Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Procurement Compliance Manager

Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or 8+ years of relevant experience in procurement, compliance, or project management.
  • Experience in a regulated environment, particularly involving government contracting.
  • Knowledge of FAR, DFARS, or similar regulations.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex requirements.
  • Ability to prioritize multiple tasks while collaborating with various teams.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quick to learn new systems.
  • Eligibility for a Secret level security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure procurement processes comply with federal regulations and policies.
  • Recommend and implement process improvements for better efficiency.
  • Develop and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and guidance.
  • Serve as an advisor on compliance and regulatory matters.
  • Oversee supplier onboarding processes with stakeholders.
  • Support audits by analyzing procurement data and documentation.
  • Lead compliance initiatives across functional teams.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment that values continual improvement.
  • Opportunity to develop compliance expertise in federal procurement.
  • Involvement in cross-functional projects enhancing leadership skills.
  • Access to training and mentorship opportunities.
  • Potential for upward mobility within compliance and procurement disciplines.
Full Job Description
Description

Do you enjoy improving business processes while ensuring compliance with government regulations?
Are you experienced with federal procurement requirements such as the FAR and DFARS?
Do you enjoy partnering with others to solve complex problems and support organizational success?
We are seeking a Procurement Compliance Manager to help ensure our procurement operations remain efficient, compliant, and audit-ready. In this role, you will collaborate with procurement professionals, business partners, suppliers, and leadership to strengthen procurement processes, implement regulatory changes, support audits, and drive continuous improvement.
This position combines compliance expertise, project leadership, process improvement, and collaboration across multiple functional areas.

What You'll Do...

Lead Procurement Compliance & Process Improvement
  • Ensure procurement processes comply with federal acquisition regulations, organizational policies, and internal controls.
  • Recommend and implement process improvements that increase efficiency while maintaining compliance.
  • Develop and maintain procurement policies, procedures, templates, and guidance.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on procurement compliance and regulatory requirements.
  • Oversee supplier onboarding process activities working closely with stakeholders to develop and implement improvements.
  • Support specialized procurement activities requiring additional compliance oversight.

Support Audits & Regulatory Reporting
  • Participate in internal and government lead procurement audits.
  • Gather and analyze procurement data and documentation to support audit responses and a variety of compliance initiatives.
  • Help ensure required regulatory reporting is accurate and completed on schedule.

Lead Compliance Initiatives
  • Lead or support cross-functional projects related to regulatory changes, policy implementation, and business process improvements.
  • Collaborate with business, legal, finance, IT, and procurement teams to implement sustainable compliance solutions.
  • Develop a strong understanding of procurement tools, workflows, and internal controls to be able to ensure smooth operations and act as a subject matter expert.

Develop Tools & Business Processes
  • Support business systems used for procurement documentation, reporting, and compliance.
  • Partner with technical teams to maintain procurement systems and ensure they enable compliance.
  • Maintain compliance related templates and training materials for procurement staff.

Train & Advise Others
  • Provide guidance to procurement professionals on regulatory requirements and procurement best practices.
  • Develop and deliver training, reference materials, and communications.
  • Mentor staff and promote consistent application of procurement policies.

Build Strong Relationships
  • Partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to communicate compliance expectations and regulatory updates.
  • Present recommendations, risks, and project updates to leadership.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate closely with other staff within the Compliance Section. Remain agile to support others as part of a broader team.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Bachelor's degree or 8+ years of relevant professional experience in procurement, business operations, compliance, project management, or a related field.
  • Experience working in a regulated environment with procurement, compliance, auditing, or government contracting requirements.
  • Knowledge of, or experience working with, federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS) or similar regulatory frameworks.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while working collaboratively across teams.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to quickly learn new business systems.
  • Are able to ultimately obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Experience in government contracting or another highly regulated industry.
  • Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and procurement compliance requirements.
  • Responsibility leading compliance, operational improvement, or cross-functional business initiatives.
  • Direct experience supporting government audits.
  • Experience developing policies, procedures, or training programs.
  • Experience mentoring or coaching professionals on compliance.
  • Demonstrated success identifying compliance risks and implementing effective solutions.
  • Previous experience working in an environment using EBSS, ServiceNow, and/or SharePoint.

#LI-KW1

Minimum Rate

$62,900 Annually

Maximum Rate

$180,300 Annually

About Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a research and development organization that provides solutions to national security and scientific challenges. The laboratory was founded in 1942 and is located in Laurel, Maryland. APL is a division of the Johns Hopkins University and is a not-for-profit organization. The laboratory has expertise in a variety of areas, including space exploration, national security, and healthcare.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1942

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