Principal Supply Chain Procurement Specialist 3 or 4

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems sector has an opening for a Principal / Sr. Principal Procurement Specialist (Level 3 or 4) – Category Management to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is remote; however, must be within a commutable distance from one of the following AS locations: Palmdale, CA; El Segundo, CA; or Melbourne, FL We are seeking a results-driven Category Management Procurement Specialist to lead Sector-level strategies for any of the following categories: electronics, chemicals & composites, raw materials, and/or standard hardware. This role partners with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to drive cost-effective, resilient sourcing solutions that support mission-critical outcomes. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated individual who will thrive in a project-driven environment and demonstrates the ability to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day execution. In this role, the selected candidate will be expected to: Design and implement comprehensive category strategies for electronics, chemicals & composites, raw materials, and/or standard hardware categories to mitigate supply chain risk, ensure affordability, and align with the Organization and Program objectives.  Prepare Procurement Review Board (PRB) packages, competitive and sole-source bid packages, conduct bidder conferences, analyze and evaluate proposals, perform price/cost analyses, negotiate contract provisions, select or recommend awards, and administer resulting contracts. Monitor commodity indices and leverage market trends to inform sourcing decisions Conduct market analyses, total-cost-of-ownership studies, and demand forecasts to shape long-term sourcing roadmaps. Apply standard Aerospace & Defense purchasing/procurement methodology to spend categories to achieve organizational objectives, best value for the enterprise, and achievement of target return on investment (ROI). Support sector initiatives/ special projects as required Establish vendor-managed inventory (VMI) agreements, Right-to-Buy Agreements, long-term agreements, strategic agreements, and negotiate favorable terms and conditions with Suppliers. Identify supply-chain risks & opportunities and develop mitigation and execution plans to address them. Manage internal and external relationships and supplier partnerships This position may be filled as a Level 3 or Level 4 based on the qualifications outlined below.

Level 3 - Bachelor’s Degree with at least 5+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR a master’s degree with at least 3+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or a PhD with at least 1 year experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or HS Diploma/GED with 9 years experience in Supply Chain Management may be considered in lieu of a degree Level 4 - Bachelor’s Degree with at least 8+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR a master’s degree with at