{"id":3902878,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zone-5-technologies-procurement-director","title":"Procurement Director","company":{"id":684780,"name":"Zone 5 Technologies","domain":"zone5technologies.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zone5technologies","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":94,"open_postings":32,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.031,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":114,"computed_at":"2026-11-07T05:47:08Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Luis Obispo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":205000,"max":253000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":253000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AS9100","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-06T23:32:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-06","last_verified_at":"2026-11-07T22:08:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in precision weapons and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Our team of engineers and innovators are developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions to deliver affordable and scalable precision weapons, interceptors, and UAS.\nWe're building the next generation of munitions and unmanned systems for the United States and its allies. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on defense technology, you belong here.\nRole Summary\nThe Procurement Director leads all global procurement activities for the company, including strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, subcontract administration, and vendor performance management. This role ensures the company secures the materials, components, and services needed to support full-rate production at the best total cost, quality, and risk profile.\nThis role owns the supplier-facing side of the supply chain, from sourcing and negotiation through subcontract execution and performance, while maintaining the compliance discipline required in a regulated, government-contracting environment.\nThe Procurement Director partners closely with the Supply Chain Director, Program Management, Engineering, and Finance to ensure sourcing decisions translate into reliable, on-time material flow.\nThe Procurement Director ensures the procurement organization is aligned to meet Zone 5 needs for Production support, Engineering New Product Introduction (NPI), as well as the needs of franchise partners, while staying aligned with Finance and compliant with financial control requirements.\nWhat You'll Own\nStrategic Sourcing & Purchasing\nYou are accountable for sourcing the right materials, components, and services at the right cost and risk profile, and for proactively derisking the supply base.\nYou will:\nLead the procurement team's sourcing of raw materials, components, and services to support full-rate production\nImplement strategic sourcing initiatives, vendor qualification programs, and cost reduction programs while maintaining quality and compliance standards\nEnsure Zone 5 has a well-communicated, aligned set of suppliers that meets the technical and service needs of the organization and franchise partners\nEstablish relationships with strategic suppliers that extend beyond the account team to the executive level between companies\nSystematically identify sole-source and single-source suppliers across the supply base and drive mitigation plans, including dual-sourcing, qualified alternates, or long-term agreements, to close the exposure\nAssess supplier capacity against projected production rates and proactively address suppliers unable to scale with the business, through capacity investment, dual-sourcing, or re-sourcing as warranted\nBuild and maintain a diversified, resilient supplier base to mitigate single-source and capacity risk\nIdentify and qualify alternate vendors for critical or at-risk parts\nSupport New Product Introduction (NPI) by sourcing and qualifying long-lead and new parts in time to support production ramp\nSource and negotiate capital equipment, automation, and digital system purchases in support of the company's capital investment strategy\nExtend supplier qualification and performance standards to franchise and external manufacturing sites, ensuring they source from the same qualified supply base or an equivalent standard\nSuccess looks like:\nCritical parts have qualified alternate sources before a shortage forces the issue\nSole-source exposure and supplier scalability risk are known, tracked, and actively being mitigated across the supply base\nSuppliers proactively bring technology ideas to Zone 5 Engineering that facilitate new product development and give Zone 5 a competitive advantage in capability\nSupplier Negotiations & Cost Management\nYou own the commercial terms we get from our supply base.\nYou will:\nNegotiate pricing, terms, and contract conditions with suppliers and subcontractors to secure favorable terms and mitigate supply risk\nPartner with strategic suppliers to understand cost drivers and applicable market pricing, ensuring Zone 5 pricing supports a competitive cost advantage\nNegotiate and manage Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with key suppliers to secure price stability, priority capacity, and favorable lead times\nNegotiate volume discounts and tiered pricing structures, consolidating spend across programs and sites where it creates leverage\nEstablish and track purchase price variance and other cost-performance KPIs\nLead cost reduction initiatives without compromising quality or delivery commitments\nSuccess looks like:\nTotal cost of ownership improves year over year across the supplier base\nBuyers can justify and explain market pricing for strategic components\nSupplier & Subcontract Performance Management\nYou are accountable for how well our suppliers and subcontractors perform, not just what they cost.\nYou will:\nManage the procurement process and supplier performance, including escalation and corrective action where needed\nAdminister complex subcontracts in compliance with FAR/DFARS and customer-specific flow-downs\nMaintain oversight of critical subcontractors for delivery, quality, and performance, coordinating with cross-functional teams as necessary\nMaintain supplier scorecards and drive corrective action plans for delivery or quality deficiencies\nHold business reviews with strategic suppliers on a scheduled cadence, with participation from the Technical Program Manager (TPM), Engineering, and Quality\nSupport supplier quality functions, including supplier audits, qualification, and corrective action, in partnership with the Quality organization, which retains ownership of these functions\nSuccess looks like:\nSupplier and subcontractor performance is tracked, visible, and improving, with no surprises at the program level\nStrategic supplier business reviews happen on schedule with appropriate cross-functional participation\nMake/Buy Strategy & Outsourcing\nYou manage the make/buy decision framework.