Director of Supply Chain

About Forterra

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives  systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real‑time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

We are seeking a Director of Supply Chain to build, lead, and scale a high‑performing, execution‑focused supply chain organization capable of supporting aggressive production growth, complex government programs, and rapidly evolving technology roadmaps.

You will own end‑to‑end supply chain performance: sourcing, procurement, planning, material flow, inventory, external manufacturing, logistics, and supplier quality. You will be accountable for cost, schedule, delivery, resilience, and scalability. When production is at risk, you own the solution. When lead times constrain growth, you remove the constraint. When systems break, you fix them permanently.

You will operate as a senior leader within Forterra, setting the bar for intensity, ownership, and results.

• Own outcomes across the full supply chain lifecycle.
• Develop and execute Forterra’s supply chain strategy to support rapid production ramp and long‑term scale.
• Ensure uninterrupted supply continuity across domestic and international suppliers.
• Drive measurable improvements in cost, quality, lead time, and delivery performance.
• Build a resilient, high‑performance supplier network.
• Lead global sourcing strategy and supplier selection for critical mechanical, electrical, and software‑adjacent components.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements that deliver durable cost and performance advantages.
• Establish rigorous supplier performance management systems with clear KPIs and consequences.
• Proactively identify and mitigate single‑source and geopolitical risks.
• Own integrated business planning (S&OP) and ensure alignment across engineering, production, program management, and finance.
• Optimize ERP systems (e.g., Net Suite) to drive real‑time visibility into supply, demand, and constraints.
• Optimize material flow systems including warehousing, material handling, and staging/kitting/delivery processes to support production requirements across multiple sites.
• Implement data‑driven forecasting, inventory optimization, and material flow strategies.
• Implement structured make/buy and vertical integration analyses.
• Shorten lead times and eliminate bottlenecks across procurement and logistics.
• Operate as both strategist and operator: dive deep into supplier negotiations, escalations, and root‑cause investigations when needed.
• Create a culture that values urgency, ownership, and measurable impact.

• 10+ years of progressive supply chain leadership experience in advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace/defense, automotive, or similarly complex hardware environments.
• Demonstrated experience scaling supply chain operations during high‑growth production ramps.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in cost, on‑time delivery, inventory performance, and supplier quality.
• Deep expertise in procurement, global sourcing, material planning, inventory management, and logistics.
• Experience leading integrated business planning (S&OP) processes.
• Strong commercial negotiation experience with complex supplier agreements.
• Executive‑level communication skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional senior leaders.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, engineering, business, or related field.

• MBA or Master’s degree in supply chain, engineering, or related field.
• Experience supporting defense or autonomous systems programs.
• Experience operating within…