Senior/Lead Supply Chain Specialist

Position Summary

The Senior/Lead Supply Chain Specialist owns sustaining procurement and supplier management while supporting New Product Introductions (NPI) through supplier assessment, qualification, and onboarding in a regulated medical device environment. This role is responsible for ensuring continuity of supply, inventory health, and supplier performance for released products, while building and maturing scalable supply chain processes to support company growth.

In this role, you will execute day‑to‑day procurement and planning activities, partner cross‑functionally to enable successful product launches, and develop the systems, governance, and standard work necessary to scale operations. This position blends hands‑on execution with operational leadership and is ideal for someone who thrives in fast‑paced, high‑growth environments.

Principal Responsibilities

Sustaining Procurement and Inventory Management

· Own sustaining procurement for released products, ensuring continuity of supply, cost control, and on-time material availability.

· Manage supplier and contract manufacturer relationships, including performance reviews, KPI development and tracking (OTIF, quality, lead time, cost), and issue resolution.

· Translate demand forecasts into executable procurement and supply plans in partnership with Commercial Operations and Manufacturing.

· Execute day‑to‑day MRP and purchasing activities; monitor inventory health and implement actions to balance service levels, risk mitigations, inventory turns, cash flow, and excess/obsolescence risk.

NPI Supplier Development, Project Management, & Change Management

· Support New Product Introductions by assessing, selecting, qualifying, and onboarding suppliers aligned with technical, quality, and supply requirements.

· Lead or support RFIs/RFQs, supplier capability evaluations, risk assessments, and total cost analyses.

· Partner with Quality and Engineering to support supplier audits, PPAP/FAI, process validations, and documentation readiness.

· Identify long‑lead and critical components early in NPI timelines and secure production‑ready supply to meet project milestones.

· Own project management for supply chain activities within NPI programs, including defining deliverables, tracking milestones, managing dependencies, and communicating risks and status to cross‑functional stakeholders.

· Execute supply chain activities related to engineering and document changes (ECO/DCO), ensuring BOM, sourcing, and system alignment.

Process Development & Scale

· Develop, document, and mature procurement, planning, and supplier management processes to support scaling operations.

· Establish and govern MRP data integrity, including item master setup, lead times, safety stock policies, planning parameters, and BOM alignment between ERP and QMS.

· Define inventory and planning governance models that enable predictable execution and cross‑functional alignment.

· Improve workflows, systems utilization, reporting, and data accuracy to increase efficiency, visibility, and audit readiness.

· Ensure compliance with ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820/QSMR, and internal quality system requirements across supply chain activities.

Essential Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree

· 6 years in procurement and planning (medical device strongly preferred) with proven success and increasing responsibilities across S&OP, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and NPI support.

· ERP expertise, QMS understanding

· Advanced Excel and solid MS Office skills; comfort presenting insights at both strategic and tactical levels.

· Working understanding of engineering drawings, BOM structures, revision control, and cost drivers for mechanical and electro-mechanical parts, as well as plastics, sewn products, and/or packaging.

· Experience with international suppliers and contract manufacturers.

Desired Skills

· Regulatory & Quality: Familiarity with ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820/QSMR; understanding of labeling/packaging controls and traceability requirements; experience supporting supplier audits and corrective actions (SCAR/CAPA).

· Certifications: CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, CPM, or PMP.

· Experience with consignment/VMI and cost modeling/should-cost.

· Exposure to PPAP/FAI, process validation, and supplier capability assessments.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Diego, CA 92102