Supplier Development Lead

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About the role

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. The Supplier Development Lead (SDL) is a critical forward-deployed role within the Global Supplier Development organization, responsible for driving supplier recovery, capability improvement, and sustainable performance. This role is hands-on and cross-functional, supporting operational containment, supplier assessments, and execution of structured improvement plans across global commodities. The ideal candidate is both detail-oriented and strategic, capable of managing crisis situations and long-term development actions that align with business unit goals and enterprise-wide initiatives. This is a remote role; however, the candidate must be able to travel at least 50% of the time to support supplier development needs.

Responsibilities

• Containment & Recovery:
  • Lead internal and supplier containment actions in collaboration with Operations and Quality.
  • Facilitate supplier kick-off meetings to align expectations and establish rapid response actions.
  • Conduct Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations to resolve critical quality or delivery issues.
  • Coordinate with stakeholders to develop and implement improvement plans and ensure clear communication through plan review checkpoints.
  • Monitor leading and lagging Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess progress.
  • Evaluate whether exit criteria have been achieved for containment efforts.
  • Escalate persistent issues to crisis mode or tiger teams when warranted.
  • Partner with Commodity Teams and SBUs to ensure closed-loop feedback and transition to sustainable operations.
• Supplier Development & Capability Building:
  • Lead supplier site identification and prioritize development efforts aligned with risk, impact, and strategic commodity needs.
  • Conduct supplier assessments using SRA, SHA, Gemba, etc.
  • Engage suppliers with development roadmaps, training, and targeted actions tied to maturity models and long-term growth.
  • Align with Commodity Managers and Engineering teams on supplier readiness for new programs or volume ramp-ups.
  • Facilitate structured improvement plan development, KPI tracking, and gate reviews.
  • Monitor progress toward achieving target maturity levels and initiate sustainment planning once development objectives are met.
  • Support long-term monitoring and re-engagement cycles to ensure supplier performance remains stable.
  • Develop and build manufacturing process technology tools and standardization including FMEA and Control Plans.
• Transition Management & Leadership:
  • Provide leadership and/or support for supplier transitions, ensuring a smooth handover of work scope with minimal disruption.
  • Support the sustainment phase by monitoring supplier maturity post-transition and ensuring long-term capability.
  • Align with internal business units and suppliers to reinforce performance expectations and continuous improvement efforts.
  • Execute APQP for new product launch and work transition projects.
• Key Interfaces:
  • Commodity Managers
  • Quality Assurance & Engineering
  • Operations and Planning
  • Supplier Business Units (SBUs)
  • Supplier Site Leadership
  • Crisis Response and Tiger Teams

Requirements

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Ability to travel to supplier sites as needed - minimum of 50% of time.

Qualifications

• You Must Have:
  • University Degree and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
  • Ability to travel to supplier sites as needed (minimum 50% of time).
• We Prefer:
  • Experience leading supplier recovery efforts and supplier transitions.
  • Ability to conduct Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations for critical quality or delivery issues.
  • Project management experience.
  • Background in operations/manufacturing, engineering, quality, or supply chain with supplier-facing work.
  • Experience working with engineered items (castings, plastics, machining, mechanical fabrication, forgings, electrics).
  • Ability to apply lean principles/tools for continuous improvement and process management.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (MS Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
  • Experience with and creation of LOB (Line of Balance), WIP (Work in Progress) trackers, Clear to Build, Inch stone charts.
• Additional Skills We Value:
  • Demonstrated executive presence with the ability to effectively present to customers, engage with VP-level leadership, and collaborate directly with CEOs and Presidents at key suppliers.
  • High energy, strong communication skills, and ability to build cross-functional relationships across Collins Aerospace.
  • Strong organizational skills and work orientation.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student Loan Repayment Program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverages you can buy: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits.
• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning.
• Adoption Assistance.
• Autism Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions.
• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program.
• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits.
• Bright Horizons, child and elder care services.
• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program.

Pay

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.