Category Manager (Licensing, Manufacturing and Direct Materials)

About FlightSafety International

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems and displays to commercial, government and military organizations. The company provides training for pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 167 countries and independent territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full-flight simulators and award-winning maintenance training at Learning Centers and training locations in the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Purpose of Position

The Category Manager – Licensing, Manufacturing and Direct Materials plays a unique role on the FlightSafety procurement team providing sourcing, contracting, supplier management and strategic support to connect efforts across indirect procurement, supply chain and OEM partnership relationships. This role requires a strategic thinker with core foundational procurement expertise, strong negotiation skills, an analytical mindset, and the ability to build effective relationships across a diverse group of suppliers and internal stakeholders. This role has direct oversight for data licensing and key component supplier relationships and acts as a strategic partner to the company’s supply chain and direct purchasing teams to drive improvements in service, quality, cost, delivery, and innovation, while also strengthening contractual protections and risk mitigation. This Category Manager works with complex categories of spend with the opportunity to analyze and respond to market trends, develop a procurement and contracting strategy, and lead the implementation of that strategy across multiple areas of the business. Unlike traditional procurement roles that focus primarily on cost savings or transactional activities, this role takes a more holistic approach to connect stakeholders and initiatives to drive real, strategic value for the organization.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Strategic Planning: Design, implement and monitor procurement strategies to ensure supply security, meet financial and budget objectives and mid to long term category developments.
• Technical Expertise: Leverage knowledge of strategic procurement processes, supply chain strategies and contract drafting and negotiation to evaluate and select the best suppliers.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Lead negotiations and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure the best quality, price and service.
• Internal Relationship Management: Build strong, collaborative relationships across procurement, supply chain and partner management functions to understand and support business needs. Work effectively with legal, finance and compliance teams to efficiently and effectively develop and implement business cases and contracting strategies.
• Process Optimization: Design and implement processes to improve visibility to spend and supplier relationship, speed up sourcing and contracting efforts and streamline processes to realize productivity by challenging status quo.
• Documentation & Compliance: Draft and negotiate contracts and statements of work to maximize value and mitigate risk for the company with a specific focus on addressing intellectual property use and ownership rights.
• Leadership: Guide and motivate a team of direct reports and influence key internal partners to create a consolidated and effective procurement strategy.

Specific duties of this role include:

• Category strategy development:
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop and implement creative procurement and sourcing plans.
  • Execute competitive sourcing events (RFQs/RFIs,/RFPs)
  • Develop and execute cost mitigation strategies
  • Continuously improve procurement processes within assigned categories and areas of support.
• Relationship Management:
  • Build effective relationships with suppliers.
  • Negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and contracts.
  • Work with vendors to resolve any performance issues, including delivery, quality, or customer service.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key business leaders to understand and support their supplier needs.
  • Establish strategic cadence check ins with internal partners based in multiple locations to collaborate and align on opportunities and initiatives.
• Risk Mitigation:
  • Identify and address risks related to supplier reliability, quality, and financial stability.
  • Develop business continuity and risk management plans.
  • Monitor and evaluate contractual arrangements to measure supplier performance.
• Market Analysis and Trends:
  • Analyze market trends, customer purchasing habits, and supply alternatives.
  • Make data-driven decisions to optimize procurement.
• Team Leadership
  • Provide clear direction and motivation to teammates to accomplish fiscal and operational goals.

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Supply Management, preferred.

Minimum Experience

5+ years professional experience in procurement, project management or supply chain management.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• High degree of financial and problem-solving ability.
• Basic understanding of e-procurement processes and systems.
• Expertise with multiple commodities and spend categories.
• Understanding of Six Sigma and Project Management methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity with procurement philosophies, methodologies, policies and procedures.
• Ability to interact with various levels of management in a professional manner.
• Prior people management experience, preferred.
• Understanding of Six Sigma and Project Management methodologies.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and communicate. The employee may be required to stand; walk; sit.Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to view monitors, technical documents, and reference material. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

FlightSafety is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.