Project Manager - Supplier Management & Supply Chain

Job Title: Program/Project Manager - Supplier Management & Supply Chain

Duration: 3 years

Client: Defense Research Lab

Location: Lexington, MA – 2-3 days/wk onsite

Description: Oversees and manages the operational aspects of ongoing projects and serves as liaison between project management and planning, project team, and line management. Reviews status of projects and budgets, manages schedules, and prepares status reports. Assesses project issues and develops resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals and objectives. Develops mechanisms for monitoring project progress and for intervention and problem solving with project managers, line managers, clients, and other stakeholders.

Background/Need: Client recently established an Enterprise Supply Chain program to improve its end-to-end supply chain functions. The Supplier Management & Development Workstream was stood up in support of the Laboratory’s Enterprise Supply Chain program.

We are seeking a supplier management expert with program/project management experience to support the Laboratory’s Enterprise Supply Chain program. This position will interact frequently with the Supplier Management & Development Workstream Lead and will support the Workstream Lead by suggesting industry best practices that may help the Laboratory build Supplier Management processes and capabilities. This position will serve as the Program/Project Manager for the Supplier Management & Development Workstream.

Specific duties include:

• Support defining/refining supplier management process, including identifying individual parties’ roles and responsibilities in the supplier management process
• Provide advice and support implementation of supplier management terminology and industry best practices that the Laboratory can adapt within the Enterprise Supply Chain umbrella
• Develop a supplier management architecture that will support needed capabilities, conduct trade studies, and recommend potential solutions while incorporating industry best practices balanced with Laboratory prototyping needs
• Document assumptions, issues, and agreements reached when working with Enterprise Supply Chain team
• Provide a list of recommendations to address supplier management pain points gathered by the Laboratory
• Educate on challenges that may arise on selected supplier management decision paths (pros – cons)
• Provide input/recommendation to facilitate decision making to include:
• o Leading supplier management function at similar or larger size organization (aerospace/defense)
• o Proactively/actively managing suppliers to meet Laboratory programmatic needs
• o Incentivizing suppliers to meet Laboratory needs
• o Collaborating with engineering to ensure proactive supplier management
• Create Laboratory supplier management process/training materials
• Train and mentor Laboratory supplier management stakeholders when implementing new processes

Required Qualifications:

• 10 years working in supplier management and business operations of similar size (aerospace/defense industry experience preferred)
• Experience recommending and implementing comprehensive end-to-end supplier management solutions, especially in early prototyping environments, engineering development start-ups, or high-mix, low volume organizations
• Experience working with suppliers in the prototyping, manufacturing, and engineering space (supporting design/build/test activities)
• Demonstrated experience starting and leading new strategic management initiatives
• Demonstrated understanding of available industry supplier management software tools; experience in integration of process and software tools that advance the efficiency of staff
• Documented success with organizational transformation, facilitating critical decision making, and implementing process improvement
• Demonstrated integration of processes, capabilities, tools, and staff needs to successfully develop a supplier management solution that support research programs, contracting staff, quality control, and technology development
• Proven leadership skills in a variety of roles
• Demonstrated strategic/critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving skills, talent for debate and challenging the status-quo and providing fact-based analysis of alternatives
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Required Credentials:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, or Purchasing/Procurement (or equivalent experience)

Preferred Certification(s):

• Project Management Professional certification (PMP)
• ASCM Certified Supply Chain Professional
• ISM Certified Professional
• HIGHLY preferred to have previous experience in a DoD-focused organization with clear understanding of DoD program execution and the rules that are required for compliance in both the FAR clauses as well as the application of industry standard practices

Others:

• Clearance: Interim clearance is sufficient to start.
• Work Location: Candidate should expect to be onsite a minimum 2-3 days per week as well as being available as needed for onsite meetings
• Interview Process: Initial zoom screening and then second round zoom interview.