About Sphere
Sphere is a global aerospace and advanced materials company supplying high-performance metals and alloys to leading OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and strategic partners worldwide.
Our platform extends beyond traditional materials distribution. We operate across the full value chain—from raw material sourcing and superalloy supply chains to manufacturing partnerships and global materials distribution—with operations spanning Korea, the United States, and key international markets.
Sphere is at a strategic inflection point in its raw materials business. As we strengthen our upstream capabilities and build new, trading-driven revenue streams, we are looking for a commercially minded leader to help shape and execute the next phase of our materials strategy.
Role Overview
The Manager, Raw Materials is responsible for owning and executing Sphere’s raw material activities across procurement, sales/trading, and supply chain strategy.
This is not a traditional purchasing or operational role. Instead, it is a commercial ownership role, where raw materials are managed as a strategic business lever—balancing cost, margin, supply security, and revenue opportunity.
The role operates with direct exposure to executive leadership and plays a critical part in shaping Sphere’s cost structure, profitability, and long-term raw materials platform.
Why This Role Matters
Sphere is expanding its footprint across critical raw materials, including Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, as well as scrap and revert materials used in superalloy production.
At this stage, success requires more than securing supply. It requires:
- Designing raw material selection strategies aligned with mill and melt plans
- Structuring commercially sound pricing and contract mechanisms linked to global commodity markets
- Launching and scaling new revenue streams, including Nickel Cathode trading
- Actively collaborating with manufacturing and trading partners to drive cost and margin optimization
This role sits at the center of that effort and serves as a key execution arm of Sphere’s raw material strategy.
Key Responsibilities
1. Raw Material Procurement (Cost & Supply Ownership)
- Own end-to-end procurement of raw materials, including but not limited to:
- Nickel (Ni), Titanium (Ti), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Niobium (Nb), Tungsten (W), Molybdenum (Mo), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu)
- Source and manage scrap and revert materials used in superalloy melting and recycling processes
- Develop, qualify, and maintain a global supplier network
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms
- Monitor commodity markets and pricing mechanisms (e.g., LME and index-based pricing)
- Manage supplier performance related to lead times, quality, and delivery execution
2. Raw Material Sales & Trading (Revenue Generation)
- Execute sales of raw materials, scrap, and revert into mills, melt shops, and trading partners
- Identify and pursue trading opportunities, with a particular focus on Nickel Cathode
- Lead or support commercial negotiations tied to market pricing and index-linked mechanisms
- Develop pricing strategies that reflect market dynamics and volatility
- Achieve defined revenue and profit targets
3. Supply Chain & Commercial Strategy
- Develop and execute cross-functional raw material selection strategies in collaboration with mill partners
- Align purchasing strategies with sales backlog, melt plans, and customer demand
- Build raw material demand forecasts based on production and sales pipelines
- Support alloy and finished-product cost modeling
- Contribute to mid- and long-term sourcing strategies and raw material risk mitigation plans
4. Reporting & Internal Coordination
- Track raw material positions, inventory levels, and open purchase orders
- Provide regular market insights, pricing updates, and risk assessments to leadership
- Support ERP workflows and internal documentation (purchase orders, contracts, tracking)
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders across regions and functions
What Success Looks Like
- Reliable sourcing of low-cost raw materials, scrap, and revert
- Effective execution of raw material strategies aligned with mill melt plans
- Successful launch and growth of Nickel Cathode trading activities
- Measurable improvement in cost structure and margin contribution
- Strong, trusted relationships with global suppliers and partners
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- 4+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
- Raw material procurement
- Commodity purchasing
- Metals trading
- Sales of raw materials or scrap
- Solid understanding of industrial metals and alloy supply chains
- Proven experience negotiating commercial terms with suppliers or customers
- Strong ability to analyze market trends and pricing structures
- Clear, effective communication and execution skills
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
- Fluency in English required; Korean language capability is a plus
Preferred Background
- Experience at superalloy mills or melt shops
- Commodity trading experience in Nickel, Cobalt, or alloying elements
- Experience in scrap and revert trading environments
- Background in aerospace or high-performance materials supply chains
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong commercial judgment and negotiation capability
- Ownership mindset with a high level of accountability
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers and material streams simultaneously
- Comfort operating in volatile and dynamic commodity markets
- Detail-oriented with strong follow-through
- Collaborative, cross-functional working style
Why Join Sphere
- Direct exposure to global aerospace and advanced materials supply chains
- A high-visibility role working closely with executive leadership
- Opportunity to help build and scale Sphere’s raw material trading platform
- A role that combines strategy, procurement, and commercial execution
- Long-term growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding global company
Compensation
- US salary range: $105,000 - $160,000 base salary, plus performance-based bonus opportunities
- Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Work Environment
- Based full-time at Sphere HQ in Seoul, South Korea OR remote
- Typical work schedule of 40–50 hours per week
- Occasional domestic and international travel to suppliers, mills, and partners
If you are a commercially driven materials professional looking to own a critical function, influence strategic decisions, and help shape the future of a global aerospace materials platform, we encourage you to apply.
