Category Buyer

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Job Description:

Airbus Commercial Aircraft is looking for a Category Buyer to join our North American General Procurement team, based in Mobile, Alabama or Herndon, VA.

In this role you will be responsible for indirect procurement activities and account management at Airbus Americas, with a focus on Manufacturing Technologies, Products, & Services. You will drive operational compliance to the general procurement process and global strategies supporting the alignment between divisions. You will also be accountable for cross-functional project management including stakeholder communication related to business-critical general procurement processes and the systems that support them.

Meet The Team:

The Procurement team's mission is to acquire indirect goods and services for Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters, playing a major role in generating value and contributing to the overall competitiveness of the company. Our team members ensure on-time delivery and on-quality of equipment and systems, drawing on their expertise in Industrial, Operations & Quality Management, and strong relationship building skills to problem-solve and proactively mitigate supply chain issues.

Your working environment:

On 'Airbus Way' you will find the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility for commercial aircraft. Opened at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley in 2015, the facility produces A320 Family aircraft and added a second product line for the A220 in 2019. The facility, which strengthens the U.S. aerospace industry, is part of Airbus' strategy to enhance its global competitiveness by meeting the growing needs of its customers in the United States and beyond.

How we care for you:

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP")

• Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.

• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan ("EAP") and other supplemental benefit coverages.

• Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes and both national and international mobility.

Your Challenges:

• Procurement Strategy & Category Management (35%)

  • General Procurement focal point for Management and Operations for the any internal customers within the region (i.e. Mobile Final Assembly Line, Corporate office, etc.) for assigned scope

  • Support Internal Customer (IC) organizations (or teams) and General Procurement in creating and formulating the sourcing strategy by providing data about local suppliers.

  • The Category Buyer works closely with the global General Procurement commodities and drives local multi-functional teams (MFTs) to maximize visibility on procurement planning.

  • Establish and ensure regular two-way communication with key functional and local customers; manage the integration with assigned General Procurement commodities in North America and worldwide.

  • "Local for Global" - Identification of key/niche areas where the company can plan offshoring and manage the complete outsourcing cycle in alignment with commodity strategy. Act as primary procurement contact for these suppliers in alignment with the assigned commodity.

  • Supplier Relationship Management - Responsible for building relations with suppliers of assigned commodities, and identifying new vendors.

• Drive Sourcing Projects (Call for Tenders) (35%)

  • Lead Commodity Multi Divisional Teams (MDT) in RFP/RFI Process for assigned commodities. Values of projects will vary, but generally around $1,000,000 per event. Some RFP/RFI values may be well over $1,000,000 in certain cases.

  • Develop procurement plans and identify opportunities within assigned commodities which support savings program targets at Airbus Americas. Escalate blockages to Key Account Manager or Regional Director, as needed.

  • Manage the relationship with internal business partners, across multiple Airbus divisions, to achieve target levels of customer satisfaction.

  • Responsible for all Operational and Regional Sourcing activities with focus on an assigned commodity.

  • Perform "Local for Local" procurement activities in alignment with the global commodities' strategy, based on GP terms and regulations.

  • Support "Global for Local" procurement activities to provide local insight and support to global and other regional buyers leading sourcing projects

  • Responsible for creation, negotiation and management of contract terms and conditions and communicated with all stakeholders.

• Team Leadership (10%)

  • Provide leadership and coaching to less experienced team members

  • Provide support & input to Key Account Manager to set realistic and achievable goals for the team based on commodity strategy, suggested operational improvements.

• Procurement & Process Tools Expert (10%)

  • Drive compliance to Airbus General Procurement and related processes through robust communication with internal customers.

  • Resolve general procurement process blockages and recommend solutions to operational and contractual problems.

  • Monitor and, when needed, initiate actions to facilitate timely payment to the supplier minimizing disruption of Airbus processes.

  • Report savings to the Shared Services organization in a timely way through the standard mechanisms.

  • Expert experience in procurement tools (i.e. SAP, Ariba, Coupa, Oracle, etc) is preferred.

• Additional Responsibilities (10%):

  • Drive non-flying procurement contributions to projects affecting assigned teams / organizations / commodities. Ensure strong liaison with all GP in the Americas, GP in Europe and relevant business partners.

Your Boarding Pass:

• A Bachelors' Degree in Business Administration or a related field is required. Equivalent combination of education and experience can be substituted in lieu of a degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years in Procurement or related functions. Preferred experience with an increasingly higher level of authority and accountability.

• Knowledge of Business Case Analysis & Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Approach.

• Procurement process and advanced negotiation skill.

• Project Management - Excellent skills to motivate multi-functional teams in situations of often conflicting objectives (Internal Customer, Supplier, Budget) to perform in-country RFx and procurement projects.

• Knowledge of North American supplier base and cost structure.

• Awareness on applicable Laws (labor, IP, international trade).

• Analytical skills/capacities to synthesize large quantities of complex data to generate meaningful insights

• 15% Domestic and International travel availability

• Eligible for employment in the US

• Must be able to work in the US without current or future need for visa sponsorship.

Preferred Education/Skills:

• Fluency in written and verbal English. Fluency in French, German and/or Spanish is highly desirable.

• Certifications in project management & purchasing (i.e. PMP, CPP)

Physical Requirements:

• Onsite 100%

• Vision: adequate to enter and read material on computer screens. Able to identify individuals to initiate greetings, the giving of directions and other business interactions

• Hearing: able to hear sufficiently to engage in conversation in office settings. Able to hear safety alerts and warning signals.

• Speaking: able to engage daily in conversations in person and via electronic means and deliver information to groups of varying size with or without amplification

• Equipment Operation: Able to operate a wide range of personal and office electronic equipment daily

• Carrying: able to occasionally carry up to 30lbs/25kg while engaging in training, addressing production issues or as part of continuous improvement projects

• Lifting: able to occasionally lift up to 55lbs/25kg

• Pushing/Pulling: able to push/pull items in office areas

• Sitting: able to sit for extended periods of time at the computer and in meetings

• Squatting/Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves

• Standing: able to stand for extended periods of time

• Travel: able to travel overseas and domestically sometimes for extended periods of time

• Walking: able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces daily

• Personal Protective Equipment required: PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

• Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor

Take your career to a new level and apply online now!

A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company's success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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