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Salary: JPY 15,367,000 - 23,051,000 / annual
Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, is seeking an Associate Director of Global Supply Chain Integration based in Tokyo to lead a hybrid role spanning supply chain strategy and growth enablement across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
You will operate at the intersection of growth, strategic sourcing, and supply chain risk management, shaping deals before they are signed and building infrastructure for rapid scaling in a complex regulatory environment. This is not a traditional supply chain role—you will directly support Anduril's Japan expansion by forging relationships with industry leaders and acting as a strategic advisor to growth teams and industry partners.
Key Responsibilities:
Drive Strategic Growth & Partnership Development: Fuel Anduril's Japan expansion by supporting growth and corporate development teams in building relationships with Japanese industry leaders. Shape pre-contract strategy by driving scope definition, proposal development, and term sheet generation during pre-commit phases of international captures. Serve as the supply chain voice in critical go/no-go decisions, bringing market intelligence and risk assessment to leadership discussions. Monitor Japan's industrial ecosystem dynamics, emerging manufacturing technologies, and regulatory developments to identify partnership opportunities.
Build & Optimize Japanese Supply Networks: Develop a regional supply base by proactively identifying and qualifying suppliers across diverse commodity categories supporting 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. Achieve 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.
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 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, and 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.
Requirements:
- 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)
- 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
