Procurement and Program Lead (Aerospace Manufacturing)

GAL AeroStaff Ltd. is an aerospace staffing company specializing in temporary and permanent staffing for general and technical positions in the aviation and aerospace industry.
In keeping with this goal, each benefit program has been carefully devised. These benefits include time-off benefits, such as vacations and holidays, and insurance and other plan benefits. We are constantly studying and evaluating our benefits and policies to better meet present and future requirements.

Position – Procurement and Program Lead 
Location: Southampton, MA

The Procurement and Program Lead supports procurement, planning, and program development by leveraging aerospace manufacturing experience, supplier management, and inventory control strategies. This role serves as a key link between Procurement, Engineering, and Manufacturing, ensuring successful supplier performance and smooth transition of new products into production.

Summary

This position bridges Procurement Leadership, Manufacturing Engineering, and new product manufacturing. It is well suited for candidates with a strong engineering or manufacturing background who are looking to expand into leadership roles across purchasing, planning, supplier development, and program execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Supplier Manufacturing & Quality Support

• Act as the primary technical interface with suppliers regarding manufacturing challenges and new vendor development
• Collaborate with Design Engineering to ensure efficient transition from design to manufacturing
• Conduct supplier capability and risk assessments, including on-site and remote evaluations
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes such as machining, heat treatment, coatings, inspection, and metrology
• Support Quality and Engineering teams in resolving supplier nonconformances
• Identify recurring supplier risks and implement corrective actions to prevent delays

Procurement & Delivery Support

• Lead Purchasing Team to successfully procure all required products
• Support workload balancing and team development within procurement
• Assist expediting efforts by addressing root causes of delivery delays
• Support supplier selection and sourcing decisions from both technical and commercial perspectives
• Review supplier quotes for alignment with engineering drawings and specifications
• Provide technical input to pricing, sourcing, and inventory planning

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a technical bridge between Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Planning
• Provide manufacturing input to improve lead times and delivery reliability
• Resolve supplier technical issues at the working level to reduce escalation
• Support supplier development and process improvement initiatives
• Reinforce procurement standards, quality expectations, and supplier accountability

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Leadership – Leads teams and drives procurement and supplier performance
• Communication – Communicates clearly with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Dependability – Maintains accountability and follows through on commitments
• Initiative – Proactively identifies and resolves issues
• Teamwork – Works effectively across cross-functional teams
• Work Quality – Ensures accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Problem Solving – Analyzes issues and implements effective solutions
• Planning & Organization – Manages priorities, timelines, and resources effectively

Summary of Education, Experience & Certification

High School diploma or equivalent required.

• Hands-on experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment required
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications required
• Minimum 3–5 years of leadership experience required
• Must be authorized to work in the United States (U.S. Citizenship required)

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes (machining, heat treatment, coatings, inspection, etc.)
• Experience supporting supplier quality, corrective actions, and issue resolution
• Ability to work with both technical and non-technical teams
• Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Office tools
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to support supplier selection, sourcing, and procurement strategies
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and performance
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel as required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in AS9100 and/or ISO9001 environments
• Experience with supplier audits and manufacturing capability assessments
• Exposure to lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement tools
• Experience working across engineering, procurement, and supply chain functions