Director of Supply Chain: Top Recruiters in Arlington, Virginia
The Arlington Advanced Manufacturing Market
Arlington's proximity to the Pentagon positions it as a hub for defense program management and advanced technology development rather than traditional manufacturing, with physical production activities occurring at affiliated facilities across Virginia.
About This Role
The Director of Supply Chain leads the procurement, materials management, and logistics functions for a manufacturing site or business unit, ensuring materials are available to support production schedules while optimizing inventory investment and supply chain cost. This director manages supplier relationships and drives supply chain performance improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead supply chain function for a site or business unit including purchasing, materials, and inbound logistics
- Own supplier OTD, inventory turns, and total material cost as primary supply chain KPIs
- Manage a supplier base of 50-300+ suppliers, prioritizing strategic supplier relationship development
- Lead supplier qualification, PPAP/FAI processes, and new supplier development activities
- Execute strategic sourcing projects to reduce material cost and improve supply security
- Manage MRP/ERP materials planning and work order release to ensure production schedule attainment
- Lead S&OP materials input and manage inventory levels to achieve turns targets
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including sole-source dependencies, geographic concentration, and supplier financial risk
- Manage import/export compliance for international materials flow, working with customs brokers
- Develop supply chain team through training, vendor management skills development, and career progression
Leading Employers in Arlington
The Advanced Manufacturing talent pool in Arlington is shaped by movement between these anchor employers and their tier-one supplier base:
Required Experience & Background
- 10+ years in supply chain/materials management with 3+ years in a director-level supply chain role
- APICS CSCP or CPIM certification strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-tier supplier relationships in manufacturing
- Track record of material cost reduction and supplier OTD improvement
- ERP proficiency (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent) and materials planning expertise
- Experience with supplier quality management, PPAP, and new supplier qualification processes
Core Leadership Competencies
- Supplier Management: Proven ability to develop and sustain high-performing supplier relationships
- Materials Planning: Expertise in MRP/ERP-driven materials planning and inventory optimization
- Strategic Sourcing: Skill in designing and executing sourcing strategies that improve cost and supply security
- Risk Management: Proactive approach to identifying and mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Ability to align supply chain activities with production, quality, and commercial requirements
Regulatory & Compliance Context
Directors of Supply Chain must ensure compliance with ITAR and EAR for controlled goods procurement, customs regulations for international shipments, conflict minerals reporting requirements (Dodd-Frank 1502), and applicable supplier code of conduct and ESG requirements. Import operations require C-TPAT compliance and CBP entry documentation management.
Compensation Benchmarks for Arlington, VA
Nexoval Search Partners' Approach in Arlington
Nexoval Search Partners's dedicated Advanced Manufacturing practice maintains active relationships with the executive talent community across Arlington and the broader Virginia market. Our consultants conduct thorough market mapping of available passive and active candidates across the region's leading employers, from established industry leaders to innovative growth companies. Every engagement includes confidential outreach, rigorous competency-based assessment, and candidate presentation within 45 to 60 days of engagement launch. Nexoval Search Partners's retained search model and one-year replacement guarantee ensure every executive we place in Arlington, Virginia delivers long-term organizational value.