Director, Supply Chain - Negotiations (R4752)

Dallas, Texas, United StatesOnsiteFull TimeDirector$160,000–$240,000 /yrPosted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship availableHidden Gem · VC-Backed

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Role summary

Shield AI, a deep-tech company focused on intelligent systems for defense and civilian protection, seeks a Director of Supply Chain - Negotiations. This role leads sourcing strategy, supplier negotiations, and contract execution for munitions and defense-related commodities in a regulated, capacity-constrained environment. Responsibilities include complex negotiations, developing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, driving cost savings through analysis, ensuring regulatory compliance (ITAR, EAR, DFARS), mitigating supply chain risks, and leading a procurement team. The position requires a Bachelor's degree with 10-15+ years of relevant experience, expertise in defense/munitions sourcing, regulatory knowledge, strong negotiation and contracting skills, leadership experience, and analytical acumen.

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description: The Director of Supply Chain – Negotiations is responsible for leading sourcing strategy, supplier negotiations, and contract execution for munitions and defense-related commodities. This role drives cost, performance, and supply continuity in a highly regulated and capacity-constrained environment, while ensuring full compliance with U.S. government regulations.

What you'll do:

Lead complex, high-value negotiations with munitions and defense suppliers, including pricing, long-term agreements (LTAs), and terms & conditions.

Develop and execute sourcing strategies for critical munitions components and assemblies, balancing cost, risk, and delivery requirements.

Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, including sole-source and limited-source vendors, to ensure continuity of supply.

Partner cross-functionally with engineering, program management, legal, and finance to align negotiation strategies with program and business objectives.

Drive cost savings and value creation through should-cost analysis, benchmarking, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and other applicable U.S. government regulations and export controls.

Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical, capacity, and regulatory risks specific to munitions.

Lead and develop a high-performing procurement/supply chain team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence.

Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier performance, cost, quality, and delivery.

Required qualifications:

Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred) with ~10–15+ years of progressive experience in procurement/supply chain, including significant exposure to defense or munitions programs or Aerospace Programs

Defense & Munitions Expertise: Proven experience sourcing and negotiating for munitions or defense-related commodities, with a strong understanding of constrained supply markets, sole-source environments, and lifecycle requirements

Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and U.S. government contracting requirements, including experience working with export-controlled materials and compliance frameworks.

Negotiation & Contracting: Track record of leading complex, high-value negotiations (e.g., long-term agreements, pricing structures, terms & conditions) and executing contracts that deliver cost savings and mitigate risk.

Leadership Experience: Experience leading teams or influencing cross-functional stakeholders (engineering, legal, finance, program management) in a matrixed environment to achieve business objectives.

Analytical & Financial Acumen: Strong capability in cost analysis, should-cost modeling, and data-driven decision-making to optimize supplier performance and total cost of ownership.

Security Clearance (if applicable): Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, depending on program requirements.

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