MP Materials · 18 hours ago
Category Specialist, Equipment & Materials
Las Vegas, NV
Full-time
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
2+ years expMP Materials is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification. The Category Specialist – Equipment & Materials is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for key operational spend areas to ensure operational continuity, cost competitiveness, and supply assurance across mining and manufacturing operations.
IndustrialMiningSustainability
Responsibilities
Develop and execute category strategies that align with operational requirements, cost objectives, and long‑term business goals
Develop sourcing strategies for equipment and materials categories with a focus on technical specifications, lifecycle value, and ensuring reliable availability of essential operational assets
Lead sourcing activities—including supplier identification, competitive bidding, negotiations, and contract execution—to secure optimal commercial and operational outcomes
Conduct economic analysis including cost modeling, TCO analysis, and development of business cases to support sourcing decisions and value‑creation initiatives
Continuously monitor market conditions, supply markets, cost drivers, and commercial trends to inform category strategies and risk‑mitigation plans
Collaborate closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Planning, and Finance teams to forecast demand, ensure supply continuity, and support major projects and production requirements
Partner with Legal team to ensure alignment on commercial terms, risk allocation, and contract lifecycle management
Manage supplier relationships through performance reviews, scorecards, corrective actions, and long‑term continuous improvement initiatives
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through contingency planning, dual‑sourcing strategies, and capacity or inventory buffers as needed
Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, and contract data within ERP and procurement systems while ensuring adherence to procurement policies and governance
Prepare and present category strategies, KPIs, supplier performance results, financial impacts, and risk assessments to leadership and key stakeholders
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance or related field
2-5 years of progressive experience in category management, procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain
Experience in industrial, manufacturing, mining, or heavy‑asset environments, with specific experience managing equipment and materials categories
Strong analytical skills, including spend analysis, cost modeling, and supplier evaluation
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with ERP/procurement systems (SAP or similar)
Ability to travel ~10-20% to MP Materials locations
Preferred
Master's degree or advanced degree preferred
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross‑functional stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, including spend analysis, cost modeling, TCO evaluation, and business case development
Strong business judgment and supply‑chain acumen, with the ability to balance cost, risk, and operational priorities
Proven negotiation skills and experience managing complex supplier relationships and contracts
Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement using structured tools, templates, and category‑management systems
Decisive and effective in resolving supply, cost, or operational challenges in fast‑paced industrial settings
Detail‑oriented with disciplined data, pricing, and contract management practices
Ability to manage multiple parallel sourcing initiatives while maintaining accuracy and follow‑through
Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, accountability, and strong stakeholder‑management skills
Experience with supplier performance management, risk mitigation, and contingency planning
Familiarity with capital projects, MRO, direct materials, or technical services sourcing, and knowledge of procurement compliance and industry standards
Company
MP Materials
MP Materials provides a sustainable, low-cost supply chain of coveted materials that help power the modern economy.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
MP Materials has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (9)
2024 (5)
2023 (2)
2022 (3)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$2.38BKey Investors
JP Morgan ChaseU.S. Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC)
2025-08-25Post Ipo Debt· $275M
2025-07-16Post Ipo Equity· $650M
2025-07-10Post Ipo Equity· $400M
Leadership Team
Alan Lund
Executive Vice President, Magnetics
Recent News
The National News
2026-02-05
Company data provided by crunchbase