Supplier Relationship & Performance Manager 2 (SRPM)

Northrop Grumman•Fore Store, VA

5d•$121,000 - $181,600•Hybrid

About The Position

Northrop Grumman is seeking a highly motivated Supplier Relationship & Performance Manager 2 (SRPM) to lead enterprise level supplier engagement for a portfolio of strategic enterprise suppliers. The qualified candidate shall be located near an existing Northrop Grumman facility: Baltimore, MD, Falls Church, VA, Irving, TX, or Melbourne, FL. This individual will serve as the enterprise relationship owner for assigned suppliers, partnering closely with sector leadership and cross-functional teams to drive supplier performance, affordability, innovation, risk mitigation, and long-term strategic alignment and value creation. The successful candidate will establish and execute supplier relationship strategies that strengthen Northrop Grumman’s supply chain resilience, improve operational performance, and deliver measurable business value across the enterprise.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, Supplier Management, Program Management, Operations, Engineering, or a related business function plus a Bachelor’s degree in: Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field
Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and leading cross-functional initiatives.
Demonstrated success influencing internal and external stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience developing and presenting recommendations to senior leadership and executive audiences.
Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally between Northrop & Supplier sites
Candidates need to be able to obtain a U.S. Government Secret level security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing executive-level supplier relationships within aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or highly regulated industries.
Demonstrated success driving supplier performance improvement, affordability initiatives, and risk mitigation programs.
Experience conducting supplier assessments, executive business reviews, and supplier governance activities.
Strong analytical, negotiation, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of supplier risk management, supply chain resilience, business continuity planning, and strategic sourcing methodologies.
Experience leading enterprise-wide initiatives across multiple business units.
Continuous Improvement certification or experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
Global sourcing and international supplier management experience.
Master’s degree in: Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related discipline.

Responsibilities

Serve as the enterprise relationship manager for a portfolio of strategic suppliers critical to Northrop Grumman programs and operations.
Develop and execute supplier engagement strategies aligned to enterprise objectives, business priorities, and long-term sourcing strategies.
Lead executive-level supplier governance, including business reviews, performance assessments, strategic planning sessions, and escalation management.
Drive supplier performance improvements across key metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, capacity, affordability, and innovation.
Partner with sector Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Contracts teams to ensure alignment on supplier priorities and action plans.
Facilitate executive-to-executive engagement and relationship development with supplier leadership teams.
Identify opportunities for supplier collaboration, technology advancement, process improvement, and value creation.
Develop and manage a portfolio of supplier-focused initiatives that deliver measurable cost savings, risk reduction, capacity improvements, and operational efficiencies.
Lead cross-functional teams in the execution of supplier improvement projects and enterprise initiatives.
Establish and maintain enterprise-level reporting, dashboards, and executive communications related to supplier performance and strategic initiatives.
Monitor industry trends, market dynamics, supplier financial health, and emerging risks to proactively inform business decisions.
Drive corrective action plans and recovery efforts for suppliers experiencing issues.
Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders across Programs, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Business Management, and Supply Chain organizations.
Serve as a trusted advisor to sector leadership regarding supplier strategy, performance, risks, and opportunities.
Coordinate communication and alignment across multiple business units and functions to support enterprise objectives.
Support customer engagements and supplier-related discussions as required.
Develop long-term engagement plans for strategic suppliers to support program captures and new business opportunities.
Execute enterprise supplier relationship and strategies to support business growth, affordability, and operational excellence.
Identify and implement risk mitigation strategies, including dual sourcing, capacity planning, business continuity planning, and supply chain resiliency initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen supplier capabilities and overall supply chain performance.