Supplier Performance and Quality Manager

Safran•Carson, CA

About The Position

Here, we craft excellence together. Your mission? Making the journey the most enjoyable part of the trip. Join our first-class team to reinvent in-flight experience. In the role of Supplier Performance & Quality Manager you'll play a pivotal part on our production team. As the Supplier Performance and Quality Manager, you will oversee and drive the operational performance, quality, risk management, and continuous improvement of assigned suppliers. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—procurement, quality, engineering, and purchasing—to ensure supplier compliance with Safran's high standards and support production goals. You will also provide valuable insights and updates to executive leadership, representing Safran's voice externally and strengthening relationships with suppliers to support long-term business success. Given Water & Waste role as an assembly shop, this position is critical in preventing material shortages, safeguarding production lines, and ultimately protecting our customers' satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Industrialization, or Quality management.
Experience managing supplier performance in industrial environments, preferably aerospace.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and industrial practices.
Intermediate to advanced knowledge Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI)
Strong leadership and autonomy, with a decision-making and solution-oriented mindset.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Solid understanding of Supply Chain and Industrial Management principles (MRP2, S&OP, MPS, Capacity Management, Scheduling, Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints).
CPIM or CSCP certified or related certification.
Demonstrated experience with Quality Management tools and methodologies (8D, Ishikawa, 5 Whys).
Knowledge of risk management, Business Continuity Planning (BCP), and continuous improvement methodology (Green Belt, Six Sigma).
Six Sigma Green Belt Certified.
Demonstrated ability to handle multiple complex projects and assignments with attention to detail.
Problem solving, well organized, detailed oriented and accurate.
Team player with curiosity, open-mindedness, and the ability to thrive in a multicultural environment.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

Auditor certification is highly desirable and considered a strong asset.
Experience with ERP systems such as M3, SAP as well as EDI platforms like AirSupply is a plus.
Highly organized, rigorous, results-oriented, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Oversee operational performance of assigned suppliers —aligned with their escalation and surveillance levels—managing both logistics and quality aspects.
Organize and lead supplier performance reviews by gathering KPIs and integrating feedback from internal stakeholders (SQAs, Buyers, Supply Chain, Programs).
Consolidate monthly performance data and prepare scorecards to share with suppliers.
Schedule and conduct annual supplier evaluations to prepare the next surveillance plan.
Act as the primary internal and external interface for managing supplier relationships, coordinating efforts across departments and various management levels.
Lead and coordinate the Annual Performance Review (APR).
Support creation and execution of Supplier Surveillance Plans, including Rate/Readiness assessments, Load & Capacity evaluations, maturity audits, risk analysis, and Business Continuity Plan (BCP) on-site checks.
Conduct supplier audits to ensure compliance with Safran quality requirements (QMS and Product Process).
Monitor supplier risks and implement corrective or preventive actions via internal and external action plans to restore and maintain operational performance.
Anticipate supplier shortages and mitigate associated risks to prevent production disruptions.
Evaluate supplier risk levels and define monitoring plans to support product ramp-up/down phases and new product introductions.
Lead RCCA problem-solving initiatives and quality or suppy-chain audits for critical suppliers.
Establish and manage crisis cells to address supplier performance drops and logistics crises.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop, implement, and monitor crisis resolution plans.
Act as the key contact during crisis situations to minimize production disruptions.
Drive supplier development initiatives focused on operational performance enhancement (logistics and quality).
Promote and support the implementation of best practices such as MRPII, QRQC, 5S, 8D, AMDEC, Theory of Constraints, VSM.
Coordinate corrective action plans for performance issues, ensuring sustainable solutions to prevent recurrence.
Track and improve supplier maturity to meet long-term performance goals.
Participate in supplier selection committees, providing input based on supplier performance and risk analysis, including conducting initial audits to approve new suppliers.
Support deployment and effectiveness measurement of performance and quality initiatives.
Facilitate Rate Readiness Assessments (RRA) to validate supplier capacity for future production rates and identify bottlenecks.
Ensure effective governance of supplier relationships and support reporting and governance bodies related to supplier performance at the executive level.