Position Purpose

Provides leadership and oversight to the development and execution of the airline’s direct sourcing, negotiation, and procurement activities, ensuring the timely acquisition of quality goods at the best possible cost.  Builds and maintains strong supplier relationships, effectively directs and develops the team members, and remains focused on achieving the objectives of the organization, specifically, supporting flight operations and optimizing the airline’s financial performance.

Essential Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Establishes and executes sourcing and procurement plans related to aircraft parts, engines, and maintenance-related materials.  This includes timely delivery of critical components to ensure continuity of supply, developing and maintaining multiple sources of supply, and the ability to effectively negotiate contractual terms with key OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) providers, and alternate sources of supply.
• Manages and maintains the procurement of fuel, operational supplies, and safety and training equipment.  This includes contractual and administrative oversight with fuel suppliers to ensure that the operation maintains both reliable supply and competitive pricing.  In addition, this includes leading procurement efforts including, but not limited to GSE (Ground Support Equipment), safety and training equipment, uniforms, and other indirect spend.
• Leads sourcing and procurement efforts to support both the organization and codeshare partner’s standards related to interior cabin materials, Wi-Fi, and other In-Flight items that have the ability to impact and enhance the customer experience.
• Enhances supplier performance management by identifying, evaluating, developing, and maintaining relationships with key suppliers in order to improve lead time, quality, reliability, and financial performance.  This includes, but is not limited to the ability to manage and audit contracts, as well as maintaining a regular cadence of supplier performance assessment in order to resolve any delay/quality/service issues and effectively drive increased value to the airline.
• Prepares and administers the purchasing / supply management budget, reviews purchase requisitions and authorizes purchase orders in accordance with organizational requirements, and leads efforts to ensure value is optimized through competitive bidding and RFx events.
• Ensures that procurement processes and decisions adhere to aviation industry regulations (FAA, IATA, etc.), manages and mitigates procurement risks, including supply chain disruptions (natural disasters, material/labor shortages, cyber-attacks, geopolitical factors, inflation, etc.), and maintains high ethical sourcing standards.
• Collaborates effectively with internal partners (e.g, operations, maintenance, engineering, finance, MRO, Indirect Sourcing, legal, etc.) across all levels of the organization in order to align purchasing decisions with business needs.
• Assists with warranty fulfillment and management.
• Utilize technology, systems, and data analytics to streamline processes and improve decision-making.  This includes the utilization of procurement/inventory/maintenance systems to track and improve supplier performance, the ability to analyze market trends to anticipate and address potential supply chain challenges, and implementing automation and potential AI-driven tools to drive procurement efficiency.
• Foster’s the Company’s core values and culture throughout the work environment.
• Screens, interviews and makes recommendations for hiring potential associates.  Coaches and provides leadership, direction, and motivation to a team of direct reports.  Appraises performance, provides performance feedback, takes corrective actions and oversees the training and development of staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities necessary to perform this job.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent in Aviation, Business, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Materials Management or related field. 
• Requires 5 years of experience in purchasing, supply chain management or related area. 
• Requires previous supervisory experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree (M.A./M.S.) or equivalent in Business Administration and 8 years of experience. 
• Prefer Certified Professional of Supply Management.
   

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Able to read, analyze, and interpret common technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.  Able to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.  Able to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

Able to effectively navigate and utilize organizational ERP systems, PowerBI, and other data analytics tools to improve efficiency and drive process improvement.

REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY

Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Able to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

DECISION MAKING

Makes decisions daily on use of resources, performance and budgets.  Decisions could require additional expenditure of resources if not sound decisions. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Able to move about the work environment. 

Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Able to travel up to 10 of the time, including overnight travel.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, DISABILITY, AND VETERAN ACCOMODATIONS

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.