Category Manager/Sr Category Manager, Procurement (Strategic Partnerships)

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

 

• Lead strategic supplier relationship development to enhance customer experience across key categories.
• Identify and cultivate high-impact supplier partnerships that align with American Airlines’ strategic goals and elevate service delivery and operational excellence.
• Develop and execute partnership strategies that drive innovation, improve service levels, and create mutual value for American Airlines and its suppliers.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders (e.g., Customer Experience, Inflight Dining Operations, Marketing, Finance) to ensure supplier initiatives are aligned with business objectives.
• Negotiate and manage long-term partnership agreements, ensuring performance metrics, service-level agreements, and continuous improvement plans are in place.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance, using data-driven insights to recommend improvements and foster accountability.
• Champion co-creation initiatives with suppliers to develop new solutions, technologies, or service models that enhance the passenger journey.
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitive benchmarks, and emerging partnership models to proactively identify new opportunities.
• Represent American Airlines in strategic forums, supplier summits, and industry events to strengthen the brand and supplier ecosystem.

 

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 i