LSM Supply Chain Manager

Job Summary: 

The Supply Chain Manager is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the material and supply chain strategy in support of the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) program, one of the most consequential and complex shipbuilding programs in the country. This individual will play a critical role as part of TOTE Services’ Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) team.  The Supply Chain Manager will interface directly with the shipbuilder(s), Government stakeholders, and suppliers to ensure timely procurement, delivery, tracking, and accountability of program materials required to support vessel construction activities and LSM contract objectives. In this role, the Supply Chain Manager exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance to the program, including evaluating supplier capability and performance, assessing supply chain risks, and formulating and recommending courses of action that directly affect program cost, schedule, and contract compliance.

The vision of TOTE Services is to be the world’s most valued maritime management, operations, and technical solutions delivering reliable and superior service.

TOTE Services is a company within the TOTE Group, which is part of the Saltchuk family of brands.  Saltchuk is building the best family of transportation and distribution companies in North America.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Supply Chain Manager will serve as the bridge between multiple shipyards to ensure the supply chain can meet schedule and quality objectives on the LSM shipbuilding program. This individual must foster and maintain strong relationships with shipyards, subcontractors, sub-suppliers (at every level), and internal stakeholders. The key responsibilities of this position include: 
• Promote the TOTE Services safety culture and adhere to all safety guidelines.  Make safety a priority in everything we do and seek opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop and manage strategic working relationships with domestic and international suppliers, independently assessing supplier capability, capacity, and performance and recommending corrective actions when performance falls short. 
• Develop and drive procurement planning and long-lead material strategies to achieve ship construction schedules and critical path milestones across a multi-shipyard construction program, evaluating sourcing and sequencing alternatives and recommending the optimal approach to program leadership. 
• Lead the design and implementation of material management systems, dashboards, and supplier performance metrics, and use the resulting data to set priorities and drive supply chain improvements. 
• Oversee and analyze material availability, manufacturing progress, and logistics status across all vendors, independently determining when deviations require escalation or intervention. 
• Identify, assess, and develop mitigation strategies for supply chain risks, shortages, and obsolescence issues, prioritizing risks and recommending courses of action to program leadership. 
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend opportunities for onshoring of foreign materials to increase domestic content.  
• Analyze material delivery forecasts and their impact on the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), determine required updates to key material shipping dates, and advise program leadership on resulting schedule risks.
• Evaluate and help resolve change management activities and commercial or technical issues affecting material and supply chain performance, formulating and recommending solutions. 
• Serve as the VCM team’s subject-matter representative on material status and inventory during program management meetings with the Government, presenting analysis, risks, and recommended actions.  
• Interpret and apply the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Buy American Act (BAA), and domestic sourcing requirements to program material activities, ensuring compliance and advising program leadership on compliance risks. 
• Develop and oversee compliance strategies with foreign suppliers to ensure 100% compliance with Cargo Preference requirements. 
• Perform other duties, as required, to support overall program goals.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• No direct reports. Provides functional leadership and direction to shipyards, suppliers, and internal stakeholders on supply chain and material matters.

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics or related field.

Soft Skills: 

• Strategic Thinking
• Negotiation & Influencing Skills
• Risk Analysis & Mitigation
• Financial Acumen
• Attention to Detail
• Leadership & Team Collaboration
• Ethical Judgment & Integrity

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in the maritime industry supporting shipbuilding, marine, defense, or industrial programs.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of War contracts preferred.
• Strong understanding of shipyard production processes, marine equipment procurement, and shipyard construction strategies.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS requirements and domestic sourcing regulations, including Buy American Act compliance.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and material tracking tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound independent judgment and make decisions on complex supply chain matters with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills with the ability to work across multiple organizations and stakeholders.
• Ability to travel regularly to shipyards, suppliers, and Government sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting U.S. Government shipbuilding and/or commercial shipbuilding programs.
• Familiarity with classification society and flag state rules and regulations (e.g., ABS).

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Primarily an office-based position with regular visits to vessels, shipyards, and other maritime work locations (up to 25%) to perform oversight and coordination. 
• Must be able to safely access and navigate vessels, including climbing ladders, and gangways. 
• Requires the ability to walk throughout shipyards and vessel work areas, including uneven surfaces and confined spaces. 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 10 pounds as needed. 
• Requires prolonged periods of sitting, computer use, and operation of standard office equipment. 
• Must possess visual acuity for close-up, distance, and peripheral vision, including depth perception and color recognition necessary for oversight. 
• Regular verbal communication and hearing ability is required to effectively interact with team, vessel crews, contractors, and stakeholders.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

TOTE Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Affirmative Action and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We are committed to a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin disability, or status as a protected veteran. TOTE Services is a drug-free employer and a participant of the E-Verify Employment Verification Program.

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