Director Supply Chain Management - Supply Chain Operations

Company

Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you. 

Role Summary

The Director, Supply Chain Management, Operations provides project oversight for all major contracting activities for Operational divisions to ensure assignment of appropriate supply chain personnel to manage sourcing and vendor selection, negotiations, pricing, contract terms, warranties, and vendor management. This leadership role directs supply chain management activities for Alaska Air Group (AAG) and its subsidiaries. This role leads a team and develops a supply chain approach specific to each negotiation.

Key Duties

• Provides project oversight of all major contracting activities for Operational divisions to ensure assignment of appropriate supply chain personnel to manage sourcing and vendor selection, negotiations, pricing, contract terms, warranties, and vendor management.
• Establishes and monitors processes to ensure inventory management, order fulfillment, demand planning, and product life-cycle management result in the greatest cost controls and asset management.
• Leverages technical competencies and knowledge to partner with Maintenance & Engineering and Flight Operations to purchase/contract airline specific equipment such as engines, flight simulators, and navigation equipment.
• Develops a supply chain approach specific to each negotiation, ideally with a unique end-state to provide Alaska with a vendor-specific competitive advantage that achieves reduced unit costs or economies of scale while cultivating long-term harmonious vendor relationships.
• Provides hands-on project management, including assistance with business analysis, capacity planning, training, and understanding of organizational dynamics to ensure supply chain results directly support business strategy.
• Identifies project benefits to clearly measure, articulate, and track results.
• Fosters a culture of engagement, holds self and others accountable through trust and authentic relationships.
• Promotes a high performance culture by cultivating and motivating direct/indirect reports through coaching, mentoring, and by providing regular and meaningful feedback. Identifies and provides career development opportunities through developmental assignments and formal/informal training.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 8 years of successful program management and/or effectively leading projects & teams
• 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
• 5 years negotiating and contract management experience
• A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, with a focus in a related discipline.
• Demonstrated use of a strategic sourcing process including Request for Proposal (RFP) writing and management.
• Project management experience.
• Working knowledge of FAA certification criteria to purchase/contract airline specific equipment such as engines, flight simulators, and navigation equipment, etc.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship building skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), or other related professional designation.
• Process improvement or Lean experience.
• Successful negotiation and contracting experience.
• Strategic sourcing process knowledge.
• Strong familiarity and comfort with financial terms, analysis, and metrics.
• A Master of Arts/Science degree or a Master of Business Administration degree.

Job-Specific Leadership Expectations

• Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.
• Strong communication (e.g., verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to create collaborative relationships that drive outcomes in the best interest of the company, with others in the organization, and with key external business partners.
• Proven ability to leverage business acumen and