Global Procurement - Senior Category Manager (Catering/Food & Beverage) - United Airlines

There’s never been a more exciting time to join United Airlines. We’re on a path towards becoming the best airline in the history of aviation. Our shared purpose – Connecting People, Uniting the World – is about more than getting people from one place to another. It also means that as a global company that operates in hundreds of locations around the world with millions of customers and tens of thousands of employees, we have a unique responsibility to uplift and provide opportunities in the places where we work, live and fly, and we can only do that with a truly diverse and inclusive workforce. And we’re growing – in the years ahead, we’ll hire tens of thousands of people across every area of the airline. Our careers include a competitive benefits package aimed at keeping you happy, healthy and well-traveled. From employee-run "Business Resource Group" communities to world-class benefits like parental leave, 401k and privileges like space available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind place to work. Are you ready to travel the world?

We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning & Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals.

Key Responsibilities:

The Global Procurement organization at United Airlines is responsible for procuring goods and services and developing/handling relationships with third-party providers with the objective of reducing total cost and risk to the company while improving levels of quality, service, and technology.

The Global Procurement – Senior Category Manager supports United’s Global Procurement team by optimally leading sourcing initiatives within the designated categories. This employee is responsible for meeting and exceeding business objectives in terms of scope of service, quality, risk mitigation, delivery timing, and cost.

• Collaborate with leaders across the company on current state and future needs
• Proactively engage, consult and influence partners and leadership on sourcing strategy
• Develop and maintain adequate knowledge in the assigned spend categories through relationships with department leaders, suppliers, and market authorities
• Lead business relationships with key internal partners and external suppliers including routine improvements to agreements, communication of demand/volume changes, updating contracts and sharing end-user feedback
• Conduct requests for sophisticated proposals (RFPs) to competitively source products and services, including gathering requirements, identifying vendors, proposal evaluation and scoring, partner engagement and TCO analysis
• Negotiate commercials and contractual terms to drive savings and reduce overall risks while ensuring partners’ needs are met
• Redline and negotiate contracts by collaborating with United’s legal department, Global Procurement leadership and other partner departments
• Research and analyze market trends and potential suppliers and develop detailed sourcing strategies and plans
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities by using new systems and product/services as well as new and innovative market offerings
• Participate in vendor management activities which may include following-up on performance against contract (compliance) and resolution of any constraints or issues

United values diverse experiences, perspectives, and we encourage everyone who meets the minimum qualifications to apply. While having the “desired” qualifications make for a stronger candidate, we encourage applicants who may not feel they check ALL of those boxes! We are always looking for individuals who will bring something new to the table.

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years of experience in Procurement, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Analytics, and/or Finance
• Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concepts and strategic procurement process
• Highly analytical with excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to lead multiple concurrent projects of various scale
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is a crucial function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Master's degree
• Business, Supply Chain, Finance
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or other relevant certification
• Ability to act as a change agent who seeks out and advocates for new and innovative solutions to meet business needs
• Experience working in the transportation or airline industry
• Experience with airline catering services, food and beverage or onboard amenities