Associate Director, Global Supply Chain Integration (Japan)
Anduril · Tokyo, Japan · 8d ago
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE JOB
We are seeking an experienced Associate Director of Global Supply Chain Integration in Japan to fill a unique hybrid role that sits between supply chain and growth. The individual in this role will support Anduril directly in building supplier relationships in Japan and the Asia-pacific region, and also act as a strategic advisor to Anduril growth teams and industry partners as we seek to bring Anduril products into the region by developing critical partnerships.
This isn't a traditional supply chain role. You'll operate at the intersection of growth, strategic sourcing, and supply chain risk management—shaping deals before they're signed and building the infrastructure that enables rapid scaling in one of the world's most complex regulatory environments.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Drive Strategic Growth & Partnership Development:
- Fuel Anduril's Japan expansion by directly supporting growth and corporate development teams as we forge relationships with industry leaders across Japan.
- Shape pre-contract strategy by driving scope definition, proposal development, and term sheet generation during pre-commit phases of international captures
- Be the supply chain voice in critical go/no-go decisions, bringing market intelligence and risk assessment to leadership discussions
- Monitor and analyze Japan’s industrial ecosystem dynamics, emerging manufacturing technologies, and regulatory developments to identify partnership opportunities
Build & Optimize Japanese Supply Networks:
- Develop regional supply base by proactively identifying and qualifying suppliers across diverse commodity categories that support multiple product domains
- Lead end-to-end supplier engagement including selection, qualification, and onboarding for Anduril's Japanese partners—assessing technical capability, capacity, quality systems, and financial stability
- Master multi-tier visibility by understanding and mitigating supply chain risks and constraints across tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers (keiretsu and independent suppliers)
- Drive localization initiatives that strengthen competitive positioning and align with Japanese national security supply chain requirements and industrial participation expectations
Provide Expert Advisory & Support:
- Guide Japanese industry partners by providing strategic advisory support to their supply chain teams as they identify and develop regional suppliers
- Support comprehensive sourcing strategies for partners executing on Anduril programs, ensuring alignment with technical requirements and security considerations
- Navigate regulatory complexity by ensuring flawless compliance with Japanese regulations (Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, technology transfer restrictions, export controls, defense equipment transfer guidelines)
- Partner with business line teams to assess existing sourcing strategies and develop comprehensive approaches aligned with Anduril's product roadmap and cost targets
Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement:
- Serve as primary liaison between Anduril's engineering, operations, program teams and Japanese manufacturing partners—bridging cultural and organizational boundaries
- Partner closely with Product Sourcing Engineers and Global Sourcing Managers to deliver integrated solutions
- Manage supplier performance including escalation protocols, corrective action oversight, and strategic capacity planning to support rapid scaling and new product introductions
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field
- 12+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing or procurement focused on contract manufacturing, preferably within defense, aerospace, or advanced technology industries.
- Demonstrated success negotiating and managing complex manufacturing agreements with Japanese suppliers, with deep understanding of Japanese business culture, negotiation practices, and relationship-building expectations.
- Professional fluency in both Japanese and English (written and verbal), with proven ability to navigate cross-cultural communication and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels in both languages.
- Regulatory expertise in Japanese compliance landscape (FEFTA, Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment, export controls, dual-use technology regulations)
- Broad commodity knowledge spanning electronics, precision manufacturing, materials, optics, sensors, and other defense-relevant categories
- Demonstrated success managing complex supplier relationships and negotiating agreements with Japanese companies
- Strong analytical and financial acumen, including expertise in total cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and make-vs-buy assessments, combined with proficiency in ERP systems and sourcing tools.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, with willingness to travel domestically and internationally (approximately 30–40%) to support supplier engagement, audits, and program requirements.
- Ability to work across international timezones with U.S. partners
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Past experience in Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) highly desirable
- Track record of building supplier networks and partnerships in Japan
- NPI strategic sourcing experience in fast-paced environments.
- Foundational understanding of manufacturing processes (e.g., electronics, machining).
- Strong financial acumen, including TCO and cost reduction.
- Past experience supporting growth teams or corporate development functions will be highly valued
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
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No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
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