Category Manager – MRO, Logistics, And Distribution Services

Category Manager – MRO, Logistics, and Distribution Services

Axillon Aerospace is a Tier-1 aerospace and defense supplier specializing in advanced composites, engineered systems, and flight-critical assemblies. Following our recent carve-out and private equity backing from SK Capital, we are transforming our supply chain organization to drive world-class execution, cost competitiveness, and operational resilience across six U.S. sites.

As part of this transformation, we are hiring a Category Manager – MRO, Logistics, and Distribution Services to take ownership of a strategic spend portfolio that spans plant operations, third-party logistics, and composite raw material distribution.

Reporting to the Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain, this role leads sourcing strategy, contracting, and supplier performance across multiple indirect and semi-direct categories—focusing on MRO, freight and warehousing, raw material distribution, and consignment agreements. You will work cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Planning, Quality, Facilities, and Finance to implement scalable solutions, reduce cost, and improve reliability across Axillon's supply base.

This is a highly visible, hands-on role that blends supply continuity, working capital optimization, and execution discipline—critical to ensuring plant readiness and enabling company success.

Key Categories Managed:

• MRO & Plant Consumables (PPE, adhesives, lubricants, abrasives, janitorial, cutting tools, safety supplies)
• Transportation & Logistics Services (Air freight, OTR, LTL/FTL, refrigerated shipping, customs brokerage, freight audit & payment)
• 3PL & Warehousing (Bonded freezer storage, vendor-managed inventory, regional kitting hubs, distribution centers)
• Packaging Materials & Services (Protective packaging, specialized crates, foam, insulation, hazmat compliance)
• Machine Maintenance & Calibration Services (OEM service contracts, preventive maintenance, ISO/ANSI certification programs)
• Composite Raw Material Distribution (Prepreg, adhesives, core, films, fabrics, resins – shelf-life and freezer-managed materials)
• Consignment & VMI Agreements (Negotiation and governance of supplier-stocked inventory with financial triggers and replenishment clauses)

Strategic Program Ownership:

• Consignment & VMI Governance: Oversee enterprise-level consignment agreements for composite materials and critical MRO, ensuring accountability for supplier-held inventory and working capital benefit realization
• Freezer & Shelf-Life Risk Program: Create and manage dashboards tracking shelf-life exposure, expiration risk, and recovery actions across all freezer-managed materials
• Capital Equipment & Plant Service Agreements: Lead category management for service and maintenance of high-cost capital assets (chillers, cranes, air compressors, etc.)
• Inbound Freight & Storage Network Optimization: Develop forward-stocking or kitting programs to reduce expedite risk, LTL costs, and material readiness challenges
• Sustainability & Compliance: Ensure packaging and MRO selections align with safety and environmental objectives, and own SDS/documentation compliance

Key Responsibilities:

• Own ~$20M–$30M in annual spend across MRO, logistics, and material distribution
• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies to reduce total cost of ownership, improve service levels, and optimize working capital
• Lead supplier selection, negotiation, RFx events, and master agreements for all assigned categories
• Serve as enterprise lead for composite raw material distribution, ensuring tight control of freezer inventory, temperature-sensitive logistics, and lot traceability
• Investigate opportunities to establish distribution/consignment and stocking agreements with key raw material suppliers (e.g., Toray, Syensqo, Hexcel), including drawdown terms, liability windows, and replenishment thresholds
• Drive consolidation of fragmented spend across sites into scalable, compliant national contracts
• Collaborate with Planning and Materials teams to forecast usage and eliminate shelf-life scrap
• Partner with the Logistics Project Manager to execute freight savings initiatives and 3PL transitions
• Develop and maintain KPIs for category health, supplier performance, cost savings, and risk
• Ensure compliance with all internal controls, ITAR regulations, and site-specific quality requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations or a related field
• 5+ years of procurement or category management experience, with exposure to MRO, logistics, or composite materials
• Strong understanding of freight procurement, freezer storage, and indirect supply contracts
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex negotiations and implement cross-functional category strategies
• Experience working in multi-site industrial or aerospace environments
• Working knowledge of ERP (Infor, SAP, Oracle) and sourcing platforms
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency (due to ITAR restrictions)

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPSM, CLTD, PMP, or equivalent certification
• Experience managing bonded warehouse or temperature-controlled inventory
• Understanding of consignment accounting, risk thresholds, and liability modeling
• Familiarity with shelf-life management, lot traceability, and supplier qualification in aerospace
• Hands-on experience setting up or renegotiating 3PL agreements or transitioning from legacy logistics providers

Why Join Axillon?

• This is a high-impact, build-phase role offering visibility to senior leadership and direct influence over cost, supply continuity, and inventory velocity. You'll be part of a center-led team redefining how aerospace supply chains are structured and optimized in a post-divestiture environment.
• You'll shape policy, own key categories, and play a lead role in transforming how we source, stock, and distribute mission-critical materials.

Please note that the salary range information is only applicable for California. Compensation is based on a variety of factors, candidate experience, qualifications, location as well as market and business considerations. Pay Range: $110K-$125K.

Axillon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Axillon is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. This position is subject to meeting export compliance eligibility requirements.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee.