Product / Project Procurement Manager

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Product / Project Procurement Manager to lead procurement activities across multiple bids, projects, and product delivery programs within the aviation technology and in-flight entertainment industry.

The ideal candidate will have strong global supply chain experience, a strategic procurement background, and expertise in product development procurement. This role requires the ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage supplier relationships, influence stakeholders, and ensure procurement activities meet cost, quality, schedule, and risk objectives.

• This is a strategic procurement leadership role, not a tactical purchasing or buyer position.
• The individual will lead procurement activities for multiple bid, project, and product delivery initiatives.
• The role requires confidence in leading internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• The successful candidate must be comfortable managing expectations, resolving challenges, and influencing individuals across the organization without direct reporting authority.
• Orlando, FL, is the preferred work location. Irvine, CA, is a secondary option.
• The candidate must be able to work East Coast business hours.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate acquisition needs and requirements and collaborate with suppliers to promote design-to-cost initiatives during the solution definition phase.
• Develop procurement and acquisition strategies based on market availability, supplier innovations, and emerging technologies.
• Conduct Make-or-Buy analyses for structural and project-specific requirements.
• Ensure customer contract requirements are appropriately incorporated into procurement strategies and supplier agreements.
• Align procurement activities with organizational purchasing policies, legal requirements, export controls, environmental regulations, and other applicable standards.
• Organize procurement requirements into purchasing work packages for bids, projects, and product development initiatives.
• Validate the procurement feasibility of product and project designs.
• Develop acquisition plans to optimize purchased-part costs in collaboration with strategic sourcing and category purchasing teams.
• Support bid-phase cost commitments by preparing procurement cost summaries and presenting purchasing strategies at key project review milestones.
• Execute procurement plans throughout project development, product development, and production phases while meeting established targets for schedule, quality, total cost of ownership, and risk management.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, project managers, and purchasing teams to monitor procurement plan execution.
• Define, communicate, and monitor contractual requirements for suppliers and procurement activities.
• Maintain compliance with established acquisition processes and use procurement systems, ERP platforms, and related business tools.
• Influence product and solution design by identifying opportunities to improve cost competitiveness and supplier value.
• Serve as the primary link between business stakeholders and purchasing teams, communicating customer requirements, operational needs, and supplier capabilities.
• Identify supplier innovations and present recommendations that support product development and improve overall solution value.
• Lead supplier discussions, resolve conflicts, manage stakeholder expectations, and address procurement-related challenges while maintaining project schedules.
• Manage procurement activities across multiple projects with tight deadlines and competing priorities.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field with 8 12+ years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in a related field with 6+ years of experience.
• Strong experience in global supply chain management and strategic procurement.
• Experience supporting product development from a procurement perspective.
• Strong project and program management skills, with an emphasis on strategic procurement rather than transactional purchasing.
• Experience managing suppliers, supplier databases, and supplier performance.
• Understanding of Make-or-Buy strategies, supplier risk assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Experience reviewing engineering databases, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and frequent BOM revisions.
• Ability to develop procurement strategies that align with long-term product objectives and project requirements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience managing supplier relationships, resolving conflicts, and addressing complex procurement challenges.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, maintain tight schedules, and deliver results in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to evaluate complex problems and communicate clear, practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP or other ERP procurement systems.
• Experience in aerospace, avionics, aviation technology, or in-flight entertainment and connectivity.
• Knowledge of product lifecycles and supplier market dynamics.
• Experience with total cost of ownership analysis.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, competitive RFQs, and supplier negotiations.
• Demonstrated success in cost optimization and cost savings initiatives.
• Experience supporting bids, programs, and product delivery projects.

Top Required Skills

1. Global supply chain experience.
2. Product development procurement experience.
3. Strategic procurement and project management expertise.
4. Supplier database management experience.
5. Engineering database and multi-level BOM management experience.
6. Strong supplier leadership and stakeholder management skills.
7. Ability to manage tight schedules and competing priorities.