Job DescriptionJob Title
Chief Specialist – Technical Supply Chain Management (Purchasing)
Department
Engineering / Technical Supply Chain Management
Reports To
Manager – Technical Supply Chain Management / Head of Technical Supply Chain / Director of Engineering
Job Summary
The Chief Specialist – Technical Supply Chain Management (Purchasing) is responsible for leading the procurement of aircraft materials, components, tools, equipment, repair services, and technical support required to sustain safe, compliant, and cost-effective aircraft maintenance operations. The role develops purchasing strategies, manages supplier relationships, negotiates commercial agreements, and ensures the timely acquisition of aviation materials while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
Working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Logistics, Quality Assurance, Finance, and external suppliers, the Chief Specialist ensures that purchasing activities support aircraft availability, operational reliability, inventory optimization, and lifecycle cost management.
Key ResponsibilitiesPurchasing & Procurement
- Develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with the organization's technical supply chain objectives.
- Manage the procurement of aircraft parts, rotables, consumables, tooling, ground support equipment (GSE), repair services, and technical contracts.
- Ensure timely procurement of materials to support scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, including Aircraft on Ground (AOG) requirements.
- Issue and manage Requests for Quotation (RFQs), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and Requests for Information (RFIs).
- Evaluate supplier quotations based on technical, commercial, quality, and delivery requirements.
- Prepare purchase orders and monitor the procurement lifecycle through delivery and payment.
- Ensure procurement activities comply with approved budgets, procurement policies, and delegated authority limits.
Supplier & Contract Management
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with aircraft manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers, repair organizations, distributors, and logistics providers.
- Lead commercial negotiations on pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, warranties, and long-term supply agreements.
- Monitor supplier performance against contractual commitments, quality standards, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
- Support supplier selection, qualification, and performance evaluations in collaboration with Quality Assurance and Engineering.
- Participate in supplier business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Inventory & Material Planning Support
- Collaborate with Materials Planning and Inventory Management teams to optimize stock levels and minimize material shortages.
- Support provisioning activities for fleet expansion, aircraft induction, modifications, and major maintenance events.
- Review inventory demand forecasts and procurement plans to ensure material availability while controlling inventory investment.
- Coordinate purchasing priorities based on operational requirements and maintenance schedules.
Financial & Cost Management
- Monitor purchasing expenditure against approved budgets and procurement plans.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract optimization.
- Conduct spend analysis and monitor procurement performance metrics.
- Support budget forecasting and financial planning for technical procurement activities.
- Ensure cost-effective procurement while maintaining safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure procurement activities comply with company procurement policies and aviation regulatory requirements.
- Verify purchased materials meet approved technical specifications and airworthiness requirements.
- Ensure suppliers maintain required certifications and approvals.
- Maintain complete procurement documentation and audit trails.
- Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits related to purchasing activities.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance Planning, Technical Services, Logistics, Warehousing, Finance, and Quality Assurance to ensure procurement activities support operational objectives.
- Coordinate with suppliers during AOG events to expedite material delivery and minimize aircraft downtime.
- Support contract administration for repair, exchange, pooling, and power-by-the-hour (PBH) agreements.
- Provide procurement expertise during fleet acquisition, modification, and technical projects.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, and purchasing efficiency.
- Support implementation of digital procurement technologies and ERP enhancements.
- Develop procurement performance dashboards and reporting tools.
- Benchmark procurement practices against industry standards and best practices.
- Mentor junior procurement and supply chain personnel on purchasing procedures and commercial best practices.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Aviation Management, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related discipline.
- Master's degree (MBA, Supply Chain Management, or Aviation Management) is an advantage.
- Professional certifications such as CIPS, CPSM, APICS/ASCM (CSCP or CPIM), PMP, or Lean Six Sigma are desirable.
Experience
- Minimum 8–10 years of experience in aviation purchasing, procurement, technical supply chain, or materials management.
- At least 3–5 years in a senior purchasing or procurement role within an airline, MRO, aircraft manufacturer, or aviation support organization.
- Experience in purchasing aircraft parts, repair services, and technical equipment.
- Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiations, contract management, and strategic sourcing.
Technical Knowledge
- Aviation Technical Procurement
- Aircraft Material Management
- Purchasing and Procurement Processes
- Strategic Sourcing
- Contract Management
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Inventory Planning
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Rotable and Consumable Management
- Repair and Exchange Programs
- Warranty Management
- Logistics and Freight Management
- Cost Analysis
- Financial Planning and Budget Control
- Supply Chain Risk Management
Systems Knowledge
Experience with one or more of the following systems is desirable:
- AMOS
- SAP S/4HANA
- Oracle ERP
- Ramco Aviation
- TRAX
- IBM Maximo
- Power BI
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
- Tableau
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) platforms
- e-Procurement systems
Regulatory Knowledge
Strong understanding of:
- ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
- EASA Part-145 and Part-CAMO
- FAA maintenance regulations
- Local Civil Aviation Authority regulations
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Quality Management Systems (QMS)
- Aviation procurement and airworthiness requirements
- Export control and customs regulations related to aviation materials
CompetenciesTechnical Competencies
- Aviation purchasing and procurement
- Strategic sourcing
- Commercial negotiation
- Contract administration
- Supplier performance management
- Cost analysis and financial management
- Inventory optimization
- Risk management
- Data analysis and reporting
- ERP and procurement systems
Behavioral Competencies
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership and influence
- Commercial acumen
- Decision-making
- Analytical problem-solving
- Relationship management
- Communication and negotiation
- Customer focus
- Planning and organization
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Integrity and accountability
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Purchase order cycle time
- On-time material delivery
- Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) procurement response time
- Material availability for scheduled maintenance
- Procurement cost savings achieved
- Supplier on-time delivery performance
- Purchase order accuracy
- Contract compliance rate
- Inventory stock-out rate
- Procurement budget adherence
- Supplier quality performance
- Procurement audit findings
- Customer satisfaction with procurement support
Working RelationshipsInternal
- Engineering
- Technical Supply Chain
- Procurement & Contracts
- Maintenance Planning
- Line Maintenance
- Base Maintenance
- Logistics & Warehousing
- Technical Services
- Finance
- Quality Assurance
- Safety
- Information Technology
- Executive Management
External
- Aircraft OEMs
- Engine manufacturers
- Parts suppliers and distributors
- Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers
- Component repair organizations
- Logistics and freight providers
- Lessors
- Customs brokers
- Regulatory authorities
- Third-party service providers
Preferred Attributes
- Strong knowledge of aviation technical procurement, aircraft materials, and maintenance support requirements.
- Proven ability to negotiate complex commercial agreements and manage strategic supplier relationships.
- Experience in sourcing aircraft components, repair services, and technical support in a regulated aviation environment.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret procurement data, monitor supplier performance, and identify cost optimization opportunities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, Maintenance, Finance, and Supply Chain functions.
- Demonstrated commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement while supporting high aircraft dispatch reliability and efficient maintenance operations.
Pay: ₹550,000.00 - ₹650,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Flexible schedule
- Food provided
- Paid sick time
- Provident Fund
Work Location: In person
