Category Manager/Sr Category Manager, Procurement (Fort Worth, TX, US)

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you'll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you'll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

This role is a member of the In-flight Entertainment (IFE) Procurement Team within the Finance Division. This role serves as a key commercial liaison for American Airlines, ensuring delivery of innovative, reliable, and cost-effective IFE solutions that enhance the customer journey and support long-term business goals. The Category Manager/Sr Category Manager is responsible for negotiating and implementing long-term purchase agreements, fostering supplier partnerships, and ensuring contract outcomes deliver measurable value.

What you'll do

• Develop and execute category strategies that align with customer experience, operational, and financial objectives
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives including but not limited to RFIs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract awards.
• Represents the company and serves as the principal commercial intermediary in business transactions with both internal and external organizations
• Creates, negotiates, implements and manages long-term purchase agreements while effectively developing and promoting strategic partnerships with suppliers
• Establishes internal stakeholder requirements to the completion of acceptable purchase contracts that brings measurable value to the corporation
• Develops and implements comprehensive strategic programs which meet the needs of the internal stakeholders
• Drive supplier performance, innovation, risk management, and continuous improvement across the IFE ecosystem.
• Monitors and evaluates vendor performance in accordance with the service level agreements and continuous improvement of the services

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field or equivalent experience/training
• 3 years contracts negotiations and management experience

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Masters of Business Administration
• Project management experience

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Ability to be self-directed and resourceful with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous tasks with exhibited follow through and initiative
• Knowledge of advanced business understanding particularly in project management, IFE market, early supplier involvement, total cost management and financial analysis
• Knowledge of total cost of ownership, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, problem solving, supplier relationship management, financial analysis, stakeholder management
• Skills in organizational and interpersonal dealings
• Ability to work across engineering, operations, and customer experience teams

What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer:

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you'll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that's just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more.
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself - that's why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel free to be yourself at American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Team Member Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on lifeâs journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.