Senior Director of Supplier Quality

Job Description You don’t see it, but it’s there. Our employees work on the world’s most advanced electronics – from saving emissions in the City of Lights to powering the Mars Rover to protecting the F-35 fighter jet. At Electronic Systems, you’ll be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry’s most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we’re innovating for the future. And you can, too. We put our customers first – exemplified by our missions: “We Protect Those Who Protect Us®” and “We Innovate For Those Who Move The World.” Sound like a team you want to be a part of?

Come build your career with BAE Systems. Our flexible work environment provides you a chance to change the world without giving up your personal life. Nashua, NH is an hour northwest of Boston with all the cultural offerings and professional sports team of city life, and less than two hours from skiing and the New Hampshire Seacoast.

Explore Life in New Hampshire | BAE Systems

The Successful Candidate

BAE Systems is seeking a Senior Leader of Supplier Quality for its Electronic Systems Sector in Nashua, NH. This position will lead a geographically diverse team of professionals responsible for development and oversight of a high-performing supply chain to predictably produce high order fulfillment rates, timely delivery, and delivers outstanding quality results. Supports the enterprise in driving quality, improved affordability, efficiency, and supply base performance with supplier partners including Strategic Sourcing initiatives aligned with Company-wide goals and objectives. The ability to effectively partner with multiple functional organizations across Electronic Systems is necessary for success. Demonstrate high degree of compliance, flexibility and efficiency in building systems and trust with suppliers and customers including regulatory agencies.

• Significant experience with, and an understanding of, sourcing and execution in regulated, demanding industries such as Aerospace/Defense, Medical Device, Automotive, or other challenging markets.
• A hands-on, engaged leader willing to take responsibility for resolving difficult challenges. Ability to navigate from enterprise trategic initiatives to tactical day-to-day actions required to support near-term business and diverse program needs.
• Proven ability to construct strategies for a global supply chain that maximizes quality performance, delivery predictability while optimizing overall cost. Turns strategies into actions with tangible results. An effective change leader.
• Critical ability to build strong supplier partnerships and leverage best quality control practices to drive performance
• Develop leaders and teams to be experts in quality science tools and methods to prevent problems, enabling success from initial sourcing. Drive robust root cause and corrective actions in supplier and internal business practices focused on mistake-proofing to assure business success.
• Exhibit strong risk mitigation skills by facilitating effective communication at all levels of the organization and across multiple cultures as well as into the customer or partner community.
• Has an agile leadership style and able to adjust one’s approach to fit the situation as a driver, coach, mentor, or teacher.
• A visible leader who takes a collaborative approach , approachable and works well with all businesses and functions in the company.
• Relates well with individuals at all levels of the organization, builds appropriate rapport, constructive and effective relationships.
• Can diffuse high-tension situations calmly and effectively.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Design and implementation of Supply Chain oversight models to support business growth and improvement strategies with Business Areas and Programs, integrating the use of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) tools in a long cycle business.
• Refine and execute strategic commodity oversight plans, in collaboration with team members and internal business partners.
• Ensure responsiveness to internal customers to meet service-level expectations while optimizing overall operating expenses.
• Partner with key suppliers to achieve superior quality performance, balancing risk and cost to develop mutually beneficial relationships that ensure long term success for both parties.
• Identify and qualify potential suppliers who provide the necessary technology and materials in support of strategic business plans. Drive and ensure suppliers are held accountable for meeting Quality, Deliver, and Cost needs and adopt continuous improvement initiatives to achieve performance excellence.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to ensure accurate and timely flow of information to leaders, team members, stakeholders and suppliers in the geographic area.
• Exhibits a high degree of technical credibility and communicates highly technical information in a simplistic and easily understandable way.

Because this role involves a combination of collaborative/in-person and independent work, it will take the form of a hybrid work format, with time split between working onsite and remotely.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a technical field
• LSS Green Belt
• 15 years of relevant work experience in Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality, preferably with 5+ years successfully leading a significant Supplier Quality organization
• Demonstrated mastery of the functional domain in Quality Science, strategy, standards and controls. Strong written, analytical and verbal communication skills
• Experience implementing Quality best practices, such as APQP/PPAP, through a Supply Chain supporting a large (>$1B annual revenue) manufacturing business
• Collaboration skills, Data Analytics, and Proficient in leveraging data science and Root Cause Corrective Actions implementation (RCCA)
• Extensive experience with Best in Class Manufacturing and Supply Chain principles, techniques, and Zero Defect tools and processes
• Demonstrated expertise in Industry Standards, Trade Associations, Certifications, and benchmarks. Comfortable interacting with Certifying Bodies to maintain required certifications.
• Capable of influencing a wide range of audiences, and having demonstrated leadership skills to win support via expanding sphere of influence across the organization
• Willingness to travel up to approximately 25% of the time
• Ability to secure a US DoD security clearance

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills Preferred Skills and Education

• Technical MS and MBA degrees
• Black Belt certification from ASQ
• Proficient in leveraging quality science tools, processes and people
• Experience implementing AS9145 APQP/PPAP in aerospace and defense industry, or another long cycle business, on both new launch and post-qualification programs
• Experience with Quality 4.0, IoT, AI or supply chain AI to enable problem solving, value creation
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Auditor or CQM/OE Certification
• Active Secret or higher clearance
• Approachable hands-on style with the ability to engage with people at all levels of management. Customer experience, including in a regulatory engagement, is desired
• Demonstrated track record of recruiting, retaining and promoting talent (executive and managers) to create diverse high performing teams
• Must be able to demonstrate accomplishments in setting strategic direction, prioritizing tasks, and overcoming obstacles

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $200222 - $340378

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.


Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.