Materials Program Manager

Materials Program Manager

Starting Base Salary Range of $105,000 to $120,000 (DOE)

For over 100 years, we’ve manufactured high-quality products right here in the USA. We still operate out of our Oregon-based factory to this day, producing innovative, battle-proven optics for the world's most relentless hunters, shooters, law enforcement officers, and military personnel. Regardless of the product, whether it's a red dot or a riflescope, we design and manufacture it with one goal in mind—to ensure it performs for life.

At Leupold and Stevens we’re American to the Core and passionate about what we do.  Product excellence and uncompromising quality are our top priorities. We’ve built a collaborative, high performance culture where team players with innovative ideas and a sense of urgency thrive.

Our benefits package is amazing:

• affordable health and dental insurance
• a strong commitment to training and professional development including an internal skills development program for all manufacturing team members
• a generous tuition reimbursement program
• company contributions up to 8.5% of base pay into a 401K retirement account
• profit sharing
• and great product discounts (to name a few)

What You’ll Be Doing as a Materials Program Manager:

The Materials Program Manager (MPM) is responsible for leading supplier sourcing and materials readiness activities in support of new product introduction (NPI), product development, and strategic cost and growth initiatives. The MPM identifies, evaluates, develops, and qualifies new suppliers and material solutions that align with product performance, cost, scalability, quality, and launch timing objectives. The role owns supplier engagement strategy from concept through production readiness and ensures supplier capabilities are aligned with future product roadmaps.  This role is responsible for alignment with Commodity Managers (CM) when transferring from Pilot to Production and working with both CM and Quality in qualifying newly sourced suppliers. 

Supplier Sourcing & Development

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to support new product development and strategic technology initiatives
• Lead supplier scouting activities for new materials, components, manufacturing technologies, and capacity solutions 
• Conduct supplier capability assessments focused on technical competency, scalability, quality systems, financial stability, and operational readiness 
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships during early-stage product development 
• Partner with Engineering and Product teams to align supplier capabilities with product performance and design requirements 
• Drive supplier selection decisions using cost, risk, quality, manufacturability, and schedule considerations 

New Product Introduction (NPI) 

• Serve as the materials and supplier lead within cross-functional product development teams 
• Develop and manage supplier readiness plans aligned with product development milestones and launch schedules and in partnership with CM 
• Coordinate prototype, pilot, and production material availability for development builds 
• Track and mitigate supplier-related risks impacting program timing, cost, or quality 
• Support design reviews, engineering change management, and manufacturing transfer activities 
• Ensure supplier deliverables meet development and commercialization timelines 

Program & Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Lead alignment between Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and suppliers 
• Facilitate issue resolution related to supplier readiness, qualification, capacity, and launch execution 
• Develop and communicate program status, risks, mitigation plans, and supplier performance metrics to leadership 
• Influence design and sourcing decisions to improve manufacturability, scalability, and total cost 

Supplier Qualification & Risk Management 

• Coordinate supplier qualification and validation activities including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, capability studies, and quality audits 
• Develop sourcing contingency and dual-source strategies for critical technologies and materials 
• Identify and mitigate supply continuity, geopolitical, capacity, and single-source risks 
• Ensure suppliers meet compliance, sustainability, regulatory, and ethical sourcing requirement 

Commercial & Strategic Support 

• Support cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and commercial negotiations in partnership with Procurement or Supply Chain teams 
• Provide market intelligence regarding supplier technologies, industry trends, capacity constraints, and emerging risks 
• Support make-versus-buy decisions and long-range sourcing strategies for future products 

Skills and Experience You’ll Need as a Materials Program Manager:

Required 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Optics, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline 
• 7+ years of experience in supplier development, sourcing, manufacturing, engineering program management, or NPI 
• Experience sourcing and qualifying new suppliers for technically complex products
• Strong program and project management skills 
• Experience working with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Quality organizations 
• Strong analytical, communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skill 
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required 

Preferred 

• Experience in optics, aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, electronics, semiconductor, automotive, or medical device industries 
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and supplier quality systems 
• Experience supporting products from concept through production launch. 
• MBA or advanced technical degree 

Work Environment for a Materials Program Manager:

Work is performed in a normal office environment with occasional exposure to manufacturing environment. Expected travel will be 20%-30% (domestic and international).

For details on positions and to apply, go to:

www.leupold.com/careers

Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

14400 NW Greenbrier Parkway

Beaverton, Oregon 97006

* A core business objective at Leupold & Stevens is to maintain a workplace in which each employee can achieve their full potential.  The company was founded on the principle of giving customers and our team members ‘A Square Deal’; to us, this means advocating for the employment opportunities and advancements of all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We resolutely believe all aspects and privileges of employment should be determined by skills and behaviors, not personal identities.

* With our commitment to make our application process and workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities, we will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for an individual applicant to participate in the job application process.  To request an accommodation to the application process, please send an email to HRDept@Leupold.com or call (503) 646-9171 and a Leupold & Stevens representative will contact you.

* Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a drug free workplace.  All final candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check.

* Leupold & Stevens, Inc. complies with all applicable FAR & DFAR regulations.

* We hire U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. All new employees must complete an INS Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). Positions may require a deemed export control license for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Placement is contingent on Leupold & Stevens, Inc.’s ability to apply for and obtain an export control license on your behalf.