Supply Chain and Procurement Specialist

FreeFlight Systems•Waco, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supply Chain and Procurement Specialist serves as Operations' primary liaison between Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, Production, and Quality. This role is responsible for supporting contract manufacturer management, supplier qualification, procurement activities, supply chain continuity, and cross-functional project execution. The position focuses on ensuring supplier performance, mitigating supply chain risks, supporting new product introductions, and driving operational excellence across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in supply chain, procurement, manufacturing, engineering, or operations environments preferred.
Experience working with contract manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, or aerospace manufacturing organizations is preferred.
Familiarity with supplier qualification, supplier audits, corrective action processes, and supply chain risk management.
Experience supporting new product introductions and production transitions is preferred.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and supply chain planning tools.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
Experience with project management principles and cross-functional coordination.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with suppliers, customers, management, and internal stakeholders.
Ability to travel domestically up to 25%.
Ability to work regularly between Irving and Waco locations as business needs require.
This position may require access to export-controlled information subject to ITAR and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Applicants must be authorized to access such information in accordance with applicable regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead the identification, qualification, onboarding, and endorsement of new contract manufacturers, including onsite inspections, verifications, and First Article Inspections (FAIs).
Manage and maintain the contract manufacturer approval process and related documentation.
Conduct vendor assessments and participate in vendor and supplier corrective action activities.
Develop and onboard alternate contract manufacturers to support supply chain redundancy and continuity.
Serve as Operations' primary point of contact for coordinating and tracking support activities involving Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, and Quality.
Lead biweekly cross-functional status meetings and drive open action items to completion.
Collaborate with Engineering on product sustainment initiatives and operational support activities.
Partner with Procurement and Quality to monitor supplier performance and implement improvement initiatives.
Support procurement and purchasing activities, particularly for new product introductions and supply continuity efforts.
Manage and administer in-house service contracts.
Monitor supplier approval status and proactively ensure compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
Maintain strong relationships with contract manufacturers, distributors, and key suppliers to ensure quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness.
Identify supply chain bottlenecks and support the development and implementation of corrective actions.
Support planning and execution activities associated with new product launches.
Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies throughout the supply chain.
Support counterfeit parts prevention initiatives and supplier risk mitigation activities.
Participate in make-buy analyses and sourcing strategy decisions in collaboration with Procurement, Production, and Planning teams.
Support project management activities for designated projects and strategic initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.