Supply Chain Operations Lead

Senior Manager, Supply Chain OperationsAn early-stage aerospace and defense manufacturing company is building the operational infrastructure required to transition from advanced prototype development into scalable production.We are seeking a Senior Manager, Supply Chain Operations to establish the systems, processes, planning methodologies, and operational discipline needed to support that growth. This is a hands-on builder role for someone who has experience creating supply chain infrastructure within a complex manufacturing environment and can translate operational requirements into scalable business processes and systems.The initial focus will be on planning, inventory, ERP/MRP processes, supplier governance, and cross-functional operational workflows. The successful candidate will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Software teams to establish how the supply chain operates and build the foundation for a growing organization.This role will initially operate with significant individual ownership, with the opportunity to help shape and build the broader supply chain organization as the company scales.What You'll DoSupply Chain Operations & Process ArchitectureDesign and establish the operational processes required to support planning, inventory, procurement, supplier management, and manufacturing operations.Build scalable workflows and operating processes from the ground up, with an emphasis on execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.Establish master data standards and governance across suppliers, inventory, procurement, and planning.Develop operational dashboards, KPIs, reporting, and management processes to improve visibility and decision-making.Establish operating rhythms, process ownership, governance, and controls across supply chain activities.Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Software teams to ensure business processes and systems support organizational objectives.Translate operational requirements into business and system requirements for ERP/MRP and other operational platforms.Lead adoption, implementation, training, and continuous improvement of new processes and systems.ERP / MRP & PlanningDesign, implement, and optimize ERP/MRP processes within a manufacturing environment.Develop material planning, demand planning, and supply planning methodologies.Establish appropriate MRP parameters, planning policies, and replenishment strategies.Build inventory control processes that improve accuracy, availability, and working capital management.Develop capacity planning and production-readiness processes.Ensure material availability aligns with engineering and manufacturing schedules.Continuously evaluate and improve the effectiveness of planning systems and operational workflows.Supplier Operations & ComplianceEstablish supplier qualification, onboarding, governance, and performance-management processes.Develop and maintain an approved supplier framework.Establish processes for supplier audits, corrective actions, and ongoing performance monitoring.Partner with Quality and Engineering to address supplier performance and quality issues.Develop supplier-management processes appropriate for an AS9100 manufacturing environment.Support operational readiness for ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, and other applicable defense-industry requirements.Establish scalable supplier processes that support future production growth and operational requirements.Manufacturing Scale-UpBuild supply chain processes capable of supporting the transition from prototype development into production.Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing on new product introduction, production readiness, and material requirements.Identify operational constraints and develop processes to improve material availability, planning accuracy, and manufacturing execution.Establish scalable systems and processes that can evolve as production volume and organizational complexity increase.Identify supply chain risks related to materials, capacity, suppliers, and production requirements and develop mitigation strategies.What We're Looking For8+ years of experience in supply chain operations, manufacturing operations, planning, materials management, procurement, or a related discipline.Experience operating within an aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment.Experience supporting AS9100-certified or AS9100-compliant operations.Experience working within ITAR-controlled environments and familiarity with defense-industry requirements such as DFARS and CMMC.Demonstrated experience implementing, optimizing, or scaling ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.Strong experience designing and implementing operational processes for planning, inventory, procurement, supplier management, or manufacturing operations.Experience acting as a business process owner or functional leader for ERP/MRP or other operational systems.Demonstrated ability to build operational infrastructure and processes in a startup, high-growth, or rapidly scaling manufacturing environment.Strong cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to work effectively with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Software teams.Strong project management, process-development, and problem-solving capabilities.Ability to operate strategically while remaining highly hands-on in execution.Must be a U.S. person and eligible to work on programs subject to U.S. export-control regulations.Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting production scale-up from prototype development through low-rate initial production and/or full-rate manufacturing.Experience establishing supply chain, planning, inventory, or materials-management functions within a growing manufacturing organization.Experience developing operational metrics, dashboards, KPI frameworks, and business reporting systems.Experience translating business requirements into ERP/MRP functionality and partnering with technical teams on system implementation.Experience with Odoo or comparable ERP platforms.Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, CPSM, or similar certification.What Success Looks LikeDuring the first year, you will be expected to:Establish and stabilize core supply chain planning, inventory, procurement, and operational workflows.Implement effective ERP/MRP processes and planning methodologies.Establish master data standards and governance.Build operational dashboards, KPIs, and reporting processes.Establish supplier qualification, onboarding, governance, and compliance processes.Improve material availability, inventory accuracy, planning effectiveness, and operational discipline.Build scalable supply chain infrastructure capable of supporting increasing manufacturing complexity and production volume.Compensation & BenefitsTarget Base Salary: $160,000 – $185,000, plus meaningful equity participationBenefits include:Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverageCompany-paid basic life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance401(k)Unlimited PTOCompany-provided meals and stocked kitchenRelocation assistance, where applicableMeaningful equity participationImportant Eligibility RequirementDue to the nature of the company's aerospace and defense programs, this position requires candidates to be U.S. persons eligible to work on programs subject to U.S. export-control regulations, including ITAR.The company is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process.