Supplier Business Development Principal (USI10)

VSE AVIATION•Miramar, FL

8d•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, this role shapes and captures high-value supplier opportunities, leads commercially significant and strategically complex negotiations, and establishes the standards, frameworks, and governance for pursuing and executing supplier campaigns enterprise-wide. The position exercises broad latitude and independent judgment on significant matters and provides guidance, mentorship, and technical supervision to less experienced business development professionals. It is accountable for sustained revenue, margin, and market-share growth. The role is initially structured as an individual contributor position, with the expectation that it may assume direct supervisory responsibility as the portfolio expands. The position is fully remote, and the incumbent may reside anywhere in the continental United States with reasonable access to a major commercial airport. Domestic and international travel is required up to 60% of the time. The selected applicant will be subject to a background check and drug testing.

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.
Ability to communicate professionally, persuasively, and clearly with executives, customers, and suppliers.
Demonstrated success solving ambiguous, high-stakes problems in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Ability to lead and prioritize a portfolio of 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 the work of others by building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members and cross-functional 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 its 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, translating corporate growth objectives into a multi-year roadmap of Distribution and MRO pursuits.
Provide strategic guidance to executive leadership on supplier portfolio positioning, white-space opportunities, and long-range market-entry decisions.
Establish and govern standards, processes, playbooks, and success criteria for identifying, qualifying, and advancing supplier opportunities.
Direct the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of high-value supplier partners, including OEMs and tier-one suppliers.
Cultivate executive-level supplier relationships and serve as VSE’s senior representative and trusted advisor in those partnerships.
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, defining walk-away positions and securing terms that protect enterprise margin and risk posture.
Direct financial modeling and business-case development with Finance, covering revenue, margin, inventory investment, working capital, and operating costs; validate assumptions supporting investment decisions.
Present and defend major supplier opportunities and secure approvals from senior executives and investment decision authorities.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Contracts to structure agreements that mitigate enterprise risks, including export control, intellectual property, indemnity, and liability provisions.
Interpret market intelligence, competitor activity, fleet forecasts, and supply availability to shape and refine supplier growth strategy.
Guide, coach, mentor, and technically supervise Managers, Senior Managers, and analysts; assume formal supervisory responsibility for the function as it scales.
Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, and Program Management to transition newly awarded programs through steady-state execution.
Define, track, and report supplier business development pipeline KPIs, providing executive visibility into pipeline health, capture rates, and realized revenue.
Represent VSE at industry events, trade shows, conferences, and executive supplier reviews to advance market position and cultivate partnership opportunities.
Champion continuous improvement of the supplier business development function, including tools, systems, talent development, and organizational capability.