Commodity Manager

As a Commodity Manager, you will be responsible for leading specific commodity sourcing strategies, contract coverage, supply risk mitigation, cost reduction, and quoting in support of the building of SpaceShips, MotherShips and Rocket Motors.

As a sourcing leader you will be expected to develop solutions for identifying risks to the schedule and mitigating these risks to avoid schedule deviations. You will develop commodity-based strategies to support our build and development plans. These strategies will include supplier level plans for development, maintenance, or exit.

In addition, you will proactively maintain and track commodity risks and opportunities and provide mitigation plans as needed in support of our supply chain and program needs leveraging your experience to help the team navigate challenges including market constraints, raw material availability and contract language.

This person is required to work from our Tustin CA office 3x per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of long-term strategies that will optimize Virgin Galactic’s position in terms of quality, response time, risk and total cost.
• Create commodity road maps enabling the achievement of critical business targets as well as improving ease of business on a repetitive basis.
• Develop and implement a communication plan for the strategic plan, once developed and providing for business change management across sites to drive utilization of commodity strategies while serving as the point of contact for team strategy, execution and performance.
• Provides Leadership for one-company negotiation suppliers and partners
• Provide project management and sourcing expertise to functional team and cross-functional teams.
• Provide extensive leadership/interface with functional leaders and sites to assure clear alignment and support to enable success in meeting all goals, objectives, product developments, product manufacturing and product launches.
• Mitigate risk, leverage technology and purchase power and improves processes and systems.
• Lead by example through Virgin Galactic’s values, in with respect to straight-up way which fosters, transparent, and open communication.
• Apply technical expertise, leadership skills and program management tenacity with an unwavering commitment to quality and safety to further the advancement of human spaceflight
• Provide feedback and ideas for improvement of supplied materials
• Support/Request trade studies to develop business cases resulting in recommendations to support investment decisions
• Develop supplier networks for key spend categories; promoting cooperative relationships with suppliers and ensuring that all suppliers are treated in a professional, ethical, and fair manner.
• Conduct RFx development, negotiations, and contracting to reduce spend while ensuring high levels of service. Lead complex processes for Requests for Information, Requests for Proposal.
• Ensure that targeted financial savings are achieved within a framework of financial control and that new business savings are achieved incrementally year-over-year.
• Knowledge of industry including experience w/ low-cost sourcing, technology/development engagements and contract negotiations
• Ability, willingness to travel 25-30% depending on business needs and engage with suppliers

What you Bring

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preference given to supply chain or engineering degrees
• 5+ years industry experience in progressive technical and leadership roles
• Energetic, passionate and organized leader ready to lead a team supporting complex factory planning
• Experience with complex supply chain management, production of aerospace vehicles, and introduction of materials systems
• Able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex product development environment with multiple priorities as well as a disciplined production setting
• Experience with IMP/IMS, risk management, configuration management, requirements management processes
• Understanding of Produce Lifecycle Management, Configuration Management, Configuration Control, ERP and MRP systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Team player with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Oracle or ERP/MRP demand management systems
• In-depth knowledge of the marketplace conditions for a broad range of strategic commodities including industry pricing, technology and supply/demand trends. Working knowledge of global supply chain management issues and practices.
• Strong knowledge of basic computer applications and Microsoft Office (particularly Excel), as well as the ability to learn and use multiple applications specific to this function including ERP and office systems.
• Strong presentation skills, and ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of negotiation practices/methodology for commodities.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy and working under tight time deadlines.
• Ability to evaluate, prioritize and work a variety of tasks to ensure their timely and accurate completion.

Preferences

• A general understanding of Aerospace drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes
• Six Sigma Certification
• CPIM
• PMP Certification
• Masters Degree