Strategic Program and Sourcing Lead
Location: Columbus, Ohio (On-Site or Remote)
Salary: $100,000+ Commission Position
Summary
Davenport Aviation is seeking a highly motivated aerospace and defense professional to support and lead day-to-day execution of the KC-46 sustainment program while driving strategic sourcing, supplier engagement, customer coordination, and operational performance. This role combines elements of program management, strategic sourcing, account management, procurement execution, and operational leadership into a single high-impact position critical to the success of the KC-46 program. The ideal candidate will have an aviation or aerospace background and prior experience managing programs, customer accounts, contracts, or operational execution within aviation, defense, or government-related environments. This individual must be capable of operating independently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and government customers. The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of aerospace sustainment, procurement, customer relationship management, operational execution, and strategic growth.
Key Responsibilities
Program ManagementOperational Leadership
- Manage day-to-day execution of KC-46 program requirements and operational priorities.
- Coordinate internally with Purchasing, Logistics, Finance, Contracts, Receiving, andLeadership teams to ensure smooth program execution.
- Support government and customer communications while maintaining strong workingrelationships.
- Monitor delivery schedules, supplier performance, purchase orders, and operational risks.
- Drive proactive issue resolution and escalation management.
- Maintain organized program documentation, schedules, reports, and records.
- Support leadership with operational reporting, program analysis, and execution metrics.
- Ensure program activities remain aligned with contract deliverables and customerexpectations.
Strategic SourcingProcurement
- Help support sourcing efforts for KC-46 sustainment material and aviation components.
- Develop and maintain supplier relationships across OEMs, MROs, distributors, repairstations, and alternate sources.
- Analyze market pricing, historical trends, lead times, and sourcing opportunities.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, procurement packages, and vendor terms.
- Support RFQ strategy, bids, solicitations, and procurement execution activities.
- Identify alternate sourcing strategies to improve delivery performance and protectmargins.
- Ensure procured components meet quality and contractual requirements.
- Maintain procurement records, purchase orders, invoices, and supplier documentation.
Government AccountCustomer Relationship Management
- Serve as an account manager for government and aerospace customers.
- Manage contracts and maintain long-term customer relationships.
- Interface professionally with USAF, DoD, OEM, supplier, and sustainment personnel.
- Support modification requests, delivery extensions, cancellations, and alternate partapprovals.
- Maintain clear communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding programstatus and execution priorities.
ReportingSystems Management
- Utilize ERP, CRM, AvSight, Excel-based reporting tools, and operational systems tomanage program activities.
- Create and maintain reports, dashboards, forecasts, and operational tracking tools.
- Monitor data accuracy, shipment status, promise dates, and inventory-relatedinformation.
- Support business analysis, forecasting, and operational planning activities.
Required Qualifications
- Must be a United States citizen.
- 2–8+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, defense, sustainment, procurement,supply chain, account management, or program management environments.
- Prior experience running or coordinating programs, customer accounts, contracts, oroperational activities.
- Strong relationship management and communication skills.
- Experience managing contracts and maintaining customer or supplier relationships.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-pacedenvironment.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Excel-based reporting tools.
- Experience using ERP, CRM, AvSight, Quantum or similar operational systems.
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision while maintaining highaccountability.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Professional written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting the U.S. Government within the aviation sector, as well as
- Experience with commercial airlines through both aftermarket and direct supportsolutions.
- Familiarity with military aviation, commercial aviation, and broader aerospacesustainment programs.
- Defense, USAF, DoD, or government contract experience.
- Aerospace aftermarket or MRO experience.
- FAA Part 145 familiarity.
- OEM experience in the aviation sector.
- Experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management.
- Familiarity with GovWin, SAM.gov, Boeing Fleet, ILS or related aerospace systems.
- Experience building supplier or OEM relationships within aerospace or defenseindustries
