) Leader is responsible for driving the company’s cross-functional planning process to align demand, supply, inventory and financial goals. This role ensures that sales forecasts, production schedules, inventory strategies, and capacity plans are synchronized to achieve business objectives. Serving as the central facilitator between commercial, operations, supply chain, and finance teams, the SIOP Leader leverages data-driven insights, collaboration, and process discipline to optimize service levels, working capital, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

SIOP Process Leadership

·       Own and lead the monthly SIOP cycle, ensuring alignment between demand plans, supply capabilities, inventory levels and strategic business objectives.

·       Develop and maintain a structured, repeatable process with clear roles, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables.

·       Facilitate cross-functional meetings to review forecasts, identify gaps, and resolve conflicts between demand and supply.

Forecasting & Demand Planning

·       Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management to create accurate, consensus-driven forecasts.

·       Monitor demand variability and recommend adjustments to mitigate risks.

Supply & Capacity Alignment

·       Work with Production, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams to ensure production and material availability match forecasted demand.

·       Identify capacity constraints and work with production to develop contingency plans to maintain service levels.

·       Optimize inventory strategies to balance customer service requirements and working capital targets.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

·       Define, monitor, and report on key SIOP performance metrics (e.g., forecast accuracy, inventory turns, service levels, OTIF).

·       Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership during executive SIOP reviews.

·       Monitor forecast accuracy, bias and adherence to the plan; identify and address root causes of variances.

Continuous Improvement

·       Champion best practices, tools, and technology to enhance the SIOP process.

·       Drive cross-functional alignment on long-term capacity planning and strategic initiatives.

·       Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

·       Train and mentor cross-functional teams on SIOP concepts, tools and best practices

Qualifications and Skills:

Education & Experience

·       Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or related field; MBA preferred.

·       7+ years of experience in demand planning, supply chain, operations, or related field, with at least 3 years leading SIOP processes.

·       Proven track record of successfully implementing or improving an SIOP framework in a complex, multi-site or global organization.

Skills & Competencies

·       Deep understanding of supply chain, production planning, and demand management principles.

·       Strong analytical skills with proficiency in forecasting tools, ERP/MRP systems, and advanced Excel; experience with statistical modeling preferred.

·       Excellent facilitation, communication, and influencing skills across all organizational levels.

·       Ability to manage ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and make data-driven decisions.

·       Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational plans to financial performance.

Certifications (Preferred)

·       APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD

·       PMP or Lean Six Sigma certification

Physical Demands 

The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, a manufacturing floor and a construction site.   Noise level: Normal office, manufacturing and construction noises. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. 

USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities

USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.

For assistance applying for employment through this site due to disability, please contact Human Resources, [email protected], to discuss reasonable accommodations.

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