Defense Procurement Project Management Specialist (2 openings)

Bombardier; Dorval; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bombardier Defense is seeking a seasoned Defense Procurement Project Management Specialist to lead all procurement activities for defense programs from capture through post-signing execution. You will coordinate with Program Management, Engineering, Contracts, and Supply Chain to ensure procurement aligns with program baselines and schedules.

You will manage supplier relationships, lead negotiations, and drive cost estimates, lead times, and NDAs, while mitigating procurement risks and ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or business administration required.
• Minimum 10 years of proven procurement/supply chain/ program management experience in aerospace.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and contract drafting/closing.

Responsibilities

• Translate program needs into procurement requirements in cross-functional teams.
• Lead supplier negotiations, NDAs, RFPs/RFQs, and supplier evaluations.
• Manage procurement risks, supplier performance, and critical paths for defense programs.
• Develop procurement strategy and coach teams on initiatives and processes.
• Monitor delivery, cost, quality, and technical commitments with internal partners.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Program management

Bilingual English/French

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business Administration

MBA or Master of Engineering (plus)

Tools

ERP systems

Procurement lifecycle management

Job description

Position Overview

The Defense Procurement Project Management Specialist (Supply Chain Specialist) serves as the primary interface between Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Contracts, and the Supply Chain organization, ensuring procurement activities fully integrated into the defense program baseline. They would be expected to lead all procurement activities for assigned programs from capture and proposal through needs analysis, supplier contract negotiations, post-signing contract execution, delivery, and aftermarket support.

The Defense Procurement Project Management Specialist is the main interface to the suppliers required for the execution of Bombardier's Defense programs and works closely with the Capture and Offsets team to identify and develop new supplier relationships in support of organizational goals and strategies.

The role owns supplier execution, procurement risks and opportunities, long lead item management, and material readiness to support successful program delivery.

What are your contributions to the team?

Procurement Strategy and Commercial/Contracts Negotiations Leadership

• Translate Defense program needs into procurement requirements and needs in cross-functional teams (Sales, Engineering, Legal and others).
• Support Capture & Proposal teams with supplier quotations, cost estimates, and lead time assessments.
• This includes leading the issuance of RFPs/RFQs, putting in place NDAs, and working closely with program management and engineering to ensure the program schedule and technical scope is covered accordingly.
• Track procurement performance against approved budgets.
• Proactively develop new sources of supply and establish procurement strategy for assigned projects.
• Lead contract negotiations with suppliers, both face-to-face and contract revision and more.
• Lead and participate in the development of the commodity by managing projects that would include the preparation of business cases.
• Create and maintain formal networks internally and externally.
• Ensure procurement activities align with our business requirements (program milestones, certification events, and aircraft delivery schedules).
• Develop and coach team members on procurement initiatives and processes.

Program Procurement Execution

• Lead and support new supplier development as required for new Defense programs.
• Monitor supplier performance against delivery, cost, quality, and technical commitments with our internal partners (Engineering, Programs, Quality and more).
• Lead procurement‑related supplier risk identification and mitigation activities. Support development of recovery plans when procurement delays threaten program milestones. Manage escalations.
• Identify procurement‑related supplier critical paths and potential schedule risks in support of Programs.
• Actively participate in supplier program reviews led by the business units.
• Develop and maintain procurement dashboards.

How to thrive in this role?

• You have a bachelor's degree in engineering, business administration or equivalent. Postgraduate degrees are a plus, e.g. Master of Engineering or MBA.
• You have a minimum of 10 years of proven (direct) experience in procurement, supply chain, program management, proposal solution management, or engineering in the aerospace sector. Defense-related experience preferred. Fifteen years of total experience or more would be an asset.
• You have years of supplier‑facing experience during negotiations and drafting and editing procurement contracts, leading to successful contract signing and commercial/program success.
• You show leadership competencies without formal authority, such as:
• You have strong cross‑functional leadership skills;
• You have excellent stakeholder management capabilities;
• You have a strong sense of accountability;
• You are skilled at coaching and providing direction to junior colleagues in ambiguous situations.
• You are comfortable operating in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
• You are highly motivated, self‑managed individual able to work with little direct oversight.
• You have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with diverse groups of individuals and disciplines.
• You have experience working within highly regulated environments.

Preferred Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of aerospace supply chains.
• Strong technical background related to aviation industry and understanding of aircraft systems and main sub‑components.
• Experience negotiating with sole‑source suppliers, as well as dealing with major aerospace suppliers.
• Understanding of Intellectual Property concepts in license agreements.
• Understanding engineering change processes and configuration management.
• Understanding of contract execution and procurement lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with ERP, procurement, and planning systems.
• Knowledge of export‑controlled programs.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to work in both English and French on a daily basis.
• Must be able to work at one of our Montreal sites at least two (2) days per week.
• Must be available to travel internationally at least 10% of the year as per business needs.
• Must meet eligibility requirements to work on defense‑related work.