Description

The Strategic Alliances Group at Leidos has an opening for an Associate Director Category Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise in category management, supplier management, and supply chain leadership in support of Leidos’ mission-critical programs.

In this position, you will lead a team of Category Managers responsible for managing supplier relationships and strategic spend across the enterprise, while also directly managing a subset of categories. You will serve as the Leidos market expert for assigned categories, influence contract renewals, drive supply chain efficiencies, and develop strategies to ensure compliance, security, and resilience across the supply base. The goal of this role is to help Leidos operate leaner, faster, and more effectively while ensuring compliance with U.S. Government and industry requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of senior Category Managers, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Establish, track, and report KPIs across the category management function.
• Oversee category management activities, including market research, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and risk mitigation.
• Identify and manage strategic relationships with Leidos’ key partners and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, engineering, production planning, contracts, and program teams to align supply chain strategies with business objectives.
• Develop and implement strategies for supply chain security, counterfeit parts prevention, and compliance with applicable standards (e.g., AS6500, Buy American Act, Trade Agreements Act).
• Function as a subject matter expert on market dynamics, supplier trends, and potential solutions using industry-standard practices and modeling tools.
• Publish whitepapers, briefings, and executive-level reports on key categories and industry trends.
• Regularly deliver presentations to senior executives and participate in new business proposal activities.
• Support supply chain risk management, obsolescence mitigation strategies, and continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Manage specialized categories, including Human Resource Talent Acquisition (temporary labor), ensuring compliance and alignment with organizational goals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience (Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field).
• Minimum 4 years of experience supervising, leading teams, or managing projects.
• Proven experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain management, preferably in a global or federal contracting environment.
• Strong knowledge of supplier management, sourcing strategies, and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, make recommendations, and communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
• Must be able to travel occasionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams of senior professionals.
• At least 8 years of experience in supply chain engineering, subcontracts, category management, or supplier quality management.
• Experience conducting supplier competitions (RFI, RFP, selection, and performance management), including under U.S. Federal Government programs.
• Familiarity with defense/aerospace manufacturing and standards (AS6500, BAA, TAA, DOE/FAA environments).
• Advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, PMP).
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with ability to create executive-level presentations.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and experience presenting to executive leadership.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:
December 15, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:
Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

#Remote