Senior Manager - Supply Chain

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Hypersonics and Strategic Missile Defense business, which designs, develops, and delivers highly dependable missile systems for hypersonic and strategic missile defense missions. We provide integrated, mission-ready hardware that brings together multiple technologies into unified systems engineered to perform in demanding operational environments. Our tip-to-tail capabilities include payload protection and deployment systems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic interstage systems, separation systems, missile subsystems, shroud systems, launch systems, and payload integration solutions.

As the Senior Manager of Supply Chain, you will lead end‑to‑end supply chain, planning, and production control activities to ensure material availability, efficient scheduling, optimized inventory, and strong supplier performance across fast-paced aerospace programs. This role drives strategy, execution, and continuous improvement while aligning procurement, planning, logistics, and production control functions with operational capacity, customer requirements, and business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Leads Supply Chain, Planning, and Production Control teams, setting priorities, allocating resources, developing personnel, and ensuring effective execution across all functions.
• Develops and executes supply chain strategies that integrate procurement, production planning, inventory, logistics, capacity, and customer requirements with organizational objectives.
• Oversees production planning and production control activities, ensuring effective scheduling, material availability, job prioritization, capacity utilization, and on-time delivery.
• Leads procurement and supplier management activities, including sourcing, maintaining the Approved Supplier List, evaluating supplier performance, and driving supplier improvement.
• Manages inventory, logistics, and material flow to maintain proper inventory levels, timely material availability, effective warehousing, and control of excess and constrained materials.
• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators for supply chain, planning, production control, and suppliers, driving accountability and operational performance.
• Identifies and mitigates supply chain and production risks such as material shortages, supplier constraints, long lead-time materials, production capacity limitations, and schedule risks.
• Drives continuous improvement and standardization across supply chain functions, optimizing ERP/MRP processes, planning parameters, purchasing practices, scheduling methods, and inventory strategies.
• Provides cross-functional leadership with Operations, Program Management, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Manufacturing to resolve material, planning, supplier, and production issues.
• Develops a high-performing organization through clear expectations, accountability, training, succession planning, and professional development while fostering teamwork, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, operations management, business administration, engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• At least 8 years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, production planning, operations, or related disciplines, preferably within aerospace or complex manufacturing.
• At least 3 years of leadership or management experience, ideally overseeing multiple functional teams.
• Strong understanding of material requirements planning (MRP), enterprise resource planning (ERP), production planning, production control, procurement, inventory management, capacity planning, and supplier management.
• Experience with EPICOR or comparable ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong understanding of aerospace regulations and quality standards, including AS9100, National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP), and ISO 9001.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing operational key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging data to drive organizational performance.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or similar methodologies.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and team development skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-mix aerospace manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of aerospace supply chain practices, supplier quality requirements, customer flow-down requirements, and applicable industry regulations.
• A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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