Government Supply Manager

Viasat, Inc.•Remote - Arizona, AZ

6d•Remote

About The Position

We are looking for a highly driven Government Supply Manager to manage and scale procurements of fully assembled and finished electronic products with contract manufacturers. The Government Supply Manager is responsible for leading development or new product introduction sourcing, contracting, and supplier management activities, which includes driving supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and production readiness across complex technical programs. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with relentless execution and thrives in developmental 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. This role requires strong FAR 15 understanding, management of space rated programs, overall 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 leaders, action-oriented problem solvers who thrive in fast-paced environments, communicate clearly, and consistently drive issues through resolution.

Requirements

10+ years directly applicable Supply Chain experience
Experience managing suppliers in a manufacturing, technology, aerospace, or complex operational environment
Wide range of commodity knowledge
Working knowledge of Federal and Defense contracting requirements (DFAR/FAR/ITAR)
Familiarity with MS Office, ERP/MRP systems and supply planning tools
Bachelor’s Degree with focus in Business, Supply Chain, or related experience
US citizenship
Familiarity with space rated government programs desired
Remote work arrangement with required residency in Arizona
Ability to travel up to 25%, must be able to travel locally and attend onsite meetings, supplier engagements, and other in-person business activities as needed

Nice To Haves

Experience with contract manufacturers.
Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills including the ability to influence all levels of internal stakeholders.
Self-starter with the ability to 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 fast-paced environments
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 across development, qualification, and production phases
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, lead times and supply agreements such as program specific agreements (PSAs)
Supply Assurance
Build and maintain relationships with suppliers while holding them accountable to delivery and performance commitments
Manage supplier delivery, cost, quality, and lead time performance
Identify supply chain risks early. Build and execute mitigation plans to prevent 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 that into a supply plan with outlined risks and mitigations to plan.
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
Drive Supplier Readiness and Product Lifecycle Optimization
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
Drive Execution with Speed & Ownership
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
Improve Supply Chain Processes & Operational Performance
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, supplier performance, 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
Government Compliance & Contracting
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 primary procurement interface for government program stakeholders when required