Strategic Sourcing Specialist

AV; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 work schedule

401K with company matching

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist in California to lead sourcing projects, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost-saving initiatives. You will develop and implement category strategies and work under the Director of Strategic Sourcing to influence decisions and enable supply chain improvements.

The role requires strong organizational, negotiation, and communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and suppliers, with a focus on delivering value and market

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Organizational or Business Management, Engineering or related discipline
• Proven project management and negotiation abilities
• Strong communication and leadership skills in IPT environments

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative sourcing strategies and lead engagements across multiple business units
• Improve performance and enable new initiatives to scale
• Manage and execute sourcing initiatives with stakeholders
• Balance short-term tactics with long-term strategic efforts
• Engage internal/external stakeholders to identify effective sourcing
• Review data and market trends for key spend categories
• Participate in cross-functional meetings to align priorities
• Create category management plans and provide analytics for data-driven decisions
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in strategic sourcing
• Negotiate with C-level executives in supplier communities
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Project management

Negotiation

Communication

Leadership

Time management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Oracle ERP

Job description

Job Description

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist will lead sourcing projects, manage supplier relationships, manage category strategies, and drive cost‑saving initiatives, including developing and implementing sourcing strategies. This role will contribute to ensuring that the procurement process drives market sustainability, value to customers and supply chain initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Sourcing and under direction from supply chain leadership on activities and strategic decisions for the department. This role requires strong organizational, communication, and negotiation skills to effectively collaborate with suppliers and internal teams.

Worker Type

Regular

Position Responsibilities

• Develop innovative sourcing strategies and lead sourcing engagements across a wide range of business units
• Improve performance, optimize efficiency, ensure quality, and enable new initiatives to launch and scale
• Manage and execute sourcing initiatives, communicating efficiently and effectively with stakeholders across various business units
• Able to juggle multiple priorities, thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment, contributing to both short‑term tactical and long‑term strategic efforts
• Engage with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders to identify sourcing strategies that balance business needs, goals, and efficiencies
• Review data and market trends for key spend categories
• Participate in cross‑functional team meetings to align on sourcing priorities and requirements
• Create and contribute to the development of category management plans
• Provide procurement analytics and insights to support data‑driven decision making
• Stay up‑to‑date on industry trends and best practices in strategic sourcing
• Negotiate with C‑level managers in the supplier community
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Organizational or Business Management, Engineering or related discipline and a minimum of 5+ years of Supply Chain Program support in an engineering development or production environment or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Strong leader with demonstrated project management skills
• The position requires an individual who is persistent in influencing others to execute their responsibilities on time and escalates as required to achieve schedules
• Negotiations experience
• Excellent communication skills, leadership abilities, and the ability to work in an IPT environment
• A self‑starter, capable of achieving organizational and program objectives, and able to interface with all levels of internal management, Supplier management
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to assign the appropriate priorities to the many tasks that they will be required to perform

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Has effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with Oracle or similar ERP system software
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Able to excel in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties.
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives.
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products.
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company.
• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
• May be required to travel within the Continental U.S. and Internationally

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The Salary Range For This Role Is

$89,000 - $135,750

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR

• 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI‑powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian— but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required