Contingent Workforce Program Operations Lead

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. The C ontingent Workforce Program Operations Lead (Sr. Principal HR Project Management) within Corporate Talent Acquisition’s Extended Workforce Solution program is responsible for driving effective, compliant, and timely delivery of contract labor across the enterprise. This role leads program operations, partners closely with our managed service provider (Magnit), and ensures requisitions are fulfilled quickly with high‑quality talent. This position preferred to be located in Bloomington, MN but open to fully remote schedule. Teleworking arrangements are subject to change based on the needs of the business. The ideal candidate brings deep experience with vendor management systems (preferably VNDLY), strong project and change management capability, and experience with system configurations and integrations. They demonstrate the ability to influence without authority, apply critical thinking to contingent workforce management methodologies, and work seamlessly across all business sectors and key functions (including Legal, Business Management, and IT). Knowledge of personnel clearance processes and DD254s is highly desirable. Responsibilities: Lead day‑to‑day operations of the Extended Workforce Solution program with a focus on timely, high‑quality fulfillment of job requisitions, onboarding of work orders & administration of assignments. Monitor requisition aging, fill rates, rate compliance, and candidate quality; proactively remove roadblocks in partnership with Magnit, Talent Acquisition, and hiring managers. Serve as a subject matter expert for the vendor management system (preferably VNDLY), including workflows, approvals, configuration, user role security, mass data changes, worker records, rates, and reporting. Serve as the vendor management system tier two system level support for configuration and transactional troubleshooting/error resolution. Work with cross functional entities to resolve errors. Engage with the external vendor management provider as needed for complex troubleshooting/error resolution. Oversee timely disposition of customer support tickets submitted via ServiceNow across all contingent worker types. Submit enhancements for the customer support process/form to development teams; coordinate and execute testing and validation of enhancements. Own and coordinate VNDLY configurations and enhancements, including testing and deployment, in partnership with IT and TA systems teams. Support and help manage system integrations between VNDLY and HRIS/procurement tools to improve data quality, reduce manual work, and enhance reporting. Act as a primary operational liaison to contract labor & contract services teams; manage SLAs, operational reviews, escalations, and continuous improvement activities. Collaborate across all business sectors and with key functional partners (Legal, Business Management, IT, HR, Procurement) to align on contingent workforce processes, controls, and improvements. Lead change management for program and system enhancements (communications, training, job aids, FAQs, stakeholder engagement). Plan and execute HR and cross‑functional projects that evolve the Extended Workforce Solution operating model, processes, and technology. Develop and maintain reporting on requisition status, time‑to‑fill, headcount, supplier/MSP performance, tenure, and cost. Use data and critical thinking to identify trends, bottlenecks, and risks; recommend and drive solutions that improve cycle time, candidate quality, and stakeholder satisfaction. Ensure contingent workforce processes and configurations align with internal guidelines and external requirements (classification, co‑employment, access, information security). Partner with HR, Legal, Security, and Procurement on audits, remediation, and risk mitigation. Apply understanding of personnel clearance processes and DD254s when coordinating contingent labor needs that interact with classified programs (no clearance required for this role). Own and maintain EWS SharePoint site. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience OR Master’s degree and 6 years of experience OR Associate’s degree and 10 years of experience OR High School Diploma and 12 years of experience. Experience in HR operations, talent acquisition, contingent workforce management, staffing, procurement, or related program/project management roles. Hands‑on experience with a vendor management system (VMS); VNDLY strongly preferred . Demonstrated project management experience leading cross‑functional initiatives from planning through implementation. Proven change management experience (stakeholder engagement, communications, training) for new or updated processes and systems. Experience with system configurations and/or integrations in HR or talent acquisition technology environments. Demonstrated ability to influence without formal authority and build strong partnerships across sectors and functions (Supply Chain, Legal, Business Management, IT, HR, Engineering, Manufacturing). Strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills; experience using data and dashboards to measure performance and drive decisions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to collaborate in a matrixed environment. Advanced (Expert) MS Excel, Project, and PowerPoint skills. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with managed service provider(s) and vendor management system(s) in a large, complex organization. Knowledge of personnel clearance processes and DD254s , and how they relate to staffing and contingent labor. Background in a highly regulated or security‑sensitive industry (e.g., aerospace & defense, government contracting, manufacturing). Familiarity with HRIS, procurement, and timekeeping systems and their integration with VMS platforms. Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma). Change Management certification (e.g., Prosci). Contingent Workforce Management Certification. Primary Level Salary Range: $106,800.00 - $160,200.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.