Supply Chain Director

Position Summary

The Director of Supply Chain will provide strategic leadership and oversee all supply chain operations for a Confidential Company's FAA Part 145 Repair Station. This comprehensive role encompasses procurement, inventory management, warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, supplier development, demand planning, forecasting, transportation, logistics, and material management. The objective is to ensure the timely availability of necessary materials and services to support production schedules, while simultaneously optimizing inventory investment, reducing lead times, controlling costs, and enhancing overall operational efficiency. This position requires close collaboration with Operations, Production Control, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align supply chain strategies with business goals and customer commitments. The ultimate aim is to cultivate a top-tier supply chain organization that supports growth, improves turnaround times, minimizes material shortages, optimizes logistics expenses, and maximizes profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the company's overarching supply chain strategy, ensuring alignment with operational and financial objectives.
• Lead all facets of the supply chain, including purchasing, inventory control, warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, and logistics.
• Formulate long-term plans to accommodate business expansion, increased production capacity, new service offerings, and strategic projects.
• Collaborate with executive management to establish annual operating plans and capital investment strategies.
• Proactively identify potential supply chain risks and develop effective mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Spearhead strategic sourcing initiatives to achieve cost reductions, enhance supplier performance, and bolster supply chain reliability.
• Negotiate favorable supplier agreements, long-term contracts, pricing structures, and service-level agreements.
• Execute sourcing, procurement, logistics, and supplier management strategies to optimize total supply chain costs, encompassing material acquisition, transportation, freight, and outsourced repair services.
• Manage relationships with carriers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers to secure cost-effective transportation solutions that meet customer delivery timelines.
• Initiate and drive programs to reduce freight, transportation, and expedited shipping expenses through improved planning and supplier performance management.
• Establish and rigorously monitor key supplier performance metrics, including on-time delivery, quality, lead time, cost competitiveness, and responsiveness.
• Develop and maintain preferred supplier programs.
• Lead supplier audits and business reviews in conjunction with Quality and Engineering departments.
• Implement alternative sourcing strategies to reduce reliance on single-source suppliers.
• Direct inventory planning to guarantee material availability while minimizing excess stock.
• Develop sophisticated forecasting models incorporating customer demand, historical usage, production schedules, and business projections.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive inventory management policies, including safety stock levels, min/max levels, reorder points, and obsolescence management.
• Lead initiatives aimed at improving inventory accuracy and turnover rates.
• Oversee cycle count programs and inventory reconciliation processes.
• Develop strategies for effectively managing slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory.
• Collaborate with Production Control and Operations leadership to ensure material availability aligns with production schedules.
• Implement systems to proactively identify and escalate material shortages before they impact customer commitments.
• Monitor critical work orders and high-priority customer programs.
• Enhance material flow and operational efficiency across the organization.
• Support capacity planning and long-term production forecasting efforts.
• Develop and maintain executive-level dashboards and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports.
• Leverage data analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives throughout supply chain operations.
• Drive automation and digital transformation efforts using ERP systems, reporting tools, and advanced analytics.
• Establish measurable performance metrics and regularly communicate results to executive leadership.
• Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction initiatives without compromising quality, compliance, or customer service.
• Monitor inventory investment and working capital performance.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Analyze the financial implications of inventory decisions, supplier agreements, sourcing strategies, and transportation expenditures.
• Ensure strict adherence to FAA Part 145 regulations concerning material control, traceability, and documentation.
• Maintain compliance with company quality procedures and all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure adherence to FAA, DOT, OSHA, and hazardous materials regulations.
• Support customer, FAA, EASA, and third-party audits as required.
• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to all supply chain personnel.
• Develop succession plans and organizational growth strategies.
• Establish departmental goals, objectives, and performance metrics.
• Coach, mentor, and develop management and staff.
• Lead hiring, performance management, training, and employee development initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and commitment to organizational values.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance in this role will be evaluated based on:

• Inventory Turns
• Inventory Accuracy
• Material Availability
• Stockout Frequency
• Supplier On-Time Delivery
• Procurement Cost Savings
• Material Cost Variance
• Outside Repair Lead Time
• Purchase Order Cycle Time
• Inventory Carrying Costs
• Freight Cost as a Percentage of Revenue
• Customer Delivery Performance
• Working Capital Performance
• Employee Development and Retention

Qualifications

Education

• A Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a closely related field is mandatory.
• An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.
• APICS/ASCM certifications such as CPIM or CSCP are advantageous.

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in supply chain management, procurement, inventory management, logistics, or operations is required.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing multiple supply chain functions is necessary.
• Direct experience within the aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, or MRO sectors is essential.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams responsible for purchasing, warehouse operations, inventory control, shipping, and receiving is required.
• Proficiency in utilizing ERP systems, forecasting tools, and supply chain analytics platforms is necessary.

Knowledge and Skills

• A thorough understanding of FAA Part 145 operations and aviation material traceability regulations is critical.
• Exceptional financial and business acumen.
• Advanced expertise in forecasting and inventory planning methodologies.
• Proven experience in contract negotiation and supplier development.
• Strong analytical capabilities and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience in developing executive dashboards, KPIs, and performance reporting.
• A track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams and implementing large-scale operational improvements.