Regional Category Manager, C30 - Power Products

Location: Irvine, United States of America

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Position Summary

Irvine, CA, USA (Hybrid)

This Regional Category Manager is specifically for Category C30 – Power Equipment covering the needs of entities/suppliers in the North & Latin Americas regions.

As the Category Manager, you will manage the procurement activities for assigned categories / sub-categories serving the needs of different businesses in defense and civil domain. A concrete knowledge of the technology and cost drivers of the category / sub-category is required in order to have a good understanding of the technical specification and facilitate discussions/workshops with the product/engineering teams internally as well as with suppliers.

You have expertise / market intelligence of Power Products, Aeronautic Equipment, and/or Electronic Manufacturing Industry in order to manage different technologies used in different application required in the Thales solutions.

• Implement, in close collaboration with the Global Business Units (GBU) / Business Lines (BL) / Global Category Managers (GCM), the procurement strategy for the various commodities / sub-categories included in the assigned category, and ensure their strategy is enforced and meets entities' / countries' requirements by a specific tactical approach.

• Work in close relation with the respective procurement GCM and Product / Project Procurement organizations and the relevant stakeholders

• Responsible and accountable for selecting suppliers (aligned with the category strategy) and managing supplier relationships in order to guarantee that the level of performance (such as Quality, Price and Delivery) meet the requirements/interests of the businesses/Thales. 

• Ensure the most up-to-date knowledge of its supplier market, including innovations and key new emerging technologies

• Cover the entire region and as such possess an excellent view of the organization as well as a strong ability to interact with many stakeholders while maintaining a clear regional procurement strategy. 

• Develop and implement procurement policies and supplier panel for assigned category in conjunction with stakeholders as appropriate, put in place and manage Framework Agreements for regional suppliers where appropriate and/or desirable.

• Work closely with other functions as necessary, manage all purchasing aspects of assigned Bid and Project work packages, to ensure packages are executed in accordance with technical, program, cost and performance (quality and delivery) requirements within their respective area of category / sub-categories responsibility.

• Manage risks and opportunities associated with each of their respective suppliers across the region.

Strategy

• Permanently develop and enrich the regional strategy for the assigned category short, mid and long term, based on entities' needs in close relationship with the GCM.

• Ensure a perfect knowledge and buy-in of the category strategy from engineering team, the Product / Project Procurement organization or the relevant stakeholders, and by entities / regions

• Define and apply the roadmap and related actions supporting the category’s strategic direction

• Ensure regional needs and procurement group needs are met and enforce standardization for procurement categories in close cooperation with B&P and Products Procurement organization if relevant.

Competitiveness

• Monitor the market for their category, including key actors and suppliers, economic evolutions, innovations, technology, in order to propose the most up-to-date solutions to businesses

• Provide business with insights as to how products / projects could be more competitive, based on their monitoring

• Prepare Make or Buy decision, in collaboration with project / product procurement manager or relevant stakeholders.

Performance Management (vis-a-vis entities/regions)

• Ensure level of performance expected by the entities/regions (monitor performance, communicate best practices, define SLA’s...)

• Propose and implement corrective actions in the case of a shortfall in performance

Supplier Management

• Organize competitions, assess and select best suppliers aligned with the category strategy, in close collaboration with entities / regions and with regular feedback loops

• Negotiate contracts and own the relationship with the suppliers for the category

• Is responsible for the compliance of the purchase contracts with applicable laws, the Thales regulations and the customers’ requirements.

• Monitor and control performance of category's suppliers, based on data provided by Supplier Performance Managers

• Assess and manage suppliers' risks

• Identify the suppliers who have to be developed and set up the improvement plan with the Supplier Performance Manager

• Ensure contract management is properly managed

• Lead P2 Projects (Greater than $300k spend and Low Risk)

• Lead P3 Projects (Greater than $300k spend and Medium to High Risk)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain or a related field of study with a minimum of 8+ years of relevant Procurement/Purchasing work experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 6+ years of relevant Procurement/Purchasing work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• 3+ Strategic sourcing and category/commodity management experience

• Experience in leading supplier selection & contract negotiations with high stakes

• Good understanding of procurement processes, commercial terms and legal aspects

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams in multi-cultural/global organizations

• Strong communication skills to engage/influence stakeholders in order to define/execute strategy or shared objectives

• Track-record of delivering results on assigned categories/projects

If you’re excited about working with Thales, but not meeting the requirements for this position, we encourage you to join our Talent Community!

Special Position Requirements

Travel: Domestic/International travel may be required 10-15% to meet with stakeholders, team members and suppliers as needed.

Pay Transparency

The anticipated TTC range for this role is $103,447.40 - 192,116.60 USD Annual. The Company reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law. 

What We Offer

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following: 

•Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance.

•Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period. 

•Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off. 

•Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program. 

Why Join Us?

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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with [a] criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal law, state law, and local ordinances.

Successful applicant must comply with federal contractor vaccine mandate requirements.

Thales champions inclusion and we believe diversity strengthens the fabric of our culture. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please contact us at [email protected].