Supplier Business Development Principal (USI10)

VSE AVIATION INC (US)•Miramar, FL

7d•Remote

About The Position

The Supplier Business Development Principal provides strategic leadership for VSE’s supplier growth portfolio, developing and implementing enterprise strategy for new Distribution and MRO partnerships across the global aviation aftermarket. As a senior advisor to executive leadership, the role shapes and captures high-value supplier opportunities, leads commercially significant and strategically complex negotiations, and establishes enterprise-wide standards, frameworks, and governance for supplier campaigns. The position exercises broad latitude and independent judgment, provides guidance and technical supervision to business development professionals, and is accountable for sustained growth in revenue, margin, and market share. It is initially an individual contributor role, with the expectation that it may assume direct supervisory responsibility as the portfolio expands. The role owns a multi-year roadmap of Distribution and MRO pursuits; identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes supplier partners; cultivates executive-level supplier relationships; and directs complex business campaigns, financial modeling, business cases, and negotiations. It partners with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to secure approvals, mitigate contractual and enterprise risks, transition awarded programs into execution, and report pipeline performance. The position is fully remote within the continental United States, with reasonable access to a major commercial airport, and requires domestic and international travel up to 60% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, aviation management, engineering, or a related field, or an additional 3 years of specific work experience in lieu of a degree.
10 years of experience in supplier business development, strategic sourcing, commercial business development, or supplier management, with a substantial portion in aviation or aerospace.
7–9 years of leadership experience.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing enterprise-level growth strategies that delivered measurable revenue and margin results.
Proven experience leading complex, high-value commercial negotiations, including sole-source and multi-year distribution and MRO agreements.
Executive presence and a track record of presenting to and influencing C-suite, board-level, and supplier executive audiences.
Expert knowledge of aviation parts distribution, MRO operations, and aftermarket supply chains.
Demonstrated ability to guide, mentor, and supervise experienced professionals through direct reporting relationships or matrixed leadership.
Ability to exercise broad latitude and independent judgment on significant matters with minimal direction.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 60% of the time.
Professional, persuasive, and clear communication with executives, customers, and suppliers.
Demonstrated success solving ambiguous, high-stakes problems in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Ability to lead and prioritize concurrent strategic initiatives to meet enterprise goals and deadlines.
Ability to develop and implement strategies, structures, and operating models that improve workflow, governance, and organizational efficiency.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and scheduling applications.
Ability to direct and coordinate others’ work by building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation across teams and stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively and self-directedly in a fully remote environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA.
15+ years of progressive operational, commercial, or business development work experience.
10+ years of leadership experience, including direct supervision of professional staff.
10+ years of aviation or aerospace industry experience.
Established network of OEM and supplier executive relationships within the aviation aftermarket.
Experience building and scaling a supplier business development function, including processes, tooling, and talent.
Experience with P&L ownership or management of a significant capital or inventory investment portfolio.
Experience preparing commercial invoices, filing AES, and knowledge of customs regulations and U.S. export rules and regulations.
Knowledge of Quantum Control Software.
Knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and/or AS9120.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and own the enterprise supplier business development strategy and multi-year roadmap for Distribution and MRO pursuits.
Advise executive leadership on supplier portfolio positioning, market opportunities, and long-range market entry decisions.
Establish and govern standards, processes, playbooks, and success criteria for identifying, qualifying, and advancing supplier opportunities.
Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-value OEM and tier-one supplier partners for new distribution and MRO programs.
Cultivate executive-level supplier relationships and represent VSE as a senior partner and trusted advisor.
Lead complex, multi-stakeholder business development campaigns, aligning resources, milestones, and commercial objectives.
Set negotiation strategies and lead negotiations for significant distribution and MRO agreements, protecting enterprise margin and risk posture.
Direct financial modeling and business case development with Finance, and validate assumptions for investment decisions.
Present and defend major supplier opportunities to senior executives and investment decision authorities for approval.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Contracts to structure agreements that mitigate risks, including export control, intellectual property, indemnity, and liability risks.
Use market intelligence, competitor activity, fleet forecasts, and supply availability to shape and refine supplier growth strategy.
Guide, coach, mentor, and technically supervise business development professionals, and assume formal supervisory responsibility as the function scales.
Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, and Program Management to transition awarded programs through steady-state execution.
Define, track, and report supplier business development pipeline KPIs, including pipeline health, capture rates, and realized revenue.
Represent VSE at industry events, trade shows, conferences, and executive supplier reviews.
Continuously improve the function’s tools, systems, talent development, and organizational capability.