Job description
Description
Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America. Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.
The Senior Manager, Airside, Transportation, and Logistics will be responsible for the procurement and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities for the Airside, Transportation and Logistics Category, across various strategic regions around the world. Responsible for driving and implementing tailored strategic sourcing strategies to create cost savings, manage demand for external vendor resources and to influence positive change in purchasing behavior at all levels of management throughout the organization. Airside Services relate to operations at airports, including ground and cargo handling, de-icing operations and glycol recovery, ground support equipment, and so on. Transportation and Logistics focuses on freight (delivery, handling, audit, etc.), and similar Airside Services spanning our passenger and cargo operations.
This individual will provide leadership, accountability & oversight to a team of category managers collaborating across cross-functional teams and delivering high quality services with a strong focus on value. The candidate will also bring a strong focus on cost savings and customer-centricity through a variety of initiatives.
In this role, responsibilities will include conducting supply market research, building category/project baselines, establishing sourcing strategies, leading competitive bid processes, draft and conduct Request for Proposals, vendor selection, participate in site inspections, conducting negotiations, and contract execution on an ongoing basis. The individual will also be responsible for managing vendor relationships and reviewing their performance, and contributing to the overall improvement of procurement practices at Air Canada.
Accountabilities (Responsibilities):
Key areas of responsibility include the following:
- Manage and build a team of procurement professionals.
- Managing, coaching, and developing a team of direct reports on their respective projects, including other Band C employees.
- Provide coaching and support to the team in executing the end-to-end strategic sourcing process for assigned commodities, which includes the following activities: market research, spend analysis, development of optimal sourcing strategies, execution of sourcing activities, negotiations, contracting, supplier performance/relationship management and client relations.
- Recruit and develop high caliber procurement personnel to become well-rounded professionals that add depth and contribute to the team’s success.
- Actively monitor performance and find areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.
- Foster professionalism, collegiality, and respect in all dealings with peers, internal customers, and suppliers
- Accountability and oversight over the following areas of responsibility:
- Conduct periodic supplier performance reviews with key suppliers and internal business unit stakeholders and assist in the development and execution of vendor improvement plans to support the continued focus on delivering improved value.
- Develop and manage relationships with all major suppliers at Executive levels. Establish/cultivate relationships/partnerships with multinationals for opportunities.
- Monitor vendor management process compliance as to track actual supplier performance relative to established contractual obligations
- Develop and manage effective working relationships with cross-functional groups, key suppliers and strategic partners.
- Ensure contracts are negotiated and executed in accordance with Corporate Purchasing Policies and the company's Code of Conduct as to minimize undue risk to the corporation.
- Establish airside, transportation & logistics category management strategies.
- Develop and maintain an understanding of the airside industry, transportation & logistics market trends in various regions around the world to strengthen Air Canada’s negotiating position.
- Analyse and monitor category spend in order to uncover strategic sourcing and potential supplier consolidation opportunities.
- Introduce strong rigor and planning around expiring contracts and upcoming projects.
- Stay abreast of Air Canada’s Corporate strategic initiatives and priorities through close collaboration with the departments.
- Lead and manage procurement events for the large complex deals within the category:
- Manage the relationships between multiple stakeholder groups, including our express partners, to assist in the selection process to meet Air Canada’s requirements and ensure cost effective quality services.
- Cultivate an effective working relationship with all stakeholders.
- Work with cross functional teams to determine business requirements.
- Prepare and issue RFPs, evaluate responses, prepare site inspections, and conduct negotiations.
- Lead contract negotiations and oversee contract drafting and execution.
- Collaborate with internal subject matter experts to obtain concurrence on contract terms.
- Conduct regular business reviews with Air Canada’s internal stakeholders to ensure standards are met and all open issues are addressed.
- Create value to Air Canada (i.e.: cost reductions) and internal stakeholders (i.e.: service level improvements and speed to execution)
- Contribute to the improvement of internal procurement practices.
- Participate in the establishment of best-in-class procurement methods.
- Devise models to evaluate supplier proposals using quantitative and qualitative criteria.
- Continuously find innovative ways of solving challenges encountered by peers.
- Contribute to simplifying and automating low risk / tactical purchases in favor of strategic engagements.
- Act as an ambassador for Strategic Procurement and Air Canada
- Further develop SP relationships with internal customers
- Develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with airside, transportation & logistics suppliers
- Be a change agent by effectively communicating Strategic Procurement's vision, strategy and goals
- Effectively communicate and promote the successes of Strategic Procurement
- Identify new process improvements and ensure best demonstrated sourcing practices are utilized
- Drive and monitor compliance with SP’s policies and procedures
Qualifications
- University degree in the relevant field of study (Commerce, Finances) or professional experience to support the responsibilities of this role
- In addition to a University degree in a relevant field of study, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership, analytical, communication, negotiation, and project management skills plus the ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and accommodate changing priorities.
- A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in airside operations and/or procurement, and at least 3 years leading mid-size teams or cross-department project teams across multiple disciplinary functions
- Full proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
- Strong entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to innovate
- High degree of professionalism and discretion is essential
- Flexibility with work hours and occasional travel may be required
- Completion of (or working towards) a designation in SCMA, ISM or other procurement designation is an asset
Conditions of Employment:
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest, at the time any offer of employment is made and seeking any required work permits/visas or other authorizations which may be required is the sole responsibility of the candidates applying for this position.
Linguistic Requirements
Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.
Diversity and Inclusion
Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees’ unique contributions to our company’s success.
As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.
Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.