North America Director, Supply Chain

Safran; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran Electronics & Defense North America seeks a Senior Manager of Supply Chain to lead SIOP correction, governance, and supplier performance for the Rockford perimeter. The role focuses on building standalone NA supply chain capabilities post-acquisition, aligning OE and Aftermarket, and developing cross-functional processes.

The candidate will define scope and operating model, establish dashboards, and drive continuous improvement across SIOP, supplier management, and risk mitigation within

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related field; master's preferred.
• 8–10 years of experience in supply chain management, SIOP, or related disciplines within manufacturing or aerospace.
• Experience leading cross-functional transformation initiatives within a complex, global organization.

Responsibilities

• Assess SIOP maturity and identify gaps; define a structured cadence.
• Define and implement standard SIOP inputs/outputs with owners and escalation rules.
• Establish weekly and monthly supply chain operating cadence and performance dashboards.
• Strengthen supplier performance management routines and governance; track commitments and recovery actions.

Skills

SIOP knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven

Supply chain analytics

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

SAP

Job description

The Safran Electronics & Defense North America Senior Manager of Supply Chain will provide dedicated leadership support to strengthen, structure, and mature the Supply Chain organization for the SED Actuation Rockford perimeter, with priority focus on correcting and implementing effective SIOP, supplier performance, planning, and governance processes.

Following its acquisition in 2025, Safran Electronics & Defense Actuation North America is establishing standalone supply chain management capabilities to support its long-term operational and strategic objectives. This role will play a key part in defining and developing the scope, organizational structure, and operating model for the Actuation GBU's North American Supply Chain organization. Building upon existing Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP), Procurement, and Supplier Performance functions, the successful candidate will help establish a fully integrated, scalable, and operationally robust supply chain organization.

Another key objective of the role will be to identify and develop synergies between SED Actuation and SED Avionics in North America, including process alignment, shared governance, common tools, resource optimization, supplier management practices, and opportunities for improved coordination across the regional supply chain footprint.

Key Responsibilities

SIOP Process Correction and Implementation

• Assess current SIOP maturity and identify immediate gaps.
• Define and implement a structured SIOP cadence, including demand review, supply review, reconciliation, and executive decision-making.
• Clarify the connection between customer demand, backlog, supplier constraints, capacity, inventory, and revenue forecast.
• Establish standard SIOP inputs, outputs, owners, and escalation rules.
• Ensure the SIOP process supports both OE and Aftermarket needs.
• Improve visibility of risks, opportunities, constraints, and decision points.

Supply Chain Governance and Performance Management

• Define the weekly and monthly Supply Chain operating cadence.
• Establish performance metrics and dashboards for Supply Chain execution.
• Implement structured follow-up for supplier commitments, shipment adherence, recovery plans, arrears, shortages, and past-due items.
• Create clear escalation paths for critical supplier or material risks.
• Support disciplined action tracking with owners, due dates, aging, and closure status.
• Ensure performance reporting is suitable for site leadership, business line leadership, and customer-facing reviews where applicable.

Supplier Performance and Risk Management

• Strengthen supplier performance management routines for critical suppliers.
• Support prioritization of suppliers based on customer impact, arrears, risk, and recovery needs.
• Establish standard supplier recovery templates and governance.
• Ensure supplier commitments are tracked, challenged, and escalated when not met. Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (Master's preferred).
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in supply chain management, SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning), or related disciplines within a manufacturing or aerospace environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional transformation initiatives, preferably within a complex, global organization.
• Experience with supplier management, risk and performance metrics, and escalation management.
• Previous experience working with both OE (Original Equipment) and Aftermarket supply chain activities is an advantage.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of SIOP processes and best practices (including demand and supply planning, executive SIOP, and reconciliation).
• Strong knowledge of supply chain performance management and governance.
• Familiarity with supplier recovery processes and developing performance dashboards (Power BI or similar tools preferred).
• Proficient in ERP systems (SAP experience is a plus) and supply chain analytics.
• Data-driven with proven ability to synthesize complex information, identify gaps, and drive actionable solutions.

Leadership Behaviors

• Strong ownership and accountability.
• Ability to create structure in an immature and transforming organization.
• Practical, action-oriented problem solving.
• Strong cross-functional leadership.
• Strong process discipline and follow-through.
• Ability to balance short‑term recovery needs with long‑term organization development.
• Collaborative mindset across business units, including Actuation and Avionics.
• Ability to develop people, clarify expectations, and build team maturity.

The salary range for this position is based on experience, qualifications, and market practices. Actual compensation offered will be determined by a variety of factors, including education, skills, relevant experience, business needs, and location.

Safran is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices in accordance with applicable law.