Material Project Manager

About the position

Leidos is seeking a Principal Material Project Manager to join their Global Supply Chain team. This role focuses on executing material strategy across programs by managing open purchase orders, resolving delays, and driving supplier accountability. Key responsibilities include identifying and mitigating program risks and opportunities related to material requirements, achieving program material budget objectives, managing purchase requirements against lead times, and participating in sourcing process improvement projects. The Material Project Manager (MPM) will also resolve Supply Chain issues and material cost problems for the program. This role reports to the Material Operations & Strategies Associate Director and is aligned with the Program Manager, representing Material Operations & Strategies on customer programs. The MPM acts as an extension of corporate shared services for supply chain support, researching and recommending cost-effective purchase arrangements. They will collaborate closely with the Manufacturing organization to review purchase requisitions for clarity, compliance, and completeness, and to manage the procurement process from order placement through receipt and payment. Some travel may be required. The ideal candidate is energetic, resilient, and creative, capable of supporting corporate reporting requirements and promoting a team atmosphere with improved communication and agile problem-solving solutions.

Responsibilities

  • Lead execution of material strategy across the program by managing open purchase orders, resolving delays, and driving supplier accountability.
  • Act as the primary interface between Leidos and key suppliers, escalating delivery risks, resolving performance issues and ensuring adherence to contractual requirements.
  • Articulate to senior leaders/personnel the value, schedule and decision points that impact the efficient delivery of specific commodities (materials, hardware and software). Provide summary and aid in compilation of program metric data and statistics.
  • Project management including requirements justification, planning, executing and evaluating the project.
  • Play an integral part in the approval process in procurements.
  • Use critical thinking skills to propose sound and innovative business solutions to increase operational efficiencies to ensure business area and program success.
  • Mitigate and resolve supply chain challenges with priority deliveries and suppliers.
  • Facilitate supplier negotiations and discussions to resolution with supply chain and program personnel.
  • Articulate and drive execution of vision and goals for the corporate supply chain team in conjunction with program critical needs.
  • Risk Management including creating mitigation plans in coordination with the PMO and project team.
  • Participate in Program Management Reviews, Status Meetings, or other programmatic subcontractor meetings as needed.
  • Control Account Management including establishing and maintaining a baseline, support EAC/ETC updates, and variance analysis.

Requirements

  • BA degree and 12 – 15 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 10 – 13 years of prior relevant experience in material project management, procurement, or supply chain execution within Defense, Aerospace, or high-complexity industries.
  • Strong knowledge of Supply Chain and related systems along with material procurement.
  • Requires strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities to understand and facilitate complex supply chain decision-making.
  • Expert knowledge of industry practices, advanced techniques and solutions within a professional discipline to develop new standards, processes, and solutions. Serves as a subject matter expert.
  • Proven ability to be a self-starter and quick learner, capable of supporting efforts to achieve goals.
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills at all levels both internally and externally with customers and suppliers.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced situation with continuous innovation and flexibility in an on-site manufacturing environment.
  • Excellent risk management methodologies.
  • Must be able to collaborate and effectively influence across multiple functions to achieve supply chain performance requirements.
  • High level of proficiency in MS Office products (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project).
  • Working knowledge of customer flow through requirements such as AS9100, FAR, ITAR, OFFSET, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and public law.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Secret Security Clearance or ability to obtain one is required.

Nice-to-haves

  • Supplier relationship management experience.
  • Deltek Costpoint experience.
  • Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical application of strategies to programs.
  • PowerBI experience.
  • Previous mechanical or electronic manufacturing environment experience a plus.

Benefits

  • Pay Range \$116,350.00 - \$210,325.00
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