Director Supply Chain

• Location: Fort Lauderdale , Florida
• Type: Direct Hire
• Job #198

Director Supply Chain – Aerospace
Global 4PL Supply Chain & Repair Management
Location:  Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Work Arrangement:  Fully on-site, five days per week (no hybrid or remote option)
Reports To:  President (dotted line to VP of Finance)

Our client is a privately held aerospace supply chain and repair-management company supporting commercial, defense, and government programs. Its 4PL business manages the flow of aircraft parts and related services for aerospace manufacturers, repair organizations, and operators in a quality- and export-controlled environment.

This is a planned succession. The long-tenured Director is transitioning to retirement and will remain available part-time during onboarding, providing the new leader with meaningful continuity across programs, systems, customers, and suppliers.

The role combines director-level business accountability with hands-on problem-solving. You will lead a seasoned team, own revenue, margin, and inventory performance for the segment, and work directly with the President and finance leadership. This is not a role where analysis and execution are pushed down through layers. The Director is expected to get into the data, personally work through supplier and customer issues, and make clear recommendations.
The organization is lean, stable, and collaborative. Decisions are made quickly, leaders have direct access to one another, and strong performance is visible. The company takes a realistic view of the learning curve and expects the new Director to build full command of the business over time.
 

• Lead and develop a team of approximately five across procurement and customer-facing program management, with the potential to add staff as new programs are won.
• Own tactical and strategic procurement, including planned order management, sourcing, order execution, exception management, contracting, cost management, supplier reviews, and supplier performance.
• Work directly with suppliers to diagnose late deliveries, capacity constraints, manufacturing issues, and other performance gaps, then drive corrective action and recovery plans.
• Oversee customer-facing program activity, including business reviews, service-recovery communication, contract discussions, and coordination across procurement and operations.
• Help cultivate growth with existing and prospective customers by identifying program opportunities and supporting statements of work and long-term agreements.
• Own reporting and executive-level communication for the segment’s revenue, margin, inventory, service, and contract performance.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Finance, and IT to strengthen processes and drive performance and accountability through KPI management, metrics, and controls while maintaining compliance.
• Pull and combine data from multiple sources, including Excel and Tableau dashboards, to analyze inventory, sales, purchasing, forecasting, and program performance.

Within 90 Days

• Learn the company’s core programs, operating models, tools, and data sources with support from the outgoing Director.
• Build working relationships with the team and begin meeting key customers and suppliers, including through business-review exposure.
• Understand the operating cadence, decision thresholds, and where executive input is expected.

Within 6 Months

• Operate independently across the daily, weekly, and monthly business cadence.
• Own recurring analysis and reporting that currently runs through the outgoing Director.
• Lead supplier-performance discussions and navigate complex customer or program issues with sound judgment

Within 12 Months

• Fully autonomous in reporting on revenue, margin, and inventory performance, with established, trusted relationships across the team, executive leadership, customers, and suppliers.
• Positioned to help scale the team and function as the company wins new program opportunities.

• 10+ years of tactical and strategic procurement experience in aerospace manufacturing, aerospace/aircraft MRO, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment (e.g., medical device, life sciences, semiconductor, or energy) required.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• Working understanding of how manufactured parts move through the supply chain, including machined and sheet-metal components, hardware, engineered parts, and special processing and possess the ability to read and understand drawings, and customer flow-down requirements.
• The judgment to distinguish routine supplier follow-up from a manufacturing, capacity, quality, or commercial issue that requires deeper intervention.
• Strong independent analytical ability using practical tools such as Excel pivot tables and lookups and BI dashboards such as Tableau. You do not need to build the underlying BI infrastructure.
• Experience communicating with senior customers through business reviews, service disruptions, contract requirements, and growth discussions.
• A practical understanding of contracting and general terms and conditions of purchase or sale.
• The ability to work in a 4PL or 3PL operating model, or the curiosity and learning agility to translate relevant manufacturing and procurement experience into that environment.

Previous direct people management experience is valuable, but not an absolute requirement. Candidates who have mentored junior colleagues, guided others’ work, or taken informal leadership responsibility may be ready for this step.

The strongest candidates will be hands-on, low-drama, and collaborative. They will know how to hold experienced people accountable without micromanaging, work comfortably in both open and close-knit offices, and shift between strategic discussions and detailed problem-solving.

This is an onsite position based at the company’s office in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area and requiring employees to be on-site five days per week.

• Small but seasoned team of five employees, spanning procurement and customer-facing program management.
• A flat organizational structure with fast decision-making and direct access to the company's President and VP of Finance.
• A structured transition: the outgoing Director will remain on staff part-time through year-end (or longer, as needed) to support onboarding.
• A fully on-site, highly collaborative culture; this is not a role suited to a hybrid or remote work style.
• Travel is minimal. This role is based full-time at the company's headquarters in the Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area.

• Base salary: $140,000–$160,000, commensurate with experience.
• Annual performance bonus: 20% of base salary at target, based on company performance. The plan can pay up to 40% for results above target.
• Full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, 401K match, medical, dental, vision, and employee support services.
• Relocation assistance considered on a case-by-case basis for the right candidate outside the local market.

Candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person as defined under applicable U.S. export control regulations, including U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents (green card holders), and other protected individuals. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.