Job DescriptionJob Title
Chief Specialist – Technical Supply Chain Management (Strategic Sourcing)
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 (Strategic Sourcing) is responsible for developing and executing strategic sourcing initiatives that ensure the cost-effective, timely, and compliant acquisition of aircraft materials, components, repair services, tooling, and technical support. The role drives category management, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, and long-term sourcing strategies to optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), enhance supplier performance, and support aircraft operational reliability.
The position collaborates closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Procurement, Finance, Quality Assurance, Legal, and external suppliers to establish strategic partnerships, manage sourcing projects, and deliver sustainable value while ensuring compliance with aviation regulations and organizational governance.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Sourcing
- Develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies for aircraft materials, components, engines, landing gear, tooling, repair services, logistics, and engineering support.
- Lead category management initiatives to optimize procurement across technical supply chain spend categories.
- Conduct market research, supplier benchmarking, and spend analysis to identify sourcing opportunities and supply market trends.
- Develop sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, lead time, risk, and operational requirements.
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, and long-term strategic partnerships.
- Support sourcing strategies for fleet expansion, aircraft induction, major maintenance events, and engineering projects.
Supplier Selection & Commercial Management
- Lead competitive sourcing processes including Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Quotation (RFQs), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and supplier evaluations.
- Evaluate suppliers based on technical capability, commercial competitiveness, quality performance, regulatory compliance, financial stability, and service delivery.
- Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, warranties, repair agreements, exchange programs, pooling arrangements, service level agreements (SLAs), and long-term contracts.
- Develop sourcing recommendations supported by total cost of ownership (TCO) and risk assessments.
- Build strategic relationships with aircraft manufacturers (OEMs), Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers, distributors, and technical service providers.
Contract & Supplier Performance Management
- Collaborate with Procurement, Legal, and Engineering in developing and reviewing commercial contracts.
- Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations and agreed KPIs.
- Conduct regular supplier business reviews and implement supplier development initiatives.
- Ensure suppliers comply with quality, safety, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
- Support contract renewals, amendments, and supplier performance improvement plans.
Financial & Cost Optimization
- Identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities through strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Perform spend analysis and procurement analytics to support sourcing decisions.
- Develop should-cost models and benchmark pricing across the aviation supply market.
- Evaluate lifecycle costs for aircraft components, repair services, and technical support contracts.
- Support annual budgeting and long-term financial planning for technical procurement activities.
- Measure and report sourcing savings, cost avoidance, and value creation initiatives.
Risk Management & Governance
- Identify supply chain risks related to supplier capacity, financial stability, geopolitical factors, and regulatory compliance.
- Develop sourcing risk mitigation strategies and business continuity plans.
- Ensure sourcing activities comply with corporate procurement policies, ethical sourcing standards, and delegated authority requirements.
- Maintain transparency and governance throughout the sourcing lifecycle.
- Support internal and external audits relating to procurement and supplier management.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Engineering, Maintenance Planning, Technical Services, Finance, Quality Assurance, Logistics, and Operations to understand technical requirements and sourcing priorities.
- Support Aircraft on Ground (AOG) recovery through strategic supplier arrangements and contingency sourcing.
- Participate in new aircraft acquisition, fleet transition, modification, and engineering projects.
- Coordinate with Technical Supply Chain teams to ensure sourcing strategies support inventory optimization and material availability.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead initiatives to improve sourcing processes, procurement efficiency, and supplier collaboration.
- Promote digital procurement tools, supplier relationship management systems, and data analytics.
- Benchmark sourcing practices against aviation industry best practices.
- Develop sourcing dashboards and executive reports to support strategic decision-making.
- Mentor procurement and supply chain personnel in strategic sourcing methodologies 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, Aviation Management, or Engineering Management) is preferred.
- Professional certifications such as CIPS, CPSM, APICS/ASCM (CSCP or CPIM), PMP, or Lean Six Sigma are highly desirable.
Experience
- Minimum 8–10 years of experience in aviation procurement, strategic sourcing, technical supply chain, or contract management.
- At least 3–5 years in a strategic sourcing or category management role within an airline, MRO, OEM, or aviation support organization.
- Proven experience sourcing aircraft components, repair services, technical equipment, and engineering support contracts.
- Demonstrated success in leading complex sourcing projects and delivering measurable commercial value.
Technical Knowledge
- Strategic Sourcing
- Category Management
- Aviation Procurement
- Technical Supply Chain Management
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Contract Management
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis
- Spend Analysis
- Strategic Negotiation
- Aircraft Material Management
- Repair and Exchange Programs
- Inventory Optimization
- Market Intelligence
- Supply Chain Risk Management
- Cost Modeling and Financial Analysis
Systems Knowledge
Experience with one or more of the following systems is desirable:
- AMOS
- SAP S/4HANA
- Oracle ERP
- Ramco Aviation
- TRAX
- IBM Maximo
- Ariba
- Coupa
- Jaggaer
- Power BI
- Tableau
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
Regulatory Knowledge
Strong understanding of:
- ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
- EASA Part-145 and Part-CAMO
- FAA maintenance and procurement regulations
- Local Civil Aviation Authority requirements
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Quality Management Systems (QMS)
- Aviation supplier approval and airworthiness requirements
- International trade, export control, and customs regulations
CompetenciesTechnical Competencies
- Strategic sourcing and category management
- Commercial negotiation
- Supplier relationship management
- Contract management
- Cost analysis and financial modeling
- Spend analytics
- Market intelligence
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Project management
- ERP and sourcing technologies
Behavioral Competencies
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership and influence
- Commercial acumen
- Decision-making
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Stakeholder management
- Communication and presentation skills
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Integrity and accountability
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Strategic sourcing savings achieved
- Cost avoidance and value realization
- Total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction
- Supplier performance against KPIs
- Contract compliance rate
- Percentage of spend under strategic contracts
- Procurement cycle time
- Supplier risk assessment completion
- Material availability to support maintenance operations
- Supplier quality and on-time delivery performance
- Number of sourcing projects completed on schedule
- Budget adherence for sourced categories
- Audit findings related to sourcing and procurement
Working RelationshipsInternal
- Engineering
- Technical Supply Chain
- Procurement & Contracts
- Maintenance Planning
- Line and Base Maintenance
- Technical Services
- Finance
- Legal
- Quality Assurance
- Safety
- Logistics & Warehousing
- Information Technology
- Executive Management
External
- Aircraft OEMs
- Engine manufacturers
- Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers
- Component repair vendors
- Aircraft parts suppliers and distributors
- Logistics and freight providers
- Lessors
- Aviation consultancy firms
- Regulatory authorities
- Industry associations
Preferred Attributes
- Extensive knowledge of aviation technical procurement, category management, and strategic sourcing methodologies.
- Proven ability to develop long-term sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, supplier performance, and operational resilience.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills with experience managing high-value contracts and strategic supplier partnerships.
- Advanced analytical capabilities, including spend analysis, total cost of ownership (TCO) modeling, and market intelligence.
- Experience using ERP, e-Sourcing, and supplier relationship management (SRM) platforms to support data-driven procurement decisions.
- Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional sourcing initiatives, with a commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement in the aviation industry.
Pay: ₹750,000.00 - ₹850,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Flexible schedule
- Food provided
- Paid sick time
- Provident Fund
Work Location: In person
