Category Manager/Sr Category Manager, Procurement

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why You'Ll Love This Job

• Join a newly established team of Strategic Sourcing - part of Procurement team reporting into the Chief Procurement Officer.
• Benefit from working with highly driven and energetic Sourcing professionals.
• Responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategic programs which meet the needs of the internal stakeholders while addressing pricing, acquisition, total cost, lead-time and supply, as well as managing contracts and suppliers.
• Develop category strategies from ground up! Opportunity to focus on Customer, Airports, and Professional Services categories.
• Work on impactful projects with high visibility to the senior leadership team.
• Enhance your procurement expertise by utilizing a mix of critical skills - analytics, relationship building, collaboration, and project management.
• Develop a strong professional network.
• Never have a boring day at work again!

What You'Ll Do

This list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.  Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

• Represents the company in business transactions with both internal and external organizations
• Creates and manages strategies, negotiations, RFPs, and contracts
• Creates, negotiates, implements and manages long term contracts while effectively developing and promoting strategic partnerships with suppliers
• Works closely with internal American Airlines customers and stakeholders to understand their business needs, objectives, product/service requirements and the broader operational processes
• Effectively communicates with appropriate management levels both internally and externally
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for change
• Assists with the Training program for the Procurement & Supply Chain team, as necessary
• Assists with the Supplier Diversity program
• As a Strategic Sourcing Category Manager, you will be responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies for selected categories supporting business needs. This may include Customer, Airport Services, Professional Services, or other categories
• Support your category through complete procurement lifecycle – from market, spend and supplier analysis to strategy development and implementation to contract execution and ongoing support
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers, ensuring alignment with business objectives and great products’ and services’ delivery
• Drive initiatives to bring value as part of the department’s Procurement Transformation Initiative
• Present project and initiative updates to senior leadership
• Closely collaborate with Procurement Excellence team and various sourcing groups, and implement best practices in sourcing and contract management
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to inform category positioning and innovation
• Stay abreast of emerging AI technologies and tools relevant to category management
• Lead pilot projects to test and scale AI applications, ensuring measurable impact on performance and cost savings

All You'Ll Need For Success

Minimum Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field
• 3+ years work experience in procurement/ strategic sourcing
• Demonstrable skills for category management, commercial negotiations, securing hard savings and cost avoidance, and executing complex deals in a fast-changing environment
• Experience working in preconstruction, construction, or major capital projects

Preferred Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience  

• Master's Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Business Management, Finance, Accounting, or other related field
• Knowledge of Source to Pay systems
• Strong project management skills
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, SQL, Power BI/Tableau/Alteryx)
• Process Mapping abilities
• Supplier Risk Analysis
• Supplier Relationship Management

Skills, Licenses, and Certifications

• Energetic and ambitious individual looking for a career developing opportunity in Procurement field
• A potential team leader with strong communication skills
• Self-directed and resourceful with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous tasks with exhibited follow through and initiative
• Strong business acumen
• Understanding of supply chain concepts, with work experience applying those concepts
• Negotiating and influencing skills
• Business understanding, particularly in project management, early supplier involvement, total cost management and financial analysis
• Previous experience with Source to Pay systems
• Skilled in Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficient in Excel
• Understanding and use of technical tools for analysis, problem solving, forecasting and quality improvement
• High ethical standard

What You'Ll Get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: 

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. 
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more.

Feel Free To Be Yourself At American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.