Procurement Operations Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Aquinas Consulting is currently looking to fill a Director of Procurement job for our direct client supporting their Technical Operations team. In this leadership role, you will be responsible for leading sourcing and supplier management activities across technical and maintenance-related categories, including aircraft components, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and other related technical services. You will partner closely with Line Maintenance, Scheduled Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure cost-effective, reliable, and compliant supply of critical goods and services that keep the fleet airworthy and operational.

Director of Procurement job responsibilities:

• Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies for aircraft materials, components, MRO services, and technical operations support
• Develop supplier risk assessments and selection criteria for all sourcing activities
• Partner with Technical Operations leadership to forecast needs, manage lifecycle costs, and support fleet reliability objectives
• Develop category-specific commercial and risk mitigation strategies to ensure operational continuity and deliver value-added solutions
• Integrate sustainability, ESG, and cost optimization goals into procurement strategy and supplier selection
• Lead complex negotiations with Technical Operations suppliers to secure best-in-class commercial terms and service levels
• Oversee sourcing and contracting for line and base maintenance and component repairs
• Ensure supplier compliance with FAA/EASA and internal quality standards, including safety, documentation, and traceability requirements
• Partner with stakeholders to define and negotiate supplier performance metrics, including KPIs, SLAs, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Utilize data analytics, market intelligence, and benchmarking to identify cost savings and operational improvements
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of managers and analysts
• Maintain positive supplier relationships throughout the sourcing lifecycle in partnership with Supplier Management and business stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Scheduled Maintenance, Supply Chain Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Legal
• Present sourcing strategies, cost savings results, and supplier briefings to senior leadership
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the procurement organization

Director of Procurement job qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or related technical field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of procurement or supply chain experience within the aviation or aerospace industry, including at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Deep understanding of MRO operations, aircraft systems, and technical procurement processes
• Proven ability to manage complex negotiations and long-term agreements with OEMs and service providers
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (FAA, EASA, IATA) and aviation quality standards
• Strong analytical, financial, and project management skills
• Experience with ERP and procurement systems such as SAP or Ariba
• Experience with airline, MRO, or OEM procurement operations preferred
• Knowledge of component repair programs and PBH (Power-By-the-Hour) contracts preferred
• Familiarity with digital procurement tools and supplier analytics dashboards preferred

If you are interested in this Director of Procurement job, please apply now to be connected with a member of our team.

Please note: Applying to this role is an agreement to have your information entered into our database and acknowledgement that a recruiter will reach out to you either by phone, email, and/or text message regarding this and similar job opportunities.

Aquinas Consulting is a woman and minority owned company headquartered in Milford, CT that provides Engineering, Information Technology (IT), and Manufacturing staffing solutions throughout the US. We take pride in 20 years of service to our clients, our hiring managers, our consultants, and our local community.  Aquinas is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and committed to considering all qualified applications without regard to race, genetic information, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. www.aquinasconsulting.com