About Sphere
Sphere is a global aerospace and advanced materials company supplying high-performance metals and alloys to leading OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and strategic partners worldwide.
Our platform extends beyond traditional materials distribution. We operate across the full value chain—from raw material sourcing and superalloy supply chains to manufacturing partnerships and global materials distribution—with operations spanning Korea, the United States, and key international markets.
Sphere is at a strategic inflection point in its raw materials business. As we strengthen our upstream capabilities and build new, trading-driven revenue streams, we are looking for a commercially minded leader to help shape and execute the next phase of our materials strategy.
Role Overview
The Manager, Raw Materials is responsible for owning and executing Sphere’s raw material activities across procurement, sales/trading, and supply chain strategy.
This is not a traditional purchasing or operational role. Instead, it is a commercial ownership role, where raw materials are managed as a strategic business lever—balancing cost, margin, supply security, and revenue opportunity.
The role operates with direct exposure to executive leadership and plays a critical part in shaping Sphere’s cost structure, profitability, and long-term raw materials platform.
Why This Role Matters
Sphere is expanding its footprint across critical raw materials, including Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, as well as scrap and revert materials used in superalloy production.
At this stage, success requires more than securing supply. It requires:
- Designing raw material selection strategies aligned with mill and melt plans
- Structuring commercially sound pricing and contract mechanisms linked to global commodity markets
- Launching and scaling new revenue streams, including Nickel Cathode trading
- Actively collaborating with manufacturing and trading partners to drive cost and margin optimization
This role sits at the center of that effort and serves as a key execution arm of Sphere’s raw material strategy.
Key Responsibilities
1. Raw Material Procurement (Cost & Supply Ownership)
- Own end-to-end procurement of raw materials, including but not limited to:
- Nickel (Ni), Titanium (Ti), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Niobium (Nb), Tungsten (W), Molybdenum (Mo), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu)
- Source and manage scrap and revert materials used in superalloy melting and recycling processes
- Develop, qualify, and maintain a global supplier network
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms
- Monitor commodity markets and pricing mechanisms (e.g., LME and index-based pricing)
- Manage supplier performance related to lead times, quality, and delivery execution
2. Raw Material Sales & Trading (Revenue Generation)
- Execute sales of raw materials, scrap, and revert into mills, melt shops, and trading partners
- Identify and pursue trading opportunities, with a particular focus on Nickel Cathode
- Lead or support commercial negotiations tied to market pricing and index-linked mechanisms
- Develop pricing strategies that reflect market dynamics and volatility
- Achieve defined revenue and profit targets
3. Supply Chain & Commercial Strategy
- Develop and execute cross-functional raw material selection strategies in collaboration with mill partners
- Align purchasing strategies with sales backlog, melt plans, and customer demand
- Build raw material demand forecasts based on production and sales pipelines
- Support alloy and finished-product cost modeling
- Contribute to mid- and long-term sourcing strategies and raw material risk mitigation plans
4. Reporting & Internal Coordination
- Track raw material positions, inventory levels, and open purchase orders
- Provide regular market insights, pricing updates, and risk assessments to leadership
- Support ERP workflows and internal documentation (purchase orders, contracts, tracking)
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders across regions and functions
What Success Looks Like
- Reliable sourcing of low-cost raw materials, scrap, and revert
- Effective execution of raw material strategies aligned with mill melt plans
- Successful launch and growth of Nickel Cathode trading activities
- Measurable improvement in cost structure and margin contribution
- Strong, trusted relationships with global suppliers and partners
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- 4+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
- Raw material procurement
- Commodity purchasing
- Metals trading
- Sales of raw materials or scrap
- Solid understanding of industrial metals and alloy supply chains
- Proven experience negotiating commercial terms with suppliers or customers
- Strong ability to analyze market trends and pricing structures
- Clear, effective communication and execution skills
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
- Fluency in English required; Korean language capability is a plus
Preferred Background
- Experience at superalloy mills or melt shops
- Commodity trading experience in Nickel, Cobalt, or alloying elements
- Experience in scrap and revert trading environments
- Background in aerospace or high-performance materials supply chains
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong commercial judgment and negotiation capability
- Ownership mindset with a high level of accountability
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers and material streams simultaneously
- Comfort operating in volatile and dynamic commodity markets
- Detail-oriented with strong follow-through
- Collaborative, cross-functional working style
Why Join Sphere
- Direct exposure to global aerospace and advanced materials supply chains
- A high-visibility role working closely with executive leadership
- Opportunity to help build and scale Sphere’s raw material trading platform
- A role that combines strategy, procurement, and commercial execution
- Long-term growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding global company
Compensation
- US salary range: $105,000 - $160,000 base salary, plus performance-based bonus opportunities
- Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Work Environment
- Based full-time at Sphere HQ in Seoul, South Korea OR remote
- Typical work schedule of 40–50 hours per week
- Occasional domestic and international travel to suppliers, mills, and partners
If you are a commercially driven materials professional looking to own a critical function, influence strategic decisions, and help shape the future of a global aerospace materials platform, we encourage you to apply.