Global Supply Manager, Government

Viasat, Inc.•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

The Supply Chain organization is responsible for strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier performance, and supply continuity across a global network of suppliers and programs. Our team works in close coordination with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and finance to deliver operational excellence, minimize risk, and enable business growth. Operating across North America, Europe, and Asia, we manage a diverse global supply base supporting everything from commercial off-the-shelf components to highly complex integrated systems and services. We move with urgency, hold a high bar for execution and accountability, and continuously challenge ourselves and our suppliers to improve performance, scalability, and resiliency. We value ownership, collaboration, and problem-solving, and we foster a team culture that is both high-performing and supportive. We are looking for a highly driven Global Supply Manager to help manage and scale the procurement of fully assembled, finished electronic products with contract manufacturers. The Global Supply Manager is responsible for leading all sourcing, contracting, and supplier management activities, which include driving supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and production readiness across complex technical programs. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with relentless execution and thrives in environments with high ambiguity, aggressive timelines, and rapidly evolving priorities. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, planning, and suppliers to solve difficult supply chain problems and enable production at scale. This role requires strong ownership, urgency, and follow-through, as well as the ability to proactively identify supply chain risks before they impact the business. Successful candidates are highly organized, action-oriented problem solvers who thrive in fast-paced environments, communicate clearly, and consistently drive issues to resolution.

Requirements

7+ years of directly applicable Supply Chain experience
Experience managing suppliers in a manufacturing, technology, aerospace, or complex operational environment
Solid understanding of Federal and Defense contracting requirements (DFAR/FAR/ITAR)
Familiarity with MS Office, ERP/MRP systems, and supply planning tools
Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in Business, Supply Chain, or related experience
US Citizenship
Ability to travel up to 25%
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience collaborating alongside contract manufacturers.
Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to influence all levels of internal stakeholders.
Self-starter who can adapt, improve processes, and find solutions.
Experience managing supply constraints, shortages, or production escalations
Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in dynamic settings
Proven experience with detailed data analysis leading to recommendations and decisions.
Experience supporting high-rate manufacturing or production ramp environments
Technical understanding of mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical components
Experience with NPI
Experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or space industries
Ability to negotiate strong pricing, business, and legal terms
Ability to logically manage issues and conflicts with suppliers
Ability to foster a collaborative work environment, influence others, and to act as a change agent
Ability to adapt and embrace change in a constantly evolving business landscape
Flexibility to learn and to work in a variety of commodities

Responsibilities

Manage Supplier Selection, Negotiations, and Award
Own end-to-end procurement strategy spanning development, certification, and manufacturing stages
Identify, qualify, and onboard contract manufacturers capable of meeting government program requirements (quality, security, compliance, scalability)
Lead competitive sourcing events (RFIs, RFPs, RFQs) and evaluate suppliers based on technical capability, cost, capacity, and compliance readiness
Develop dual-source or contingency strategies for high-risk or sole-source components
Negotiate pricing, timelines for delivery, and supply agreements such as program-specific agreements (PSAs)
Build and maintain relationships with suppliers while holding them accountable to delivery and performance commitments
Manage supplier delivery, cost, quality, and lead time performance
Detect supply chain risks early. Build and implement mitigation plans to avoid production disruptions.
Resolve supplier issues impacting production schedules or program milestones, including resolving material shortages, late deliveries, allocation issues, and supplier escalations to prevent production impact
Understand quarterly forecast requirements and translate them into a supply plan with outlined risks and mitigation plans.
Monitor supply commitments against build schedules and demand forecasts. Translate demand signals into supplier capacity and ramp plans.
Develop and execute recovery plans for constrained or underperforming suppliers
Identify single-source, capacity, and long lead-time risks and implement mitigation plans
Conduct supplier business reviews and drive corrective actions where performance gaps exist
Participate in program reviews, build readiness meetings, and engineering change discussions
Support new product introduction (NPI) activities, including supplier onboarding, qualification, and production ramp readiness
Influence design-for-manufacturability and design-for-supply-chain decisions to reduce cost and risk
Work with engineering teams to improve component availability, manufacturability, lead times, and cost
Coordinate with planning and program teams to align material availability with production schedules
Support engineering changes, alternate part qualifications, and redesign efforts when supply issues arise
Support transition from prototype to low-rate initial production (LRIP) to full-rate production
Ensure contract manufacturers are prepared for scale, including tooling, staffing, and process maturity
Monitor supplier readiness against program ramp schedules
Manage lifecycle changes, including engineering revisions and end-of-life transitions
Track and drive closure of critical supply chain actions, open shortages, and escalations
Make timely decisions in fast-moving environments with incomplete information
Escalate issues appropriately while maintaining ownership of resolution plans
Balance tradeoffs between cost, delivery, quality, inventory, and supply risk
Communicate status, risks, and recovery plans clearly to stakeholders and leadership
Identify and implement process improvements to improve efficiency, visibility, and scalability
Use ERP, MRP, and supplier performance data to drive prioritization and decision-making
Develop reporting and tracking tools for shortages, vendor efficiency, and operational risks
Support long-term sourcing, dual-source, and supply continuity strategies
Track cost and drive cost reduction initiatives
Drive automation and standardization where possible to improve team efficiency and execution
Ensure all procurement activities comply with applicable federal acquisition regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS where applicable)
Partner with contracts, legal, and compliance teams to structure contracts and awards that meet government audit and reporting requirements
Maintain documentation for traceability, cost transparency, and supplier accountability
Support audits, program reviews, and government reporting requests
Serve as the primary procurement interface for government program stakeholders when required