Category Buyer in General Procurement

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Job Description:

Within the framework of the consolidated North America General Procurement (GP) organization, the Category Buyer is accountable for Indirect Procurement activities at Airbus Americas, focusing on the structuring and deployment of the Local Operation commodity. The Category Buyer drives the operational compliance to the General Procurement Process supporting the alignment between divisions/entities. The Category Buyer is also accountable for cross-functional project management including stakeholder communication related to business-critical general procurement processes and the systems that support them.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategic Category Management & Market Intelligence (35%)

  • Develop and execute robust regional market strategies aligned with global company objectives, focusing on cost-efficiency, quality excellence, and long-term supply chain partnerships.

  • Conduct comprehensive market research and supplier mapping to identify emerging partners and evaluate the risk/operational performance of the existing supply base.

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

  • 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. 

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

• End-to-End Sourcing & Contract Management (35%)          

  • Lead the full procurement lifecycle, defining sourcing strategies,including tendering , complex negotiations, and contract implementation.

  • Manage supplier performance through KPI tracking and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance value delivery.

  • Ensure all procurement activities adhere to internal policies, legal requirements, and the highest ethical standards.

  • Responsible for safeguarding Airbus’ interests by ensuring all sourcing activities strictly follow General Procurement (GP) processes, legal requirements, and ethical guidelines. 

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

• Team Leadership (10%)

  • Provide leadership and coaching to less experienced team members

• 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. 

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

  •  Proficiency in procurement ERP/software (e.g., COUPA, SAP Ariba, Oracle) and the Google suite

• Additional Responsibilities (10%):

  • Drive indirect procurement contributions to projects affecting assigned teams / organizations / commodities.

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training: 

Education & Experience:

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

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

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

Licensure/Certifications:

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

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• 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 calls for tender and procurement projects.

• Proven leadership capabilities and team working skills that can be applied in a complex matrix organization

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

• Capable of living up to the Airbus Integrity Principles, consistently demonstrating ethical leadership behaviors 

• Proactive nature and strong self-initiative in a variable environment

• Ability to identify and solve complex problems and manage conflict

Soft Skills:

• Analytical Mindset: Exceptional problem-solving abilities with a sharp focus on cost optimisation and data-driven decision-making. Can utilise Artificial Intelligence to analyse data

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across different cultures and levels of seniority.

• Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, international environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Travel Required: 15 % Domestic and International

Eligibility: Eligible for employment in the US 

Clearance: None

Decision Making, Complexity:

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

• Capable of living up to the Airbus Integrity Principles, consistently demonstrating ethical leadership behaviors 

• Proactive nature and strong self-initiative in a variable environment

• Ability to identify and solve complex problems and manage conflict

Direct Reports: 0

Job Dimensions, Contributions to Success:

• Manage a portfolio of Contracts and call for tender between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000 in aggregate

• Individual Calls for Tenders around $1,000,000 per event but may be well over $1,000,000 in certain cases.

Nature of Contacts: Involved, negotiation type communication on a frequent basis with internal and external parties.

Physical Requirements:

Describes the physical requirements in the performance of the primary responsibilities of this position. Includes: Lifting, Carrying, Pushing/Pulling, Sitting, Standing, Squatting/Kneeling, Walking, Speaking, Hearing, Vision, Manual Dexterity, Travel. Include estimated time or percentage for each factor and maximum weight for lifting.

Equal Opportunity: Airbus is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Airbus is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

As a leader in our field, Airbus provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.   

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered.

Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

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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