Title:  Director, Supply Chain

Director, Supply Chain (L7)

Reference #33616

Waterdown, Ontario

Key Responsibilities

1. Supply Chain Strategy & Governance

• Define, lead, and maintain enterprise-wide supply chain strategies aligned with business objectives, financial targets, and long-term growth plans.
• Direct and coordinate both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic initiatives across Procurement, Inventory, Logistics, and Subcontract Management.
• Ensure all supply chain objectives, policies, and initiatives align with corporate strategy, compliance requirements, and budgetary commitments.
• Actively participate as a member of the Sector Leadership Team and Supply Chain Functional Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise strategy development and execution.

2. Procurement, Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Establish, communicate, and govern procurement policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with legal, regulatory, and internal compliance requirements.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities including tenders, bids, quotations, contract negotiations, and contract finalization.
• Own relationships with strategic, critical, and OEM suppliers to drive long-term value creation and performance improvement.
• Lead or support complex commercial negotiations in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Oversee supplier performance, contract compliance, issue resolution, and supplier development initiatives.
• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and audit new suppliers, ensuring technical, quality, and commercial alignment.
• Promote consistency in subcontract management practices and define clear expectations across procurement and program management.

3. Inventory, Material Management & Availability

• Lead material management to ensure on-time availability of parts, consumables, repairs, and tooling to support customer delivery commitments.
• Manage and optimize inventory across new materials and consumables.
• Balance customer service level requirements with working capital and inventory turns objectives.
• Proactively manage material shortages and expedite critical items to support Material on-time to need.
• Oversee bonded stores, ensuring full parts traceability, certification, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor, manage, and recover Excess & Obsolete (E&O) inventory.
• Ensure accurate cost roll-up for materials and finished goods.

4. Logistics, Distribution & Warehousing

• Oversee domestic and international logistics and distribution operations, including shipment planning and execution.
• Ensure compliance with import/export regulations, trade compliance, customs requirements, and transportation standards.
• Manage material flow to ensure inventory levels support customer delivery performance while minimizing holding costs.
• Develop and execute logistics strategies that optimize cost, service, and reliability across all sites.

5. Risk Management, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including supply disruptions, geopolitical risks, regulatory changes, and capacity constraints.
• Monitor market trends, raw material costs, regulatory developments, and global conditions to anticipate risks and opportunities.
• Ensure supplier compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Lead audit readiness and compliance activities across procurement, logistics, inventory, and subcontract management.
• Establish and maintain effective business continuity and risk mitigation strategies across the supply chain.

6. Performance Management, Analytics & Cost Control

• Establish, track, and manage KPIs across procurement, logistics, inventory, subcontract management, and supplier performance.
• Develop performance metrics including quality, cost, delivery, sustainability, compliance, buyer productivity, and material shortage elimination.
• Evaluate internal supply chain performance and drive continuous improvement across systems, processes, and outcomes.
• Analyze material cost trends and implement strategies to protect margins and improve profitability.
• Prepare executive-level reporting on supplier performance, cost performance, productivity, and variance analysis.

7. Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve supply chain systems, processes, policies, and procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, standardization, automation, and scalability.
• Lead supply chain transformation initiatives leveraging digital tools, analytics, and best-in-class practices.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering and Operations to optimize Design for Supply Chain (DfSC) performance.

8. Organizational Design, Talent & Leadership

• Establish and manage a high-performing, multi-site supply chain organization that delivers operational synergies and consistency.
• Define and evolve organizational structures, roles, competencies, and governance models to support future business needs.
• Build next-generation supply chain capabilities including analytics, planning, supplier collaboration, digital fluency, and strategic sourcing.
• Coach, mentor, and develop leaders and teams; provide training and professional development to drive engagement and performance.
• Ensure clear roles, responsibilities, performance objectives, and accountability across the organization.

9. Cross-Functional & Customer Alignment

• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Sales & Marketing, Program Management, and Finance to ensure supply chain alignment.
• Ensure supply partners are aligned with technical, quality, delivery, and commercial requirements.
• Provide strategic supply chain expertise, guidance, and innovative solutions to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Ensure the supply chain proactively supports customer orders, lead-time commitments, and delivery performance

Skills and Competencies Required

• Strategic supply chain leader with the ability to define and execute a future-state supply chain aligned with enterprise and defense program objectives
• Deep expertise in procurement, subcontract management, supplier negotiations, and contract lifecycle management within regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of aerospace and defense manufacturing requirements, including compliance, quality, traceability, and government standards.
• Proven change agent with experience leading transformation initiatives across functions, sites, and business units in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated financial acumen with a track record of improving P&L performance through cost reduction, working capital optimization, and risk mitigation.
• Expertise in end-to-end supply chain operations, including planning, sourcing, inventory, logistics, and supplier collaboration.
• Strong operational excellence mindset with experience in Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and SIOP / IBP processes.
• Advanced experience with ERP/MRP systems and supply chain planning tools; strong digital and analytical capabilities.
• Experience leveraging AI for data analytics, automation, and advanced technologies to improve forecasting, procurement, and logistics performance.
• Effective, participative leader with a proven ability to build, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence executive leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and external partners.
• Highly effective in prioritizing multiple initiatives, managing risk, and delivering results in fast-paced, mission-critical environments

Experience & Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive supply chain leadership experience in aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Executive-level experience leading end-to-end supply chain functions, including procurement, subcontract management, inventory, and logistics.
• Strong knowledge of defense contracting and regulatory requirements, including ITAR/EAR, quality standards, and audit readiness.
• Proven track record of driving cost reduction, working capital optimization, and operational performance improvements while maintaining compliance and delivery performance.
• Experience managing complex, multi-site and/or global supply chain organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading supply chain transformation initiatives, including process standardization, digital enablement, and organizational change.
• Extensive experience with strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and subcontract lifecycle management.
• Advanced experience with ERP/MRP systems and supply chain planning tools.
• Experience managing supply chain risk in mission-critical, high-reliability environments.
• Professional certifications (APICS, CPSM, Lean Six Sigma)

*This posting is for a current vacancy.  In the province of Ontario, Canada, the pay range for this position will be $193,000 to $243,000 

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