Description
JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY:The Team Leader – Operational Purchasing is responsible for leading and coordinating operational purchasing activities under Gate 2 to ensure that materials, components, equipment, and services required for aviation and aero-engine MRO operations are sourced and delivered in a timely, compliant, and commercially effective manner.The role manages complex and high-value purchasing requirements, determines appropriate sourcing strategies, leads supplier negotiations, monitors purchase order execution, and resolves critical supply-chain issues that may affect operational delivery, turnaround time, customer commitments, cost, or material availability.Depending on the approved organizational structure, the Team Leader may operate as a senior individual contributor who provides functional leadership, technical guidance, and mentoring to Specialists and junior purchasing personnel, or may serve as the formal line manager responsible for work allocation, supervision, performance management, capability development, and day-to-day team coordination.The role works closely with Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Logistics, Commercial, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to balance cost, quality, regulatory compliance, availability, and delivery requirements. The Team Leader also supports management through operational reporting, supplier performance analysis, risk escalation, and continuous improvement of purchasing processes.ResponsibilitiesOperational Purchasing Leadership and Work Coordination: Lead and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Operational Purchasing function to ensure that purchasing requirements are prioritized, assigned, processed, and completed within the required timelines. Review material and service demands and determine the appropriate purchasing approach based on operational urgency, value, technical requirements, customer commitments, market availability, and procurement policies.Strategic Sourcing, Market Analysis and Commercial Optimization: Lead sourcing activities for complex, high-value, critical, or operationally sensitive materials and services. Assess requestor requirements and determine appropriate sourcing strategies in accordance with the Purchasing Policy, Standard Process Manual, delegation of authority, and applicable regulatory and quality requirements. For direct materials, ensure that sourcing decisions comply with approved engine manuals, technical specifications, airworthiness requirements, quality standards, and approved supplier requirements.Purchase Requisition, Purchase Order and Delivery Management: Oversee and personally manage complex purchase requisitions, back orders, material dispositions, service requirements, and purchase orders from initiation through final delivery and receipt. Review purchase requisitions and purchase orders for completeness, accuracy, commercial reasonableness, technical alignment, required approvals, and compliance with procurement procedures. Ensure purchase orders are raised, approved, issued, acknowledged, and tracked within the required timelines.Supplier Relationship Management, Negotiation and Performance: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with strategic, critical, and high-value suppliers. Lead commercial negotiations relating to pricing, lead time, payment terms, warranties, delivery conditions, minimum order quantities, repair conditions, freight arrangements, and other contractual terms. Resolve significant supplier disputes and escalate contractual, commercial, quality, ethical, or performance concerns to management and relevant control functions.Stakeholder Management, Operational Reporting and Escalation: Serve as a key point of contact between Operational Purchasing and internal stakeholders, including Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Finance, Commercial, and Supply Chain. Attend operational, production, material review, engine progress, and management meetings and provide accurate updates on purchasing status, risks, actions, and expected delivery dates. Communicate proactively with requestors regarding requisition status, purchase order progress, supplier commitments, delays, risks, and required decisions.Quality, Compliance, Risk Management and Issue Resolution: Ensure that purchasing activities comply with approved procurement policies, financial controls, delegation-of-authority requirements, aviation regulations, quality procedures, and relevant internal standards. Confirm that suppliers and purchased materials meet applicable technical, quality, airworthiness, traceability, certification, and documentation requirements.Team Leadership, Coaching and Capability Development: Provide coaching, mentoring, technical guidance, and on-the-job support to Specialists and junior purchasing personnel. Share market knowledge, supplier intelligence, negotiation practices, sourcing techniques, system knowledge, and lessons learned across the team. Review complex or sensitive purchasing cases handled by team members and provide guidance before final action or escalation. Promote consistent application of procurement procedures, documentation requirements, commercial practices, and quality standards.Continuous Improvement and Systems Enhancement: Review operational purchasing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, turnaround time, data quality, automation, and stakeholder experience. Support the development and revision of purchasing procedures, work instructions, templates, reports, controls, and standard operating practices.Other Duties: Perform other related duties and responsibilities assigned by the Manager – Gate 2, Head – Gate 2, or other authorized management representative. Support business continuity, urgent operational requirements, special projects, and organizational priorities as required.QualificationsMinimum Qualifications (Education/Certification/ Licensure/Professional Membership): Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Purchasing, Business Administration, Engineering, Aviation Management, Logistics, or a related discipline. Professional certification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, Association for Supply Chain Management, or an equivalent recognized procurement or supply-chain professional body is preferred. Certified Supply Chain Professional, Certified Professional in Supply Management, CIPS qualification, or equivalent certification is preferred. Training relating to European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, or other applicable civil aviation regulatory requirements is preferred. Leadership, supervisory, coaching, or people-management training is preferred. Commercial negotiation or contract-management training is an advantage.Minimum Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in operational purchasing, strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, material management, or a related discipline. At least 3 years of experience in aviation, aerospace, airline, engine MRO, aircraft MRO, manufacturing, or another highly regulated technical environment is preferred.Required SkillsOperational Purchasing Leadership – Advanced: The ability to lead, coordinate, and prioritize operational purchasing activities in a complex and time-sensitive MRO environment. This includes allocating work, monitoring progress, resolving bottlenecks, managing escalations, and ensuring that purchasing activities support operational delivery and customer commitments.Strategic Sourcing and Market Analysis – Advanced: The ability to evaluate organizational requirements and develop effective sourcing strategies based on market conditions, supplier capabilities, pricing, lead time, availability, risk, technical requirements, and total cost.Procurement and Supply Chain Management – Advanced: Comprehensive knowledge of the end-to-end procurement process, including requisition review, sourcing, quotation analysis, purchase-order placement, approval management, expediting, logistics coordination, delivery tracking, receipt, and issue resolution.Supplier Relationship and Performance Management – Advanced: The ability to establish productive supplier relationships, monitor supplier performance, conduct business reviews, address service deficiencies, implement recovery plans, and develop alternative or contingency supply options.Commercial Negotiation and Cost Management – Advanced: The ability to negotiate pricing, lead time, payment terms, warranties, delivery conditions, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms.Aviation Quality and Regulatory Compliance – Advanced: The ability to ensure that purchasing activities comply with aviation technical requirements, quality standards, material traceability requirements, approved supplier controls, procurement policies, financial controls, and applicable regulatory obligations.Stakeholder Engagement and Communication – Advanced: The ability to communicate clearly, proactively, and professionally with operational teams, management, control functions, suppliers, and other stakeholders.Problem-Solving and Decision-Making – Advanced: The ability to assess complex purchasing and supply-chain challenges, analyze available