We are looking for a Strategic Sourcing Manager to own the end-to-end sourcing and lifecycle management of airport ground service equipment used in aircraft servicing operations. The role focuses on high loaders, trucks, trailers, and related special-purpose vehicles, and covers the full lifecycle : sourcing, commercial structuring, fleet strategy, maintenance concepts, and cost optimization.
We are deliberately open to candidates from different backgrounds — including strategic sourcing, logistics procurement, fleet management, or commercial/sales roles with equipment manufacturers or service providers — as long as you bring strong commercial judgment and a lifecycle mindset.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead regional sourcing activities for airport ground equipment (high loaders, trucks, trailers, fleet solutions).
* Develop and execute the transport and warehouse sourcing strategy, with strong emphasis on:
* Road transport (linehaul, local distribution, airport transfers).
* Air freight and courier services.
* Time-critical and airport-constrained logistics solutions.
* Warehouse specialized in frozen, chilled and ambient products.
* Analyze transport spend, lanes, and cost drivers to identify savings and optimization opportunities.
* Prepare and run strategic sourcing events (RFI, RFP, negotiations, eAuctions where applicable).
* Structure and negotiate commercial models (purchase, leasing, lease-to-own, service-inclusive models).
* Own the full asset lifecycle from specification to end-of-life.
* Optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) across capex, maintenance, servicing, and downtime.
* Work with engineering and operations to standardize specifications and reduce fleet complexity.
* Shape servicing, maintenance, and spare-parts strategies.
* Manage regional supplier relationships (OEMs, dealers, leasing companies, service providers).
* Partner closely with airport operations, engineering, safety, and finance teams.
* Ensure compliance with local regulations, airport standards, and safety requirements.
* Act as the commercial interface between internal stakeholders and external partners.
Requirements
* University degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) or equivalent professional experience.
* 4–7+ years of experience in:
* Strategic sourcing or category management experience.
* Logistics sourcing, fleet sourcing, or heavy equipment categories.
* Experience with RFQs/RFPs, negotiations, and contract management.
* Experience managing or sourcing vehicle fleets or logistics assets.
* Strong understanding of maintenance, uptime, and operational requirements.
* Exposure to TCO-driven decision-making.
* Strong exposure to road transport and time-critical logistics; air freight experience is a plus.
* Experience in aviation, food logistics, FMCG, or similarly operationally intensive environments is highly desirable.
* Solid understanding of transportation markets, pricing mechanisms, and cost drivers.
* Strong analytical and stakeholder communication skills.
* Comfortable working in international, matrix-driven organizations.
* Fluent in English, French, German or another European language is an advantage.
* Execution-oriented with a strong operational mindset.
* Structured, pragmatic, and resilient in fast-paced environments.
* Curious and motivated to deepen transportation and logistics expertise in an aviation context.
Join a truly global team.