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Supplier Development Manager Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

... supplier development, evaluations, source selection, and negotiations - to hit target costs for ... managing failure reporting and root cause corrective action activitiesIdentify risks and ...

Supply Chain Manager

Manassas, VA ยท On-site

$135K - $155K/yr

... supplier development, evaluations, source selection, and negotiations - to hit target costs for ... Transition into managing Supplier On Time Delivery (OTD) performance as the program scales What You ...

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Supplier Development Manager information

See Virginia salary details

$22

$52

$82

How much do supplier development manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for supplier development manager in Virginia is $52.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.01 and $64.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a supplier development manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Supplier Development Manager, you need expertise in supply chain management, procurement processes, quality assurance, and typically a relevant degree in business, engineering, or supply chain. Familiarity with ERP systems, supplier performance analytics tools, and certifications like Six Sigma or APICS are commonly required. Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills are vital to ensure reliable supplier performance, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

What is a supplier development manager?

A Supplier Development Manager is responsible for improving the performance and capabilities of a company's suppliers. They work closely with suppliers to ensure they meet quality, cost, and delivery standards, and help implement process improvements. This role often involves evaluating supplier performance, fostering strong relationships, and collaborating on initiatives that drive mutual growth. Supplier Development Managers play a key role in optimizing the supply chain and supporting business objectives.

What is the difference between Supplier Development Manager vs Procurement Specialist?

AspectSupplier Development ManagerProcurement Specialist
CredentialsBachelor's degree; certifications like CPSM or CSCP often preferredBachelor's degree; certifications like CPSM or CSCP beneficial
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with suppliers to improve quality, cost, and deliveryFocuses on sourcing, purchasing, and contract negotiations
Industry UsageCommon in manufacturing, automotive, and supply chain sectorsWidely used across various industries including retail and logistics

The Supplier Development Manager and Procurement Specialist roles both require supply chain knowledge and certifications like CPSM or CSCP. However, the Supplier Development Manager primarily works on improving supplier performance and relationships, while the Procurement Specialist focuses on sourcing and purchasing activities. Both roles are essential in supply chain management but serve different functions within organizations.

What are the typical challenges faced by a supplier development manager when working with new suppliers?

A Supplier Development Manager often encounters challenges such as aligning new suppliers with the company's quality standards, managing communication across different cultures and time zones, and ensuring timely delivery during the initial phases of collaboration. Building trust and establishing clear performance metrics are crucial, and it can take time for suppliers to adapt to new processes or expectations. Successful Supplier Development Managers proactively address these issues through regular site visits, continuous training, and fostering transparent communication channels with suppliers.
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Supplier Development Manager jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Supplier Development Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Supplier Development Manager job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,268 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Supplier Quality Engineer (Metallurgy)

Wolverine Advanced Materials

Blacksburg, VA โ€ข On-site

$90K - $125K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

About Wolverine Advanced Materials
Wolverine Advanced Materials produces and sells performance-critical, specialty elastomer-coated metals used in gaskets for automotive & industrial applications; automotive brake noise insulators and NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) damping solutions for automotive.
Wolverine employs approximately 600 people worldwide and has manufacturing operations in Virginia, Florida, Germany, and China, as well as sales & technical offices in Michigan, Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, and India.
Wolverine Advanced Materials, an entity of Center Rock Capital, is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance materials. Our core competency is in performance-critical, specialty elastomer-coated metals that offer damping and seal-ability solutions in the automotive and gasket industries.
Center Rock Capital is a company where they see potential where others may not look; and as a team we can find the right solution to the right challenge.
For more information, visit centerrockcp.com or wamglobal.com.
About the role
Wolverine Advanced Materials (WAM) is seeking a highly experienced Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) with deep metallurgical expertise to strengthen our metal raw material supply base and drive supplier quality performance across our global manufacturing network. This is a field-active, supplier-facing technical authority role - not a laboratory position. This role will operate at the intersection of metallurgical depth and supplier quality execution, combining hands-on problem solving with structured quality system management (IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP).
The SQE - Metallurgy will serve as WAM's technical expert for metallic raw materials, working directly with steel mills, galvanizers, metal service centers, and internal manufacturing, quality, and R&D teams. The role demands proven capability to resolve complex metal-related quality issues, qualify new suppliers, manage supplier performance metrics, and support new product and process development. Core materials include carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum in coil form, with a strong focus on downstream coating and elastomer-lamination processes.
This position is located on site in Blacksburg, VA.
What you'll do
Supplier Quality Management & Performance
  • Own supplier quality performance for assigned metal raw material suppliers, including monitoring KPIs (PPM, OTD, SCAR closure rate, audit scores) and driving continuous improvement.
  • Manage Supplier Problem Notification (SPN's) end-to-end: initiation, root cause verification, corrective action validation, and effectiveness monitoring.
  • Lead or support supplier audits (process audits, system audits) in accordance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and WAM internal standards.
  • Serve as the primary technical interface between WAM and metal suppliers during quality escalations, containment actions, and customer-impacting incidents.
  • Maintain supplier quality records, corrective action logs, audit reports, and performance dashboards.

