Job Purpose
The Supply Chain Manager leads Kennon’s procurement, supply chain, and logistics function, ensuring the reliable, cost-effective, and compliant flow of materials from supplier through finished-goods shipment. Overseeing both purchasing and shipping/receiving, this role balances hands-on execution with the strategic development of supplier relationships, inventory strategy, and process maturity in a low-volume, high-mix environment serving highly regulated aerospace, defense, and healthcare markets.
This role reports to the VP of Financial Planning & Analysis and leads a small, dedicated team. The ideal candidate is a resourceful, hands-on leader who thrives in a small-company environment. The Supply Chain Manager should be comfortable setting strategy and rolling up their sleeves, building structure where it’s needed, and delivering results without a large team or deep resources. Further, this role will help in the development and continuation of the business owner culture by modeling our core values of integrity, caring, daring, and responsiveness.
Job Duties/Responsibilities
Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute the company’s supply chain and logistics strategy, advancing the function beyond day-to-day execution toward proactive planning, cost management, and risk mitigation.
- Establish goals, metrics, supplier and departmental scorecards (e.g., supplier on-time delivery, quality, inventory accuracy, and cost) and report performance to leadership.
- Identify and lead continuous-improvement initiatives across procurement, inventory, shipping, and receiving; improve and standardize processes as the function matures.
- Partner with Finance, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to align material planning and logistics with production schedules and business objectives.
Procurement & Strategic Sourcing
- Oversee procurement of raw materials, components, and outside processing in a low-volume, high-mix environment, ensuring continuity of supply to meet the production schedule.
- Lead strategic sourcing, cost-reduction, and make-or-buy analyses; negotiate pricing, terms, and long-term or blanket agreements with key suppliers.
- Serve as backup to the Purchasing Agent, including placing purchase orders and managing supplier communications as needed.
- Oversee facilitation and tracking of capital equipment purchases.
Supplier Management & Development
- Own the supplier management program, including supplier qualification, approval, performance monitoring, annual scoring, and development.
- Drive supplier corrective actions (SCARs) and risk-mitigation plans. Reduce reliance on single-source and high-risk suppliers by qualifying alternatives.
- Build strong, strategic supplier relationships that improve quality, delivery, and cost over time.
Quality & Compliance
- Support the company’s AS9100 certification effort by establishing and maintaining supply chain quality controls, including the approved supplier list, supplier audits and qualifications.
- Ensure proper flow-down of customer and regulatory requirements to suppliers, including Berry Amendment, DPAS ratings, DFARS, EAR, and traceability.
- Maintain procurement, supplier, and logistics records in compliance with ISO 9001 / AS9100 and applicable contract requirements.
Logistics Shipping & Receiving
- Oversee outbound shipping and inbound receiving operations, ensuring items are shipped and received accurately, on time, and in accordance with customer and contract requirements.
- Optimize freight and packaging strategy for cost and reliability; oversee shipping documentation, including packing lists, bills of lading, Certificates of Conformance, and customer-required documentation.
- Oversee the receiving process and standards, including verification against purchase requirements, identification and disposition of nonconforming goods, and proper handling of customer-owned property.
- Analyze and support shipping-cost tracking and support sales with shipping estimates as needed.
Inventory & Planning
· Set inventory strategy and targets (reorder points, safety stock, and turns) across a large SKU base, reducing excess and obsolete inventory while protecting the production schedule.
· Ensure inventory accuracy through cycle-count programs and reliable ERP data; maintain BOM and part-data integrity in ERP system.
· Coordinate material planning with production scheduling.
· Optimize inventory levels and cost without sacrificing quality, or production readiness.
Team Leadership
· Lead, develop, and support the Purchasing Agent and Shipping Agent. Set priorities and ensure smooth coordination across purchasing, shipping, and receiving.
· Serve as a leader across the company, collaborating effectively and working cross-functionally with other teams to advance company goals.
· Develop and coordinate team activities and goals in alignment with company strategy and goals.
· Build a cross-trained, resilient team and a culture of ownership and accountability.
· Provide candid and caring feedback, drive accountability, and develop others.
· Perform other supply chain and logistics duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications & Requirements
Our ideal candidate will bring a combination of leadership, supply chain expertise, and the resourcefulness to succeed in a hands-on, dynamic, small-company environment:
- 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations, including supplier management; manufacturing experience required, ideally in a low-volume, high-mix setting.
- Demonstrated success in a small-company or resource-constrained environment, where self-sufficiency, prioritization, and hands-on execution are essential.
- Experience leading, mentoring, or developing others, or clear readiness to step into a people-leadership role.
- Working knowledge of procurement, inventory, and logistics processes, and of quality and regulatory frameworks relevant to aerospace and defense (AS9100, ISO 9001, DFARS, EAR, Berry Amendment); experience supporting an AS9100 or ISO 9001 certification is a strong plus.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (Masterplan or similar) and strong Microsoft Excel skills, including combining and analyzing information across multiple systems.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to set strategy and also execute day to day.
- High integrity, dependability, and attention to detail, with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
- Supply chain certification (ASCM/APICS CPIM or CSCP, or ISM CPSM) is a plus.
- MUST BE A US CITIZEN
- Apply at https://www.kennonproducts.com/careers/ and submit all required documents.
What We Offer
- Kennon is 100% employee owned. When you join our team, there is a pathway to participate with a real stake in our success.
- Shared success: As an independent, employee-owned company, the value you help create stays with the people who create it.
- Health coverage. Medical, dental, and vision plans to support you and your family.
- 401(k) retirement savings. Set aside your own contributions through our 401(k) plan complementing ESOP ownership.
- Vacation and Sick PTO plus paid holidays.
- Real ownership of the purchasing function. The authority to manage suppliers and orders, and the opportunity to help establish the standards and processes the role runs on.
- Room to grow with broad exposure across Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering.
- A diverse, high-mix product portfolio spanning aerospace, defense, and healthcare markets.
About Kennon
Kennon Products has a forty-year history of proudly designing and manufacturing quality products that protect high value assets. Founded in 1984 to provide general aviation products, Kennon has grown into a multi-faceted company with international sales. We lead with cutting edge research and development, utilization of advanced materials and composites, and delivery of diverse product lines that include: preservation of private, commercial, and military aircraft integrity; safety in behavioral health; and life-protection for our service men and women. Our success has come through consistently providing innovation, ensuring superior design, and maintaining our commitment to quality.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
