Manager, Strategic Sourcing

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 This job is a member of the Procurement Team within the Finance Division Join a newly established team of Strategic Sourcing - part of Procurement team reporting into the Chief Procurement Officer.This role is responsible for leading a team of Strategic Sourcing Professionals to achieve company and stakeholder results.Procurement is among the fastest growing professions in the world. You will be responsible for a team of professionals which drives long-term cost reductions and improves supplier performance through development and implementation of robust category strategies.Lead a team of highly driven and energetic Sourcing professionals responsible for achieving company and stakeholder goals with a passion for data-driven decision-making and intellectual curiosity.Support the team in executing impactful projects with high visibility to the senior leadership team, providing opportunities to showcase your business athlete mindset and storytelling abilities.Drive the development and implementation of category strategies, ensuring they are solutions-oriented and performance-based.Develop a strong professional network and enhance your executive presence by collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners.Continue growing your leadership skills and procurement expertise in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. 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. Embodies American Airlines leadership attributes and models the behaviors of Caring, Collaboration, Development, Results and FutureResponsible for development of robust category strategies which are based upon a deep understanding of the market and are aligned with company and internal stakeholder priorities. Category strategies are expected to produce measurable cost reductions and working capital benefits while ensuring supplier accountability and driving performanceLead the development of robust category strategies based on a deep market understanding and aligned with company and internal stakeholder priorities. These strategies should produce measurable cost reductions and working capital benefits while ensuring supplier accountability and driving performance.Implement and track results of robust category strategies with year-over-year cost reduction and working capital improvementsCommunicate and present category strategy recommendations and results to all levels of management including Officer level interactionCommunicate and present category strategy recommendations and results to all levels of management, including officer-level interaction, using your storytelling skills to convey complex concepts effectively.Proactively manage relationship between supplier executive teams and internal stakeholders to strengthen business relationships. Ensure regular supplier/stakeholder dialogue and where applicable establish business reviews to affirm expectations and review objectives & key results. Business reviews should focus on accountability for root cause of problems, identification of solutions, and tracking of plans/resultsLead and develop team members across the organization.Lead and develop team members across the Procurement organization, fostering an environment that values form writing, intellectual curiosity, and performance-based outcomes.Leader will ensure adherence to department policies, company legal requirements, corporate ethics and business standards and Resource Approval Policy (RAP) complianceConduct market research and competitive analysis to inform category positioning and innovationStay abreast of emerging AI technologies and tools relevant to category managementLead 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 related field or equivalent experience/training7 years of relevant experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, or Business Administration/Management Preferred Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience  Post-graduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience/training12+ years of relevant experience in Procurement5+ years of experience leading Strategic Sourcing team(s) with direct reportsExperience in sourcing and/or leading the sourcing teams in Customer, Airport, or Professional Services areas Skills, Licenses, and CertificationsAbility to be an action-oriented leader with the natural ability and desire to effectively engage employees, stakeholders, and suppliers to produce strong resultsAbility to demonstrate leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and effectively lead those in their span of careAbility to lead teams to develop and implement effective category strategiesSkills in negotiation, contract management, and driving supplier performanceStrong analytical thinking and strategic problem-solving skillsStrong process analysis/development skillsStrong proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, SQL, Power BI/Tableau/Alteryx)Demonstrated ability to drive change and influence cross-functional teamsAbility to demonstrate an aptitude for problem-solving and strong quantitative and analytical skillsAbility to manage multiple and diverse projects with changing prioritiesPassion for sustainability and sustainable sourcing practicesProficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)Knowledge of Coupa or other procurement related sourcing tools and systemsAbility and willingness to travel extensively throughout the Domestic and International network 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.