Supplier Quality Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis
  • Lead technical investigations and root cause analysis (8D, A3, PDCA) for metal-related quality issues, including:
    • Galvanization and coating layer defects (thickness variation, adhesion failure, flaking, surface defects)
    • Mechanical properties out of specification (yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness)
    • Surface defects (scratches, pits, roll marks, inclusions, stains, dross)
    • Flatness, camber, edge wave, crossbow, and coil deformation issues
  • Work directly with steel mills, galvanizers, and metal service centers to define root causes using metallurgical principles and data-driven methods.
  • Review chemical composition, microstructure, processing routes, and heat treatment records as part of investigations.
  • Establish and track corrective and preventive actions to closure, ensuring permanent elimination of recurrence.
  • Act as WAM's subject-matter expert during customer escalations and warranty claims related to metal raw material quality.

Supplier Development & Qualification (APQP / PPAP)
  • Lead or support the development and qualification of new metal suppliers for carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
  • Define technical requirements for raw materials including chemical composition, mechanical properties, surface and flatness criteria, and coating specifications (zinc coating type and mass).
  • Manage the PPAP process for new and changed metal sources: part submission warrants, material certifications, dimensional reports, initial process capability studies.
  • Conduct APQP activities for new material introductions: supplier selection criteria, DFMEA/PFMEA participation, control plan review, and industrialization milestones.
  • Evaluate supplier metallurgical capability, process controls, and quality systems prior to qualification approval.
  • Collaborate with Purchasing, R&D, Quality, and Operations to reduce supply risk and improve supply chain robustness.

Internal Technical Support, Process Interface & Product Development
  • Provide metallurgical expertise to manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams in areas including coil handling, slitting, forming, and downstream processing.
  • Assess and communicate the impact of metal substrate properties on elastomer coating adhesion, functional performance, and long-term durability.
  • Support new product development activities by defining material requirements, supporting supplier trials, and validating metal substrate performance.
  • Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing scrap, rework, and cost of poor quality related to metal raw materials.
  • Contribute to the development, review, and maintenance of material specifications, acceptance criteria, and inspection methods.
  • Perform metallurgical testing and failure analysis; interpret results and drive clear, actionable technical conclusions.

Documentation, Standards & Knowledge Management
  • Interpret and apply relevant standards and specifications: ASTM, ISO, DIN, SAE, IATF 16949, and customer-specific requirements.
  • Lead creation and maintenance of material specifications, acceptance criteria, inspection and testing methods, and supplier quality agreements.
  • Document findings, conclusions, and technical recommendations clearly for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Support the development and continuous improvement of the supplier quality management system.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering, Materials Science, or related field (required)
  • Master's degree in Metallurgy or Materials Engineering preferred
  • 8+ years of combined experience in metallurgical engineering and supplier quality, preferably in:
    • Steel mills, galvanizing operations, or metal processing/service centers
    • Automotive Tier 1 / Tier 2 suppliers with supplier-facing SQE roles
    • Coated-metal, elastomer-metal laminate, or gasket product environments
  • Demonstrated experience with APQP, PPAP, and IATF 16949 quality systems in an automotive or industrial manufacturing environment.
  • Proven track record of leading supplier audits, managing supplier root cause analysis, and driving supplier quality improvement programs.
  • Field-active experience: direct engagement with suppliers at their facilities (not purely lab or office-based).

Technical Knowledge & Skills
  • In-depth knowledge of:
    • Carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum metallurgy
    • Galvanization processes: hot-dip, electro galvanizing, coating weight control, adhesion mechanisms
    • Mechanical properties, testing methods (tensile, hardness, bend, formability)
    • Microstructure, heat treatment, annealing, and forming behavior
    • Common coil defects and their metallurgical root causes
  • Strong understanding of:
    • Coil manufacturing: rolling, annealing, galvanizing, slitting, and temper passing
    • Interaction between metal substrates and elastomer or polymer coatings (adhesion, delamination mechanisms)
  • Automotive quality systems: IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, MSA, SPC
  • Structured problem-solving: 8D, PDCA, A3, Is/Is-Not
  • Supplier audit techniques: process audits, layered process audits, VDA 6.3

Behavioral Competencies
  • Supplier Influence: Ability to drive corrective action and quality improvement at suppliers without direct authority, through technical credibility and professional persuasion.
  • Cross-functional Communication: Communicates complex metallurgical and quality concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders (purchasing, operations, customers).
  • Escalation Management: Comfortable managing high-pressure situations involving customer complaints, production stoppages, and supplier disputes.
  • Ownership & Accountability: Operates autonomously in the field; self-directed and results-oriented with strong follow-through.
  • Collaboration: Works effectively across engineering, purchasing, R&D, and operations teams in a matrixed, global organization.

Travel Requirements
Domestic and international travel required to support suppliers and WAM manufacturing facilities worldwide (estimated 30-40%). Travel destinations include supplier sites in North America, Europe (Germany), and Asia (China, Japan).
Valid passport required.
Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand or sit for extended periods (4-8 hours depending on workflow).
  • Ability to walk on the production floor, between workstations, storage areas, and equipment.
  • Capacity to bend, reach, and crouch to access low or high shelves.
  • Must be able to occasionally lift up to 40lbs.

Wolverine Advanced Materials is an Equal Employment Opportunity Company
Salary Range: $90,000-$125,000
Bonus and competitive benefits.