Principal Material Project Manager

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

8d•$116,350 - $210,325•Onsite

About The Position

Leidos is hiring a Principal Material Project Manager for its Global Supply Chain team in Huntsville, Alabama. The role executes material strategy across a program, managing open purchase orders, resolving delays, and holding suppliers accountable. The MPM identifies and mitigates material-related program risks and opportunities, works toward material budget objectives, manages purchase requirements against lead-time schedules, contributes to sourcing-process improvements, resolves supply-chain issues, and addresses material cost problems. The MPM reports to the Material Operations & Strategies Associate Director, is directly aligned with the Program Manager, and represents Material Operations & Strategies on customer programs. The role researches and recommends cost-effective purchasing arrangements and works closely with Manufacturing to review purchase requisitions for clarity, completeness, and compliance, obtain needed information, and manage procurement from order placement through product receipt and invoice payment. Some travel may be required. The position also involves supplier engagement, procurement approvals, risk management, program reporting, and Control Account Management. The successful candidate will communicate effectively across internal and external stakeholders, support manufacturing execution obligations, and contribute to team collaboration and problem-solving in an on-site manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 12–15 years of prior relevant experience, or a master's degree and 10–13 years of prior relevant experience, in material project management, procurement, or supply-chain execution within Defense, Aerospace, or other high-complexity industries.
Strong knowledge of supply chain, related systems, and material procurement.
Strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities for understanding and facilitating complex supply-chain decisions.
Expert knowledge of industry practices, advanced techniques, and solutions in a professional discipline, with the ability to develop standards, processes, and solutions and serve as a subject matter expert.
Ability to be a self-starter and quick learner while supporting efforts to achieve goals.
Excellent written and oral communication skills with internal and external stakeholders, including customers and suppliers.
Ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced, continuously innovating, on-site manufacturing environment.
Excellent risk-management methodologies.
Ability to collaborate and influence across multiple functions to achieve supply-chain performance requirements.
High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
Working knowledge of customer flow-through requirements, including AS9100, FAR, ITAR, OFFSET, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and public law.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoW Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Supplier relationship management experience.
Deltek Costpoint experience.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical application of strategies to programs.
PowerBI experience.
Previous mechanical or electronic manufacturing environment experience.

Responsibilities

Lead program material strategy execution by managing open purchase orders, resolving delays, and driving supplier accountability.
Serve as the primary interface between Leidos and key suppliers; escalate delivery risks, resolve performance issues, and ensure adherence to contractual requirements.
Communicate the value, schedule, and decision points affecting delivery of materials, hardware, and software to senior leaders and other personnel.
Provide summaries and assist with compiling program metrics and statistics.
Manage projects through requirements justification, planning, execution, and evaluation.
Participate in the procurement approval process.
Develop business solutions that improve operational efficiency and support business-area and program success.
Mitigate and resolve supply-chain challenges involving priority deliveries and suppliers.
Facilitate supplier negotiations and discussions with supply-chain and program personnel.
Help execute the corporate supply-chain team's vision and goals in coordination with program needs.
Manage risk and create mitigation plans in coordination with the PMO and project team.
Participate in Program Management Reviews, status meetings, and other programmatic subcontractor meetings as needed.
Perform Control Account Management, including establishing and maintaining a baseline, supporting EAC/ETC updates, and conducting variance analysis.
Research and recommend cost-effective purchasing arrangements.
Work with Manufacturing to review purchase requisitions for clarity, compliance, detail, completeness, and regulatory compliance, and obtain additional information as needed.
Work with Manufacturing to manage procurement from order placement through product receipt and subsequent invoice payment.