Principal Supplier Strategist/Small Business Advocate

Description

Leidos Incorporated provides enabling technologies for various growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, electronics design and development, and Airborne capabilities.

We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.

Leidos Defense Systems Sector (DSS) has over 45 years of experience in the design, development, and manufacture of sophisticated RF components and integrated assemblies for the most demanding challenges. Our products and capabilities are sought after by civilian and military organizations spanning several global markets, including Aviation, Ship design and development, Communication, Electronic Warfare, Industrial, Missile, Radar, Satcom, and Space payloads. Leidos DSS invests heavily in research and development to maintain the ability to offer the world’s most advanced capabilities for current and emerging challenges.

Leidos DSS, is seeking a forward- thinking Principal Supplier Strategist/Small Business Advocate, Global Supply Chain to join a diverse team to create unique solutions for complex programs supporting business areas for the DSS. This role will report directly to the Vice President, Global Supply Chain and will be an integrated member of the supply chain organization. The Principal Supplier Strategist/Small Business Advocate is a high-impact role responsible for shaping supplier strategy to enable competitive growth across Programs of Record, managing strategic supplier relationships, driving long-term agreement (LTA) negotiations and advancing our small business utilization goals.   The successful candidate will lead development and oversight of small business plans, support compliance reporting, and contribute to positioning our supply base for future program success.

This role is ideal for a strategic supply chain leader who thrives in complex, government-regulated environments and understands how supplier ecosystems support mission-critical Defense objectives. .

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead supplier strategy development across priority programs and capture pursuits, aligning with Sector growth objectives and customer needs.
• Drive negotiations and execution of strategic LTAs with key suppliers to ensure supply continuity, affordability and innovation
• Serve as the Sector advocate for small business engagement, ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARS requirements and exceeding customer small business goals
• Oversee development, coordination, and execution of Small Business Subcontracting plans for proposal and active programs
• Monitor and report performance against small business objectives to internal stakeholders and external customers
• Lead DSS support in submission of Summary Subcontracting Report (SSR) and Individual Subcontract Report (ISR) reports and collaborate with subcontractors to ensure subcontracting plans are being submitted in accordance with Government requirements and regulations
• Collaborate with Contracts, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering and Manufacturing to integrate supplier strategies early within program lifecycles
• Representing DSS GSC in strategic sourcing reviews, program gate reviews and business growth campaigns
• Conduct market analysis and supply base assessments to identify strategic sourcing opportunities, gaps, and make-buy recommendations
• Promote long-term partnerships with diverse suppliers and support supplier development initiatives that enhance capability, compliance and competitiveness
• Promote a culture of long-term savings on procurement costs

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field requires a BA/BS or equivalent experience and 12+ years of prior relevant experience or Master’s with 10+ years or prior relevant experience preferred. Experience may be considered in lieu of degree
• Deep knowledge of FAR/DFARS, Small Business Program Requirements, and government reporting obligations.
• Proven experience negotiating complex supplier agreements
• Must be a US citizen and able to obtain and maintain a US DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting proposals for large government acquisitions in the defense industry
• Working knowledge of CPSR compliance, NIST 800-171 and cyber/supplier readiness
• CPSM, CPC or CFCM, ISM, APICS, PMI PMP, or other relevant professional certification(s)
• Experience with CostPoint ERP
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or similar process improvement methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and/or manage change

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.