Director of Supply Chain

About the Role

Riverbend Energetics is seeking an experienced Supply Chain Director to lead and optimize our end-to-end supply chain operations supporting the production of energetic components, electric/stab detonators, and CAD/PAD systems for the U.S. defense industry. This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted flow of materials, components, and services that enable Riverbend to meet mission-critical delivery commitments to our defense customers. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in defense supply chain management, a strong understanding of regulatory compliance, and a proven track record of building resilient, high-performing supply chain teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's supply chain strategy, encompassing procurement, supplier management, inventory control, logistics, and materials planning to support production schedules for energetic and pyrotechnic product lines
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing supply chain team, establishing clear performance expectations, development plans, and accountability structures
• Identify, qualify, and manage a robust supplier base capable of meeting stringent quality, delivery, and regulatory requirements associated with energetic materials and defense-grade components
• Negotiate and administer long-term supplier agreements, blanket purchase orders, and strategic contracts to ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and favorable terms
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to support new product introductions, engineering changes, and customer-driven delivery requirements
• Ensure full compliance with applicable federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS), export control requirements (ITAR/EAR), and Riverbend's internal procurement and ethics policies
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain using data-driven methodologies to reduce lead times, lower total cost of ownership, and mitigate single-source and sole-source supply risks
• Monitor supply chain performance metrics and provide regular reporting to executive leadership, identifying risks and implementing corrective actions as needed

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive supply chain experience, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership or director-level role
• Demonstrated experience managing supply chains within the U.S. defense industry, including familiarity with government contracting requirements (FAR/DFARS)
• Working knowledge of ITAR and export control regulations as they apply to defense procurement and supplier management
• Proven ability to develop supplier relationships, negotiate complex contracts, and manage supplier performance in a regulated manufacturing environment
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with experience presenting to executive leadership and external stakeholders
• U.S. citizenship required; must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline
• APICS CSCP, CPIM, or ISM CPSM certification
• Experience in the energetics, pyrotechnics, ammunition, or explosives industry, with an understanding of the unique supply chain challenges associated with hazardous materials
• Familiarity with ATF, DoT, and DoD regulatory frameworks governing the procurement, storage, and transportation of energetic materials
• Experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)
• Prior experience supporting DCSA facility security requirements or working within a classified manufacturing environment

Key Requirements

• Defense Supply Chain Regulatory Fluency: Riverbend operates under a dense web of federal compliance requirements — FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, ATF, DoT, and DoD frameworks — that directly govern how procurement is conducted, how suppliers are qualified, and how materials move. A misstep in any of these areas can halt production, jeopardize contracts, or trigger federal penalties. A director who treats compliance as muscle memory rather than a lookup exercise protects the company and keeps programs on schedule.
• Materials Planning and Inventory Management Expertise: Energetic component production runs on tight, sequenced schedules where a missing material can idle a production line or breach a defense delivery commitment. At 150 people, there is no organizational slack to absorb a planning failure. The director must be a genuine expert in MRP/ERP-driven materials planning, inventory optimization, and production scheduling — not someone who has delegated this to a planner while focusing solely on procurement. This is the operational engine of the supply chain function.
• Supply Chain Team Leadership and Staff Development: The job description explicitly calls for building, mentoring, and leading a high-performing supply chain team with clear performance expectations and development plans. At a 150-person company the director is a player-coach who also carries direct reports ranging from seasoned professionals to early-career staff who need active coaching. The ability to set standards, develop talent, manage underperformance, and retain experienced contributors is as operationally important as any technical supply chain skill — team failure is program failure.
• Supply Chain Resilience and Risk Mitigation in Regulated Manufacturing: Energetic components and CAD/PAD systems rely on specialty materials and sole-source or limited-source suppliers — making supply disruption a mission-critical risk. At a 150-person company, there is no buffer of redundant procurement staff to absorb a supply crisis. The director must proactively identify and reduce single-source dependencies, build strategic inventory buffers, and maintain continuity plans before they are needed rather than in reaction to a failure.
• Hazardous or Energetic Materials Supply Chain Experience: Procuring, storing, and transporting energetic materials, pyrotechnics, or explosives carries regulatory and safety requirements — ATF licensing, DoT hazmat shipping classifications, explosive site plans — that are invisible in conventional manufacturing supply chains. A director who has never navigated these requirements will face a steep and risky learning curve. Someone from an adjacent hazardous-materials industry can transfer this mindset even if they lack direct energetics experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• The opportunity to play a strategic leadership role at a growing defense contractor delivering mission-critical components to the U.S. military and allied customers
• A collaborative, safety-first culture where your expertise directly contributes to national defense readiness
• Stability and growth potential within a specialized industry segment with long-term government program commitments

About Riverbend Energetics

Riverbend Energetics is a defense and industrial manufacturer based in Alton, IL. We develop and produce energetic materials and specialty munitions for U.S. defense and allied customers. Our mission-critical work demands precision, safety, and a commitment to excellence.