Senior Supply Chain Manager

Senior Manager, Supply Chain | Material Program Management | Melbourne, FL (Aerospace & Defense)

LOCATION: Melbourne, Florida area | On-site, 9/80 schedule

COMPANY: EXO Talent Partners (confidential retained search)

The opportunity

EXO Talent Partners is retained on a confidential search for a Senior Manager, Supply Chain to lead the Material Program Management function at an established, growing aerospace and defense manufacturer in the Melbourne, Florida area.

This is a lead-and-build seat for an operator with real Material Program Management depth. You own program material cost, schedule, and supplier performance across a portfolio of development and production programs, and you lead and develop the team of Material Program Managers who execute it. You report into a new Director with a prime-contractor background who is actively investing in the MPM discipline. The role offers meaningful influence on how the function matures over the next 12 to 24 months.

The client is held confidential at this stage and shared on a 30-minute call once initial fit is clear.

What you’ll own

1. You lead a team of Material Program Managers at the Melbourne site. The MPMs own program material cost and schedule, sit on product line directors’ staffs, and interface daily with program management on behalf of supply chain.
2. You are the manager and coach of that team, and you carry one or two of your own programs because the culture values hands-on leadership.
3. You partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Contracts, and Operations in a high-tempo, matrixed environment.
4. You set the standard for forecasting discipline, material EAC ownership, variance analysis, and risk and opportunity management.
5. You drive program supply chain strategy including make-buy, sourcing, subcontracting, and continuity of supply, aligned to the Integrated Master Schedule.
6. You help build out the MPM certification program alongside the Director. You develop your bench so there is a Senior Manager behind you within 18 months.
7. In the first 60 days you’ll stabilize the team and get on top of the active program portfolio. In the first six months you’ll have hands-on ownership of two or three programs where material is on the critical path, modeling the standard for the team.
8. In the first 12 months you’ll have rebuilt the operating cadence between supply chain and program management, developed your bench, and built the counterpart relationship with the sister site so the function operates as one across geographies.

What you bring

• Ten or more years in supply chain, material program management, subcontract management, or program operations inside an aerospace and defense prime or supplier.
• At least three years of direct people leadership.
• Hands-on ownership of program material cost and schedule including forecasting, EAC discipline, variance drivers, and recovery execution.
• Strong cross-functional leadership in a matrixed environment with executive-level communication. Bachelor’s in supply chain, business, engineering, operations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Fluency in FAR, DFARS, and ITAR. Comfort across FFP, cost-type, IDIQ, and OTA contract vehicles. Working knowledge of EVM and material EAC methodology.
• Ability to engage substantively with engineering on technical trade-offs.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree (MBA or technical).
• EVM/EVMS certification or Control Account Manager experience. Proposal and Basis of Estimate development. SAP or Oracle MRP/ERP.
• Experience building or leading function-level maturity initiatives.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship required. Active DoD Secret clearance, or demonstrated ability to obtain one within a reasonable period after starting. On-site in the Melbourne, Florida area on a 9/80 schedule.

Compensation

Competitive, scoped to the profile. Base, annual incentive, sign-on availability, and the full benefits package will be shared on the confidential call.

If this seat isn't the right fit, EXO maintains an active bench across aerospace and defense supply chain and program leadership roles.

EXO Talent Partners and our client are equal opportunity employers and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind.