Global Supply Manager, Programs and Production

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies. Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built. Purpose The Global Supply Manager, Programs & Production is responsible for managing supplier relationships, executing sourcing strategies, and ensuring the availability of critical components, materials, and manufacturing capabilities and capacity required to deliver Divergent's aerospace, defense, and automotive customer programs. The primary focus of this role is supporting customer programs as they move from development and low-rate initial production toward full-rate production. The role spans sourcing, supplier management, outside process management, commercial negotiations, and day-to-day procurement execution in a fast-moving environment where BOMs, schedules, and demand change frequently and supporting systems and processes are still being built. This role requires close collaboration with Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Production Planning, Finance, and Logistics to meet customer commitments while building the supply base needed to scale. Operating independently within assigned programs and categories, this individual keeps production moving today while preparing the supply chain for full-rate production. The successful candidate combines hands-on supplier execution with strategic sourcing and forward-looking capacity planning, balancing cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and risk while contributing to the continued development of a scalable procurement organization. The Role Program Support & Production Procurement • Act as the sourcing point of contact for assigned customer programs, supporting program milestones from initial capture efforts to development builds and low-rate initial production through full-rate production. • Translate program BOMs, build schedules, and customer demand into actionable procurement plans, adjusting quickly as designs, quantities, and schedules change. • Manage engineering changes and BOM revisions with suppliers, including impact assessment on cost, lead time, open orders, inventory, and in-process material. • Own shortage management for assigned programs: identify shortages early, prioritize by build impact, expedite, develop recovery plans, and escalate risks with clear options and trade-offs. • Track part readiness for critical build events, customer deliveries, and first article milestones, and maintain clear visibility of material status for program and production leadership. • Support the build and maintenance of practical tracking tools (e.g., shortage lists, open-order trackers, supplier commit schedules) where formal MRP/ERP processes are not yet fully developed, and help transition them into scalable system-based processes. • Support production planning and S&OP-type discussions with supplier capacity, lead time, and constraint inputs. • Lead sourcing strategy and readiness for complex, high-impact program requirements where supplier decisions materially affect customer delivery, program cost, or schedule. (S06) Strategic Sourcing • Execute sourcing strategies for categories supporting customer programs, including: • Outside processes and special processes supporting printed components. • Build-to-print components: machined parts, fabrications, castings, and related hardware. • Purchased components: fasteners, inserts, COTS, electrical and mechanical assemblies, and related hardware. • Production consumables, tooling, fixtures, and packaging required to support program deliveries. • Lead end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned requirements, including market analysis, RFx, supplier evaluation, cost analysis, negotiations, and sourcing recommendations. • Assess supply markets, supplier capabilities, and supplier performance to identify opportunities for cost reduction, continuity, and long-term value. • Identify supply, capacity, quality, and commercial risks within assigned programs and develop mitigation plans. • Develop and maintain a forward-looking sourcing pipeline covering new suppliers, alternate sources, cost reduction opportunities, and capacity requirements. • Contribute to continuous improvement of sourcing processes, procurement standards, and supplier management practices. Full-Rate Production Readiness & Capacity Planning • Develop supply readiness plans for assigned programs that anticipate the transition from low-volume production to full-rate production. • Assess supplier capacity, tooling, staffing, and process capability against forecasted rate requirements, and identify gaps well in advance of need. • Drive supplier rate-readiness activities, including capacity assessments, capacity reservations, dual/alternate source development, and safety stock or buffer strategies for critical items. • Partner with Quality and Engineering on supplier qualification and production part approval activities (e.g., FAI/AS9102, PPAP) to ensure suppliers are ready before rate increases. • Establish forecast-sharing and supply commitment practices with key suppliers to support stable, predictable supply. • Define and execute supply strategies for programs transitioning to full-rate production, influencing long-term supplier selection, capacity investment, and commercial structure. (S06) Outside Processes & Supplier Management • Serve as the primary commercial interface for assigned suppliers, with responsibility for pricing, lead time, capacity, quality, and overall supplier performance. • Manage the outside process supply base for assigned programs, including machining, heat treatment, HIP, surface finishing, coatings, anodize and plating, painting, welding, and NDT (visual, penetrant, ultrasonic, and radiographic inspection). • Develop and maintain supplier relationships that improve cost, quality, delivery, and manufacturing scalability. • Coordinate material flow for parts moving between Divergent and outside processors, including routing, sequencing, turnaround time, traceability, and returns. • Work with Quality and Engineering to ensure outside processors meet specification, certification, and special process requirements (e.g., Nadcap, customer-approved source lists). • Monitor and manage outside process lead times, WIP at suppliers, yield and rework, and turnaround performance, and drive improvement where processors constrain production. • Partner with Engineering and Quality to qualify new suppliers and outside process sources that add capacity, reduce risk, and support rate growth. • Conduct structured supplier performance reviews (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness) and coordinate corrective action with cross-functional partners. • Develop supplier relationships that support long-term agreements and future capacity needs. • Build and manage executive-level relationships with strategic suppliers and outside processors, securing long-term capacity commitments and supplier development investments. (S06) Cost Management & Commercial Negotiation • Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers, including pricing, volume tiers, lead time, payment terms, tooling ownership, expedite fees, and supply terms. • Develop cost analyses and commercial evaluations supporting sourcing decisions, program quotes, and product cost targets. • Support program cost targets by providing supplier cost inputs for customer proposals, rate changes, and engineering changes. • Execute VA/VE, alternate source development, and cost reduction initiatives, including volume-based pricing as programs scale. • Monitor supplier cost trends and develop mitigation actions to protect program margins. • Lead complex, high-value negotiations involving long-term supply agreements, capacity reservations, customer flow-down requirements, or significant business risk. (S06) Cross-Functional Integration • Partner with: • Program Management: Align sourcing with customer schedules, milestones, and contractual requirements; communicate supply risk and recovery plans. • Manufacturing & Production Planning: Align supplier deliveries and outside process flow with build sequencing, line loading, and production schedules. • Engineering: Support design-for-supply, engineering change management, and supplier technical feasibility. • Quality: Support supplier qualification, FAI/PPAP, nonconformance resolution, and corrective action. • Finance: Align procurement spend, inventory, and forecasts with program budgets and business requirements. • Legal & Contracts: Provide commercial inputs to supplier agreements, including MSAs, NDAs, and customer flow-down terms. • Influence cross-functional decisions across Program Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Finance for requirements with significant cost, schedule, or supply continuity implications. (S06) Basic Qualifications • Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related technical field. • 5+ years of sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or supply chain experience within program-driven manufacturing environments such as aerospace, defense, automotive, or similarly complex hardware industries. • Demonstrated experience supporting production programs through changing BOMs, schedules, and demand, including managing shortages and recovering supply to protect customer deliveries. • Experience managing outside processes and processors (e.g., machining, heat treatment, finishing, coatings, NDT, or other special processes). • Experience preparing suppliers for production ramps, including capacity planning, supplier qualification, and alternate source development. • Proven ability to operate effectively where systems and processes are still being developed, building practical tools and workflows to maintain control and visibility. • Strong commercial negotiation skills and experience managing supplier agreements, lead times, and commercial risk. • Experience utilizing ERP/MRP, PLM, and procurement systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, Arena, Windchill) and advanced Excel skills. • Strong analytical skills with the ability to track and report supply KPIs, shortage status, supplier performance, and cost trends. Preferred Qualifications • MBA or advanced technical degree. • Experience supporting programs from LRIP through full-rate production in aerospace, defense, or automotive. • Experience with Nadcap-accredited special processes and AS9102 First Article Inspection or PPAP. • Familiarity with additive manufacturing, CNC machining, castings, or other advanced manufacturing processes. • Ability to interpret engineering drawings (including GD&T), bills of materials, specifications, and process routings. • Experience working within AS9100, ISO 9001, IATF 16949-certified, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments. • Experience with customer flow-down requirements, DFARS/ITAR, or other regulated program requirements. • International sourcing experience and global supplier management. • Experience leading supplier development initiatives and senior-level supplier relationships. Work Environment • This position is based on-site in Torrance, CA, with relocation to Divergent's Long Beach facility anticipated in 2027. • Occasional domestic and international travel (approximately 10–25%) may be required to support supplier development, sourcing activities, and program readiness. Compensation At Divergent, our pay range…