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Alexander, Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space: Advize Career Interview

This interview with Alexander, a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, reveals a dynamic career path fueled by internships and a passion for problem-solving in the space industry.

Earning degrees in supply chain management and business analytics paved the way for roles at Shell, Becton Dickinson, Niagara Bottling, and SpaceX before landing at Relativity Space.

The role involves ensuring the correct parts are ordered, fostering supplier relationships, and proactively addressing challenges to support the company's growth, with each day presenting new supply problems to solve.

Crucial skills include being solution-oriented, possessing technical expertise, and exhibiting strong people skills.

The most enjoyable aspect stems from resolving critical part shortages, negotiating with suppliers, and contributing to the exciting end product of building launch vehicles.

Overcoming challenges requires bridging the gap between commercial realities and engineering expectations. Success in this fast-paced industry demands directness, decisiveness, and strong advocacy.

While strategic planning and data analysis are key, a significant portion of the role can be tactical, particularly invoice management.

Aspiring professionals can find entry points as global supply specialists, production coordinators, or in entry-level engineering positions. A significant career lesson is the importance of advocating for oneself.

Internships and strong connections built early on can be invaluable. WP Carey classes, particularly those focusing on supply chain optimization, provide essential problem-solving frameworks.

The interview highlights a career offering both intellectual stimulation and the chance to contribute to humanity's exploration of space, making it an exciting path for motivated students.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Alexander Jassemidis

Global Supply Manager

Relativity Space

Arizona State University

Masters of Business Analytics, Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Industrial, Supply Chain Management

Aerospace & Defense

Operations and Project Management

Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student

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Career path of a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

After earning a supply chain management degree and a master's in business analytics, Alexander gained valuable experience through internships at Shell and Becton Dickinson, focusing on procurement and supplier development. Alexander's career progressed through Niagara Bottling's supply chain development program, then back to Becton Dickinson as a procurement project coordinator before holding a senior supply chain planner and buyer role at SpaceX for the Dragon Capsule, and now Alexander is a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, "making sure that we are ordering the correct parts that go into the engine" for their launch vehicle.

Career path of a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

Main Responsibilities of a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

As a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, Alexander's main responsibilities include "ensuring that we have the correct parts on order" and fostering strong supplier relationships to support the company's growth, while also focusing on cost savings and design manufacturability by working with suppliers to improve part designs and proactively address any technical or commercial challenges. Alexander ensures suppliers can deliver parts on time, with quality, and are "easy to work with" so that Relativity Space can continue to grow as "we launch year over year."

Main Responsibilities of a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

A Day In The Life Of A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Alexander's day as a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space is characterized by its variability and constant problem-solving, where "every day there's a different supply problem to solve," ranging from negotiating contracts and expediting parts to addressing data inaccuracies and quality issues to ensure timely delivery for rocket assembly. Ownership of the parts allows for a deep understanding of the rocket's bill of materials and the ability to find solutions that include working with suppliers or even making parts in-house.

A Day In The Life Of A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Most Important Skills For A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

As a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, Alexander emphasizes the importance of being "solution oriented" due to constant problem-solving related to supply issues, along with possessing a technical background in data and cost analysis for effective procurement and negotiation, and also highlights strong "people skills" for understanding diverse perspectives and incorporating them to improve supply chain efficiency. These skills are critical for success in procurement, supply chain demand, and supply planning roles.

Most Important Skills For A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Favorite Parts Of Being A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Alexander, a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, enjoys the "achievement feeling" of quickly resolving critical part shortages for rocket engines, along with the interpersonal engagement of negotiating with suppliers, which fosters personal and professional growth. Ultimately, Alexander finds the greatest joy in the role stemming from the end product – building launch vehicles and competing in the space industry – which sustains excitement even during challenging times.

Favorite Parts Of Being A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

Alexander's biggest challenge as a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space is bridging the gap between commercial realities and the technical expectations of the engineering team, as they sometimes expect parts "very fast" and at a better price, without fully considering the manufacturability, cost, or lead time involved in production. This requires Alexander to translate commercial knowledge and "teach the engineering team the commercial side," often necessitating extensive justification when supplier limitations clash with programmatic needs.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Space Industry As A Global Supply Manager

Alexander enjoys the end products and competitiveness of the rocket launch industry, highlighting that despite being a small field with key players like SpaceX and Relativity Space, there's "untapped potential" for future space exploration beyond the moon, fueling excitement for reaching Mars and beyond. As a Global Supply Manager, being on the cusp of these advancements appears to be the most enjoyable and interesting aspect of their career.

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Space Industry As A Global Supply Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Aerospace Industry According To A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

Alexander believes that being direct and decisive is key for success in the fast-paced aerospace industry, stating "they'll tell you exactly what they are thinking," and emphasizes the importance of relationship building because "if you are not your own advocate, there isn't necessarily gonna be somebody else that is."

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Aerospace Industry According To A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space

What a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Supply Chain Industry

Alexander wishes one knew how "tactical" the Global Supply Manager role can be, especially regarding invoice management; while appreciating the strategic aspects like "data analysis" and "supply planning," managing invoices, ensuring parts conformity, and timely payments are crucial but less enjoyable, highlighting the importance of maintaining supplier relationships to avoid downstream effects. Ultimately, handling invoices could be "taken off [one's] plate to make this almost a perfect role".

What a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Supply Chain Industry

Entry-level Positions at Relativity Space for Aspiring Global Supply Managers

For undergrads and grad students aspiring to enter the space industry, especially Relativity Space, there are various entry points in supply chain and engineering, including roles like "global supply specialist" focusing on commercial off-the-shelf parts and order management, production or procurement coordinators managing inventory, and entry-level engineering positions centered on learning rocket design and assembly. Alexander emphasizes that while expertise isn't expected from the start, "urgency to learn" and eagerness to absorb knowledge from experienced colleagues are crucial for young professionals to contribute effectively.

Entry-level Positions at Relativity Space for Aspiring Global Supply Managers

Significant Career Lesson From a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

The most significant lesson Alexander has learned as a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space is to "always advocate for yourself" and not expect others to do it for you. By vocalizing work on impactful projects and sharing accomplishments, coupled with viewing requests for advice as a "compliment," a professional can effectively demonstrate their value and expertise, creating a form of advocacy through their competence.

Significant Career Lesson From a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

College Experiences That Helped a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space Succeed

Alexander attributes success to two procurement-focused internships at Shell and Becton Dickinson, leading to a procurement role at Niagara Bottling directly after graduation: "My two internships within... supply chain and procurement really set me up... for at least the beginning trajectory of my career." Furthermore, connections made at Niagara Bottling, some of whom became recruiters at SpaceX and Facebook, were critical in securing a senior role at SpaceX, proving the enduring value of professional relationships.

College Experiences That Helped a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space Succeed

A Day in the Life of a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space

Alexander, now a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space, found the class with Dr. Adon Perju to be the most impactful experience at WP Carey, specifically citing a project that involved determining the optimal location for a distribution center, which taught them to "think in the supply chain method when problem solving" by analyzing distance, costs, and labor in a way that a "normal brain without supply chain knowledge wouldn't necessarily think about."

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