Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

At Acron, our ambition is to relentlessly reimagine and reshape the value chains through which we deliver results to our customers, suppliers, and internal/external stakeholder communities, pursuing innovations to create safer skies. Acron employees strive to achieve world-class results through our values of always putting our customers first, displaying ownership of our results, moving fast, and speaking candidly. We are currently seeking a Surveillance Product Line Supply Chain Manager to lead and optimize our avionics supply chain operations. This role will be responsible for overseeing planning, master scheduling, procurement, obsolescence management, and strategic sourcing functions. They are accountable for executing sourcing strategies, managing a global supply base, and delivering performance improvements across cost, quality, and delivery. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in aerospace or avionics supply chain management and lean operational discipline. This role emphasizes lean thinking, operational excellence, and strong financial ownership. The ideal candidate excels in analytics, understands the full P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow, and is highly proficient with ERP systems and transactional accuracy. This position is part of the Acron Avionics Business Unit and will be located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Essential Functions:

1. Team Leadership

· Lead and develop a team of planners, buyers, and sourcing specialists.

· Clearly communicate goals and performance metrics, and conduct performance reviews against those goals.

· Monitor KPIs including PPV, inventory turns, supplier performance, and on-time delivery.

· Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.

2. Lean & Continuous Improvement

· Lead Kaizen events with suppliers and internal teams to reduce waste, shorten lead times, and improve flow.

· Apply TPS/DBS tools such as A3 problem solving, standard work, value stream mapping, 5 Whys, and visual management to procurement and supply-chain processes.

· Use Lean principles to improve procurement cycle time, PO accuracy, inventory turns, and supplier delivery performance.

· Champion continuous improvement in transactional processes within the ERP system to reduce errors and improve data integrity.

3. Supplier Performance & Development

· Work cross-functionally to ensure supplier audits, APQP/RCCA reviews, and capability validations are executed.

· Manage suppliers using structured performance scorecards and formal root cause/corrective action processes.

· Drive supplier cost-down and quality improvement initiatives through coaching, joint Kaizens, and transparent KPI tracking.

4. Financial Acumen & Business Impact

· Understand and articulate how procurement decisions impact the P&L (e.g., PPV, cost of goods sold), the Balance Sheet (inventory, working capital), and Cash Flow (payment terms, lead times, inventory strategy).

· Lead negotiations using data-driven cost models and financial levers (price indexing, volume discounts, FX exposure, cash-flow implications).

· Partner with Finance on forecasting, budget planning, and cost-reduction pipeline tracking.

5. ERP Expertise & Transactional Excellence

· Optimize transactions within the ERP system with 100% data accuracy.

· Analyze MRP recommendations, inventory health, material shortages, and exception messages.

· Improve ERP master data integrity (lead times, min/max, ordering parameters) to enhance planning accuracy.

· Support dashboard and report development to monitor procurement KPIs, supplier metrics, and cost performance.

6. Program Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, quality, finance, and program management to support NPI and ongoing production.

· Conduct make/buy analyses, early supplier involvement, and design-to-cost initiatives.

· Support program readiness reviews, risk assessments, and supply-chain deliverables.

7. Strategic Sourcing & Category Management Support

· Support sourcing strategies created at the business level

· Aid in TCO (total cost of ownership) modeling, cost benchmarking, and should-cost analysis.

Work with business-level teams on global supplier identification, capability assessments, and risk mapping.

8. Compliance, Risk Management & Sustainability

· Ensure compliance with aerospace industry standards (AS9100, ITAR/EAR, Nadcap).

· Implement risk-mitigation plans, including execution of dual sourcing, inventory strategies, and supplier contingency plans.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).

· 7+ years of experience in supply chain management, preferably in aerospace or avionics.

· Strong knowledge of ERP systems (SAP strongly preferred), MRP planning, and lean manufacturing principles.

· Demonstrated financial literacy: P&L structure, inventory and working capital concepts, cash-flow levers, and cost modeling.

· Experience managing a global supply base and negotiating complex agreements

· Experience managing obsolescence and sourcing in regulated environments.

· Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills.

· Strong communication and collaboration skills: ability to negotiate complex criteria with vendors, present and debate analysis in a flat organization, and lead change through the ability to influence

· Proficient in data analysis, Excel/Sheets, and reporting tools.

· Working knowledge of contract management

Preferred Certifications:

· APICS CPIM, CSCP, CPSM

· PMP or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

· ITAR/EAR compliance knowledge

· Experience with APQP/PPAP, RCCA, and supplier quality engineering.

· Demonstrated knowledge in the areas of circuit card assemblies, electromechanical, electronics, and electronic components

Key Competencies

· Lean & Continuous Improvement Mindset (TPS/DBS)

· Strong Financial Acumen

· ERP & Digital Procurement Skills

· Supplier Development & Relationship Management

· Analytical & Data-Driven Problem Solving

· Negotiation & Contract Management

· Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence

· Risk Management & Situational Awareness

Success Indicators / KPIs

· Procurement cost savings (PPV, TCO, should-cost vs. actual)

· Supplier OTD, PPM, and quality performance

· Improvement in ERP data accuracy and procurement cycle times

· Inventory turn improvement and working capital contributions

· Participation and leadership in Kaizen events

· Supply continuity, risk-mitigation effectiveness, and NPI readiness

Job Tags

Similar Jobs