Job Description What is it like to help a leading aerospace and defense company ensure the right materials are always in the right place at the right time? At BAE Systems SMS, it means leading programs that keep production running smoothly, strengthening supplier partnerships, and building systems that teams across the business can rely on.
In our Integrated Supply Chain organization, you’ll join a team focused on operational excellence, smart inventory management, and continuous improvement. As the VMI Manager, you’ll guide our Vendor Managed Inventory program from concept to full maturity—building a proactive, scalable framework that improves inventory performance, data accuracy, and supplier collaboration.
This role oversees the full lifecycle of VMI programs: setting the strategy, launching new deployments, ensuring data integrity, monitoring inventory health, and resolving issues that impact material availability. You’ll work closely with Procurement, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and supplier partners to create standardized processes and drive measurable performance.
The Operations Strategic Capabilities Unit plays a fundamental role in enabling efficient business and program execution – from strategic capital investments, industrial operations and an efficient supply chain, to state-of-the-art manufacturing and test operations and top-notch facilities management.
The Integrated Supply Chain team has a direct impact on program success, acting as a critical chain that links the end-to-end material flow together. Our organization helps propel us forward and achieve true mission partnership.
What You’ll Do:
- Own the execution, performance, and governance of VMI programs across the organization, acting as the central point of accountability.
- Lead new VMI implementations from initial design through stabilization, creating standardized processes, roles, and escalation paths.
- Monitor inventory levels and proactively identify risks such as shortages, excess stock, or obsolescence, while adjusting parameters to maintain optimal flow of materials to internal stakeholders.
- Establish and maintain accurate Min/Max settings, usage assumptions, safety-stock levels, and replenishment requirements.
- Validate data across business systems and supplier platforms, ensuring accurate consumption, BOM information, and planning inputs before materials transition into VMI.
- Partner with stakeholders across Procurement, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, IT, and Finance to align on demand changes, forecasts, production needs, and corrective actions.
- Manage daily relationships with suppliers and VMI partners, setting clear expectations for inventory ownership, service levels, reporting requirements, and issue resolution.
- Track key performance metrics including: material availability, inventory turns, consumption accuracy, and VMI adoption. Use them to identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure full compliance with contractual terms, service-level agreements, pricing structures, and performance commitments, partnering with Procurement and Legal to support updates and governance.
- Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions: - Work is performed in an office environment, laboratory, cleanroom, or production floor.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills - Bachelor’s degree plus 8 or more years related experience.
- Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
- Must be comfortable taking the leadership role while partnering and collaborating with cross functional teams to develop and deploy enterprise wide supply chain solutions that best meets the needs of multiple departments.
#LI-CC2A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills - Self-starter with excellent leadership skills.
- Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
- Microsoft Office experience to include Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated experience serving as a SME in Vendor Managed Inventory.
- Experience supervising at least one direct report or junior team member.
- Experience with FAR procurement.
- Exhibit high level of motivation, attention to detail, energetic approach and positive attitude to job duties and requirements.
- Active Secret Clearance preferred.
Pay InformationFull-Time Salary Range: $118747 - $201870
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Multiple positions may be available on this opening.
