Strategic Sourcing Manager

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.

• 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.

• 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.