Head of Supply Chain

Responsibilities

• Define and execute supply chain strategy as the company scales from R&D to production
• Build and lead a high-performing organization, establishing structure, roles, and operating cadence
• Partner with leadership to align supply chain capabilities with engineering, manufacturing, and business priorities
• Drive make-vs-buy decisions and vertical integration strategy
• Establish scalable processes, KPIs, and systems for end-to-end visibility and control
• Own procurement execution across direct, indirect, and long-lead materials
• Ensure efficient material flow, supplier performance, and operational readiness
• Continuously evolve processes to match the shift from prototype to production
• Build and manage a network of high-performing suppliers
• Own supplier lifecycle from selection through performance management
• Negotiate key agreements balancing cost, quality, delivery, and partnership
• Identify and mitigate risks across supply base, long-lead items, and critical paths
• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and IT
• Align engineering schedules, production plans, and supplier capacity
• Drive accountability, transparency, and strong communication across teams

  Requirements

  • 10+ years of supply chain/procurement experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
  • 5+ years in leadership roles building and scaling teams
  • Experience across the full product lifecycle (development through production)
  • Deep expertise in sourcing, supplier management, and procurement operations
  • Strong systems thinker with experience building scalable processes and working with ERP/MRP systems
  • Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments

  Preferred Skills & Experience

  • Startup or high-growth company experience
  • Background in aerospace programs, propulsion, avionics, or flight hardware
  • Experience with ITAR/EAR, classified programs, or government contracting
  • ERP implementation or transformation experience
  • Leveranufacturing or continuous improvement experience