Category Director - Facilities, Utilities, & Production Support

Job Description Role Summary

The Category Director for Facilities, Utilities, and Production Support is responsible for the strategic procurement and lifecycle management of the infrastructure and technical services that enable manufacturing operations. This critical role oversees the sourcing of utility services (power, water, gas), facility maintenance, and specialized production support, including the procurement and calibration of high-precision test equipment. The goal is to ensure maximum uptime of production facilities while optimizing cost and ensuring all equipment meets stringent defense and quality certification standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Infrastructure Management

• Category Strategy: Develop and lead the strategic roadmap for Facilities, Real Estate, Security, Construction, and Utilities, ensuring that site infrastructure can scale with production demands.
• CapEx Leadership: Lead the sourcing and procurement of large-scale capital equipment and facility upgrades.
• Utility Optimization: Manage relationships with 3rd party energy management partners and explore energy-efficiency initiatives to reduce operational overhead.

2. Production Support & Technical Sourcing

• Calibration & Metrology: Oversee the creation and on-going management of master agreements supporting the procurement of calibration services and test equipment, ensuring all tools are compliant with industry-specific quality standards.
• Specialized Equipment Sourcing: Manage agreements that support end-to-end acquisition of complex production support equipment, from technical specification alignment to final installation and commissioning.
• Service Level Management: Define and monitor critical SLAs for Suppliers supporting facility uptime and equipment maintenance to prevent production bottlenecks.

3. Risk, Compliance & Quality

• Certification Oversight: Ensure all outsourced calibration and test services maintain the required certifications to avoid audit failures or production delays.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all facilities and equipment procurement adheres to BAE Systems'' safety standards, environmental regulations, and defense-specific mandates (ITAR/EAR).
• Business Continuity: Develop risk mitigation strategies for critical utility failures or the obsolescence of specialized test equipment.

4. Financial & Contractual Management

• TCO Modeling: Implement Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models for capital equipment, accounting for maintenance, energy consumption, and disposal.
• Complex Negotiations: Lead high-value negotiations for long-term service agreements (LTSAs).
• Budgetary Alignment: Coordinate closely with Finance and Site Managers to align procurement activities with the annual Capital Expenditure (CapEx) budget.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills Education & Experience

• Degree: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial) or Supply Chain Management.
• Experience: 10+ years of strategic sourcing experience, with a proven track record in managing Facilities, Utilities, or Technical Production Support in a regulated manufacturing environment (Aerospace, Defense, or Pharma).
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in procuring and managing the lifecycle of calibrated test equipment and industrial utility systems.

Technical Skills

• Systems Knowledge: Knowledge in ERP systems (Deltek/Oracle) and Asset Management software. Knowledge of Coupa or Ivalua preferred.
• Quality Standards: Deep understanding of calibration standards, metrology, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Financial Acumen: Expertise in CapEx vs. OpEx accounting and depreciation models.

Leadership Competencies

• Technical Credibility: Ability to engage with engineers and facility managers to translate technical requirements into commercial contracts.
• Strategic Negotiation: Ability to negotiate with monopolies or limited-source utility and equipment providers.
• Operational Mindset: A focus on "uptime" and "reliability" as primary drivers of procurement success.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills Preferred Attributes

• Experience with LEED certification or industrial energy-saving projects.
• Knowledge of government contracting requirements regarding facility security and infrastructure.
• Proven experience in transitioning from legacy equipment to modernized, digital production support systems.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $138267 - $235053

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

About BAE Systems, Inc.BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn''t a tagline here. It''s what drives us. We''re developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you''re not just building a career. You''re contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.