\nYou will:\nConduct make/buy analyses and support outsourcing decisions, including evaluation of insourcing opportunities\nPartner with Engineering, Programs and Manufacturing to evaluate sourcing options for critical or at-risk parts\nSuccess looks like:\nMake/buy decisions are data-driven and revisited as volume and risk change\nProcurement Compliance & Contract Governance\nYou ensure that how we buy holds up to scrutiny.\nYou will:\nEnsure procurement practices comply with FAR/DFARS, CAS, AS9100, and other applicable government contracting and quality standards\nConfirm required internal approvals (Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Programs, Finance) are obtained prior to PO issuance for purchases above defined dollar thresholds\nVerify that budget line allocations align with contract and proposal terms before reallocating funds across cost elements, escalating to Contracts/Legal when a reallocation may require formal notice or modification\nEnsure subcontractor security and compliance documentation (e.g., DD-254) is finalized prior to contract award\nPrepare for and participate in audits, reviews, and other regulatory evaluations\nSuccess looks like:\nProcurement actions are audit-ready, with no findings tied to approval routing, budget realignment, or missing compliance documentation\nTeam Leadership, Organization & Systems\nYou are responsible for building a procurement organization that scales.\nYou will:\nBuild, mentor, and lead a high-performing procurement team with clear roles and career development pathways\nEnsure the procurement organization is structured and aligned to meet Zone 5 needs for Production support, Engineering NPI, and franchise partners\nDrive adoption and optimization of ERP and digital procurement tools to improve visibility and decision-making\nPromote a culture of continuous improvement, cost discipline, and cross-functional collaboration\nSuccess looks like:\nThe procurement organization scales with volume without a corresponding increase in errors or compliance risk\nProduction, Engineering, and franchise partners are supported by a procurement organization built around their needs, with clean financial controls\nQualifications\nRequired Experience\nProven experience leading global procurement or strategic sourcing in a manufacturing environment, ideally at scale\nExperience administering subcontracts under FAR/DFARS and customer flow-down requirements\nBackground in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries\nDemonstrated success negotiating complex supplier and subcontract agreements\nExperience building executive-level relationships with strategic suppliers and running structured supplier business reviews\nBachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field required; Master's degree (e.g., MBA) preferred\nTechnical & Operational Depth\nDeep understanding of:Strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and cost reduction methodologies\nSubcontract administration and compliance under FAR/DFARS and CAS\nMake/buy analysis and outsourcing strategy\n\n Experience with:ERP/MRP systems and procurement/contract management tools\nManufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Toyota Kata)\nQuality systems aligned to AS9100 or equivalent\nSupplier scorecard and corrective action programs\n\nLeadership Profile\nThinks beyond individual POs to total cost of ownership and supply risk\nBuilds structure, clarity, and accountability across the procurement organization\nComfortable negotiating and managing supplier relationships under schedule and cost pressure\nBuilds supplier relationships that bring technology and capability to Zone 5, not just pricing\nHolds the line on compliance even when it creates short-term friction\nWhat Success Looks Like\nMaterial and services are sourced at competitive cost without compromising quality or delivery\nSubcontracts are compliant, well-managed, and free of audit findings\nSupplier base is resilient enough to avoid single points of failure\nProcurement approvals and budget actions are routed correctly the first time\nStrategic suppliers proactively bring technology ideas that strengthen Zone 5 capability and new product development\nAdditional Information\nPrimarily based in San Luis Obispo, CA, with travel to supplier, subcontractor, and other facility sites required approximately 40% of the time\nPay range for this role\n$205,000—$253,000 USD\nWhat's in it for you:\nBenefits: \nCompetitive total compensation package \nComprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.\n401k with company-match \n3 weeks of paid time off each year\n40 hours of sick time\n12 annual company holidays\nWhy Join Zone 5 Technologies?\nInnovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.\nCollaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.\nCareer Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.\nIf you are passionate about unmanned aircraft technology and want to be a part of a dynamic and growing company, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and join the Zone 5 Technologies team! \nIn compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. \nZone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov.","description_format":"text","description_chars":11808,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Supply Chain","Drones & UAVs","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-07T01:24:42Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":114,"reasons":["conf:4","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-07T05:47:08Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":253000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/zone-5-technologies-procurement-director","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/zone-5-technologies-procurement-director.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-08T00:49:37Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1807,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-09T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":684780},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=684780"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fzone-5-technologies-procurement-director"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fzone-5-technologies-procurement-director"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fzone-5-technologies-procurement-director"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/zone-5-technologies-procurement-director\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fzone-5-technologies-procurement-director"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3902878}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"zone5technologies.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3902878},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. Docs: https://alion.io/developers"}}