Materials Program Manager I
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 21, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 28, 2026. Twenty-Six Defense scores B on the Alion truth index.
Position Summary
The Material Program Manager leads material strategy, execution, and cross-functional coordination for complex aerospace and defense programs operating under strict contractual, regulatory, and quality requirements. This role ensures material readiness, manages supply risk, supports cost and schedule performance, and serves as a key interface across program management, supply chain, engineering, manufacturing, quality, contracts, and finance.
Key Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end material management activities from contract award through production, delivery, and sustainment.
Develop and execute material strategies aligned to program schedules, customer requirements, and financial objectives.
Serve as the material focal point for program reviews, customer discussions, internal operations reviews, and executive updates.
Partner with program management to translate demand, schedule changes, engineering updates, and risk into executable supply chain plans.
Drive material readiness for development, production, repair, and field support requirements.
Monitor shortages, allocations, long lead items, inventory health, and supplier performance to protect schedule commitments.
Lead material risk identification, mitigation planning, and escalation for obsolescence, sole-source exposure, quality issues, and capacity constraints.
Coordinate with procurement, planning, manufacturing, warehouse, quality, and engineering teams to resolve material constraints quickly and effectively.
Support subcontract management, make-buy decisions, and material strategies in compliance with customer and internal requirements.
Ensure adherence to contractual flow-downs, FAR/DFARS requirements, export control obligations, traceability rules, and quality documentation expectations.
Prepare concise material status reporting, recovery plans, and risk summaries for leadership and program stakeholders.
Lead development, validation, and continuous maintenance of material Estimates at Complete (EACs), ensuring accuracy, traceability, and alignment with program financial baselines.
Analyze cost variances between actuals, commitments, and forecasts to identify key drivers, root causes, and required corrective actions impacting material EAC performance.
Partner closely with Finance, Supply Chain, and Engineering to gather cost inputs, assess risks and opportunities, and deliver timely, high-quality EAC updates.
Validate supplier quotes, purchase orders, and subcontractor inputs to ensure alignment with EAC assumptions and program financial objectives.
Provide material cost insight and data-driven recommendations during monthly program reviews and quarterly EAC reviews.
BOM maintenance
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
7+ years of experience in materials management, supply chain, program support, or operations within aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience supporting complex programs with strict delivery, quality, compliance, and configuration control requirements.
Strong knowledge of material planning, procurement, inventory control, supplier management, and ERP/MRP execution.
Ability to analyze data, assess risk, prioritize issues, and drive decisions in fast-paced program environments.
Effective leadership, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and brief senior leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting U.S. government, defense, or foreign military funded programs.
Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, ITAR, EAR, AS9100, and configuration-controlled production environments.
Experience with subcontract management, supplier corrective actions, and long lead material planning.
Knowledge of earned value principles, EAC support, cost/schedule integration, and program financial drivers.
APICS/ASCM, PMP, CPSM, or similar professional certification.
Core Competencies
Program material leadership
Risk management and mitigation
Cross-functional collaboration
Schedule-driven execution
Supplier performance management
Regulatory and contractual compliance
Data-driven decision-making
Executive communication
Success Measures
Material availability to support program milestones
Reduction in shortages and expedited recovery cycle time
On-time delivery performance
Inventory health and cost performance
Supplier responsiveness and execution
Compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
Role is open to onsite, hybrid or remote.