Materials & Supply Chain Operations Manager (GovCon)

What a day looks like

You start the morning syncing with your team of Buyer/Planners, Scheduling, Inventory Cage, and Logistics professionals to lock in a production plan that hits cost and delivery targets. A quick scan of ERP dashboards and fresh reports flags a part with a slipping lead time—action taken, plan adjusted.

Mid-morning, you step into the Material Review Board as the voice of materials. You advise on disposition, confirm availability, and call out any schedule impacts so production keeps moving.

Afterward, you shift into proposal mode—assembling material proposals for ROM, FFP, and Cost-Plus contracts and uploading accurate material price lists in accordance with FAR and contractual requirements. You keep auditable bid records pristine and aligned with FAR/DFARS, and you ensure supplier surveys support Small Business Subcontracting Plan reporting. Generating IUIDs and submitting them through WAWF is second nature.

In the afternoon, you scout and qualify suppliers, compare cost, lead time, and availability, and negotiate terms that balance value and risk. You pore over catalogs, data sheets, and samples to validate fit, form, and function. With Engineering and Manufacturing at your side, you read drawings and technical data to make sure what’s ordered is what’s needed.

Before close, you execute an obsolescence review, identify last-time buys to bridge legacy and new designs, and drive supply chain process improvements that boost efficiency and reduce cost. You round out the day by reviewing supplier KPIs and planning corrective actions where quality, cost, or delivery stray from targets.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to resolve material and supplier issues.
• Represent Materials in MRB, advising on disposition, availability, and schedule impacts.
• Build material proposals for ROM, FFP, and Cost-Plus contracts; upload material price lists per FAR and contractual rules; maintain auditable bid records.
• Generate IUIDs and process them via WAWF; complete supplier surveys supporting Small Business Subcontracting Plans.
• Source, assess, and recommend suppliers; obtain and evaluate catalogs, data sheets, literature, and samples.
• Define purchasing specifications and performance requirements on POs; negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FAR/DFARS and contractual obligations.
• Lead process improvements to elevate efficiency and reduce cost across the supply chain.
• Own annual supplier performance reviews and KPIs for quality, cost, and delivery.
• Generate and interpret reports, taking decisive, data-driven action.
• Analyze manufacturing requirements, engineering designs, and technical data to enable accurate procurement.
• Conduct obsolescence analyses and plan last-time buys to bridge legacy and new designs.
• Validate material accuracy by reviewing and interpreting engineering documentation.
• Manage inventory control processes and kitting for production.
• Use ERP to execute purchasing, planning, and inventory control effectively.
• Oversee production scheduling and material planning to meet cost and delivery objectives.
• Lead Buyer/Planners, Scheduling, Inventory Cage, and Logistics personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years in procurement, production planning, or supply chain management, ideally in government contracting or manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership/management experience.
• Deep familiarity with FAR/DFARS.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office; Microsoft Dynamics experience is a plus.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.

Proficiencies

• Supplier Management; Vendor & Supplier Management
• Shipping/Receiving
• ERP & MRP systems
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Inventory Management & Control
• Supply Chain Management
• Commodity Purchasing
• Sourcing & Procurement
• Supplier Negotiation