Procurement Operations Manager

About This Role

This role involves leading procurement performance across various business lines within a defense technology company, focusing on improving supplier delivery, purchase order management, and buyer effectiveness. The Senior Procurement Operations Manager will embed directly with divisional procurement teams to diagnose execution gaps and drive measurable improvements. It is a high-visibility position for someone who wants to directly shape how a fast-scaling defense technology company buys, builds, and delivers hardware.

Responsibilities

• Deploy into business line procurement teams during pilot and expansion phases
• Pair directly with buyers and supply chain leaders to assess current state, identify gaps, and stand up the standard operating model
• Lead weekly OTD drumbeat reviews at the division level
• Own the agenda, drive root cause analysis on past due POs and supplier delivery failures, and ensure corrective actions convert into measurable improvement
• Coach buyers on core procurement execution: PR to PO conversion within the two-day standard, PO acknowledgment follow up, DPAS compliance, and supplier performance management
• Conduct hands-on ERP and MRP work alongside buyers
• Pull on order reports, validate promise dates, flag at-risk deliveries, and ensure data hygiene in the procurement system of record
• Roll out standard procurement processes, templates, and escalation frameworks so every division operates from the same baseline
• Adapt the playbook to local program realities without compromising the standard
• Stand up and maintain the KPI reporting cadence for assigned divisions
• Track and report on the full metrics framework: PR to PO conversion, PO acknowledgment rates, past due PO lines, receiving issue ticket closure, invoice resolution, DPAS PO OTD, and supplier OTD
• Execute the escalation and remediation framework, providing coaching at Tier 1, embedded support for 30-day improvement sprints at Tier 2, and centralized oversight at Tier 3 until performance is restored
• Benchmark procurement performance across divisions, identify successful teams, document best practices, and propagate them through the Peer Learning Network
• Deliver buyer training aligned to centralized standards: ACD code compliance, procurement policy and governance, War Chest navigation, and KPI reporting workflows
• Support the buildout of automated reporting dashboards and the On Order Report (OOR) for daily visibility
• Contribute to the career framework and professional development standards for buyers at every level
• Support hiring decisions as the central quality bar holder, evaluating procurement candidates, pressure testing technical and behavioral competency, and ensuring consistent onboarding

Requirements