Obsolescence Process Manager

Job Purpose:

As the Obsolescence Process Manager, you are primarily responsible for establishing and operating a proactive, auditable obsolescence-management process across the product lifecycle. You will monitor component, material, and supplier lifecycle status; assess technical, commercial, quality and programme risks; and coordinate timely, cost-effective mitigation to protect production continuity, product supportability and customer commitments. The role works closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations and Programme, Project & Product Management, using a plan to prioritise and close open obsolescence issues.

Main Responsibilities:

• Own and maintain the company obsolescence-management process, governance, procedures, registers and Obsolescence Management Plans, aligned with contractual requirements and recognised good practice such as IEC 62402.
• Monitor bills of material, approved parts, materials for lifecycle risk using supplier notices, product change notifications, end-of-life notices, market intelligence and approved lifecycle tools.
• Maintain accurate ERP, PLM and obsolescence-system data attributing to role, including lifecycle status, affected products, risk ratings, owners, actions, due dates and supporting evidence.
• Assess the impact of each issue on safety, compliance, quality, configuration, cost, inventory, schedule, production continuity, product supportability and customer commitments.
• Coordinate cross-functional investigations and recommend proportionate mitigation, including authorised alternate sources, form-fit-function substitutes, last-time or lifetime buys, repair, redesign, technology refresh or controlled product phase-out.
• Assist preparation of robust business cases and technical recommendations, balancing lifecycle demand, total cost, lead time, minimum order quantities, storage life, qualification effort and residual risk.
• Work with Engineering, Quality and Programme Management to ensure replacement solutions are appropriately evaluated, qualified, approved and implemented through formal change control processes.
• Work with wider Supply Chain team to receive timely lifecycle information, validate notices, identify alternatives and improve the quality and timeliness of obsolescence data.
• Chair regular Obsolescence Review Meetings; communicate priorities, decisions, dependencies and escalations; and drive actions through to verified closure.
• Develop and report key performance indicators covering exposure, ageing, response time, mitigation status, cost avoidance, residual risk and data quality.
• Support new product introduction, sourcing and design reviews by promoting lifecycle-aware component selection, second-source strategies and long-term availability considerations in conjunction with wider Supply Chain team.
• Ensure proposed mitigations comply with applicable quality, regulatory, environmental, export-control, customer, counterfeit-avoidance and traceability requirements.
• Provide training, guidance and continuous improvement to embed proactive obsolescence ownership across relevant functions and perform other duties or special projects as assigned.

Education/ Qualifications:

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent experience in electronic, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing or systems engineering, supply chain, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional qualification or formal training in obsolescence, component engineering, lifecycle management, configuration management or project management.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of obsolescence, DMSMS, component engineering, product lifecycle, through-life support or technical supply-chain management.
• Knowledge of electronic, electromechanical or mechanical components and their lifecycle risks
• Experience interpreting bills of material, engineering drawings, specifications, supplier notices and lifecycle data.
• Understanding of ERP/MRP and PLM systems, configuration control and engineering change processes.
• Experience of risk assessment, technical investigations, mitigation planning and supplier engagement.
• Knowledge of IEC 62402, counterfeit avoidance, REACH, RoHS and aerospace or defence quality requirements.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical, data-management and problem-solving skills.
• IT literate, including advanced capability in Excel and confidence working with lifecycle databases and reporting tools.
• Able to evaluate technical and commercial options and make clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, risks, actions and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, resilient and able to work autonomously while coordinating cross-functional teams.

Other:

• SC cleared or ability to obtain.
• Ability to travel to company, supplier and customer locations as required.
• Flexibility to work additional hours when business-critical obsolescence events require urgent action.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
 

Third-Party Recruiters

Please note, that per Spectrum Control Policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our values and expectations. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Spectrum Control will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity. If you or your agency are interested in becoming an approved vendor please contact [email protected].