Subcontracts Manager

AeroVironment•Dayton, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Subcontracts Manager leads a team of 2–3 subcontract professionals and serves as the primary interface among Program Management, Subcontracts, Contracts, Engineering, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, and subcontractors. The role manages the full subcontract lifecycle, from proposal development and source selection through negotiations, award, execution, performance management, changes, and closeout. It develops subcontracting strategies aligned with program plans, company policies, and applicable FAR/DFARS requirements, and manages proposal-phase subcontract baselines to align scope, budget, capacity, risk, delivery requirements, and payment terms with program needs. The manager evaluates and selects sources, negotiates and awards subcontracts, monitors cost, schedule, technical, quality, delivery, and contractual performance, and takes action to maintain conformance with program baselines. The position oversees subcontract budgets and financial performance, supplier reviews and corrective actions, risk and opportunity management, changes and scope control, and coordination across functional teams. It also develops and maintains solicitation and supplier-management processes, prepares executive briefings, and supports compliant source selections, negotiations, awards, modifications, production readiness, inspections, testing, delivery, and acceptance. This is a hybrid position requiring three days per week in the office. A 5/40 schedule is preferred; a 9/80 schedule may be available based on business and program requirements. No travel is required. The position requires access to ITAR/EAR-controlled information, so applicants must meet applicable U.S.-person or export-license requirements. Some positions may require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience supporting U.S. Government contracts and customers and/or program management, supply chain management, proposals, procurement, contracts, or subcontract management.
Demonstrated experience managing the full subcontract lifecycle, from proposal development and source selection through award, execution, modifications, performance management, and closeout.
Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one, and ability to obtain and maintain SAP access if required for the assigned program.
Experience managing subcontract or program cost, schedule, technical, quality, and contractual requirements.
Experience leading teams and/or organizations toward a common goal as a results-driven leader.
Experience with global supply chain, supplier management, and supplier quality, including identifying, selecting, directing, and managing subcontract and supply-chain elements to support program goals and company strategy.
Experience managing program or subcontract financials, including customer funding, budgets, Estimates at Completion, invoices, and cost analysis.
Experience with subcontractor sourcing, compliant source selection, proposal evaluation, Basis of Estimate review, cost and price analysis, negotiations, and subcontract award.
Experience managing supplier or subcontractor risks, opportunities, corrective actions, recovery plans, and performance issues.
Experience working cross-functionally with Program Management, Contracts, Engineering, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, and subcontractor organizations.
Experience with capture execution, compliant source selection, negotiations, and proposals.
Strong written, verbal, analytical, negotiation, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, make sound business decisions, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Must meet applicable ITAR/EAR requirements as a U.S. person or be eligible for an export license; some positions may require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.
Ability to work in an office environment; ability to sit and stand for long periods and use a computer and telephone keyboard.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing subcontracts supporting aerospace, defense, advanced technology, or other complex U.S. Government programs.
Experience recognizing and responding to program needs to develop additional business opportunities that support organizational objectives.
Experience coordinating and controlling management activities and processes that integrate program interdependencies throughout their lifecycle.
Experience defining proposal strategy, leading proposal teams, analyzing and shaping Requests for Proposals, and producing and delivering winning proposals.
Experience planning and executing a project quality-management system that satisfies quality requirements and emphasizes prevention, continuous improvement, and value creation.
Experience defining, documenting, analyzing, tracing, prioritizing, and confirming requirements throughout the program and subcontract lifecycle.
Experience managing program or subcontract uncertainty through risk and opportunity identification, planning, and communication.
Experience defining, establishing, communicating, monitoring, and controlling scope to ensure all required work, and only required work, is performed.
Experience applying technical performance baselines to monitor and compare technical performance measures, assess program and product status, and maintain baseline conformance.
Experience with Earned Value Management, Integrated Program Management Data and Analysis Report, supplier performance metrics, or other program financial-management processes.
Experience leading supplier program reviews, technical reviews, production-readiness activities, corrective-action reviews, and recovery efforts.
Experience with continuous process improvement and development of preventative quality and supplier-management processes.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 2–3 subcontract professionals, including workload planning, prioritization, performance management, and professional development.
Develop and execute subcontracting strategies aligned with program objectives, company policies, and applicable FAR/DFARS requirements.
Manage the full subcontract lifecycle, from proposal development and source selection through award, execution, modifications, performance management, and closeout.
Support and monitor technical performance baselines, compare key subcontract technical performance measures, assess execution status, and take action to maintain baseline conformance.
Communicate, monitor, and resolve issues across program functional elements and suppliers.
Manage stakeholder communications and subcontract information while protecting the company’s contractual rights.
Plan, define, establish, communicate, monitor, and control subcontractor scope so that all required work, and only required work, is performed.
Analyze subcontractor changes and develop alternatives balancing technical, cost, schedule, quality, and contractual requirements.
Track subcontractor performance, including technical reviews, delivery milestones, quality performance, corrective actions, and key performance indicators.
Monitor subcontractor cost performance against budgets and Estimates at Completion.
Maintain financial control of subcontract budgets, including customer funding, cost analysis, Earned Value Management metrics, and Integrated Program Management Data and Analysis Report evaluation, as applicable.
Lead subcontractor program and performance reviews, including agendas, briefing materials, action items, and recovery plans.
Manage subcontract scope and changes through established change-control and control-board activities.
Identify and manage subcontract risks and opportunities, establish handling plans, and communicate them throughout the subcontract lifecycle.
Prepare executive-level briefings and mechanisms to monitor supplier progress, identify risks, support intervention, and resolve issues with functional leads, business management, program leadership, and customers.
Interpret supplier schedules and assess impacts on program schedules, milestones, critical-path activities, and customer commitments.
Develop, implement, and maintain subcontract execution plans, supplier management plans, and performance-monitoring processes.
Develop and maintain Requests for Proposals, including sourcing and selection, evaluation criteria, risk analysis, and cost and price analysis.
Review supplier proposal responses, including technical evaluations, Basis of Estimates, pricing, schedules, risks, and overall proposal quality.
Support compliant source selections, negotiations, subcontract awards, and modifications.
Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Program Management on supplier technical performance, qualification, production readiness, inspections, testing, delivery, and acceptance.
Communicate and escalate subcontractor cost, schedule, technical, quality, delivery, compliance, and contractual performance issues.
Develop and monitor corrective-action, recovery, and other intervention plans for subcontractors that are not meeting requirements.
Build productive subcontractor relationships while maintaining contractual discipline and protecting company interests.
Identify, allocate, and manage resources within the subcontract management team and cross-functional program organization.
Identify opportunities to improve subcontract processes, reduce risk, improve performance, and support organizational and program objectives.