Manager, Strategic Sourcing, IT

Manager, Strategic Sourcing, IT at American Airlines

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 Manager, Strategic Sourcing, IT role is a critical part of the Technology category within American Airlines' Procurement team in the Finance Division. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Sourcing, Technology Procurement, you will join a growing organization that shapes engagement with key technology suppliers and invests in innovative solutions. You will lead a team of Technology Procurement professionals, driving cost reductions, improving supplier performance, and executing market-informed category strategies. This role offers direct influence on high-visibility initiatives supporting operational and financial goals, providing opportunities to showcase strategic thinking and executive-level communication. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to strengthen relationships, enhance supplier accountability, and deliver value-based outcomes, expanding your leadership capabilities and expertise in a dynamic, technology-focused procurement environment.

What You'll Do

• Embodies American Airlines leadership attributes and models the behaviors of Caring, Collaboration, Development, Results and Future
• Lead and mentor a team of Technology Procurement professionals across hardware, software, infrastructure, and IT services categories, driving optimal team performance, ongoing skill development, and leadership bench strength.
• Manage the full IT supplier lifecycle, including sourcing, procurement, negotiations, contract management, and supplier performance evaluation.
• Develop, implement, and track robust IT category strategies grounded in deep market analysis and aligned with company and stakeholder priorities, delivering measurable year‑over‑year cost reductions and working capital improvements while ensuring supplier accountability and performance.
• Communicate and present category strategy recommendations and results to all levels of leadership, including Officer‑level stakeholders, using clear storytelling to convey complex concepts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with supplier executive teams and internal stakeholders; lead regular business reviews to affirm expectations, review objectives and key results, drive root‑cause accountability, identify solutions, and track plans/results.
• Define and oversee cross‑supplier performance management and governance to ensure high standards of supplier accountability, SLA adherence, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct supplier spend and consumption analytics in partnership with Finance to identify optimization opportunities, including contract consolidation and restructuring.
• Research and interpret the technology marketplace (market research and competitive analysis) to understand supplier and market characteristics, identify sourcing trends, and uncover new opportunities for value creation and category positioning.
• Conduct supplier due diligence using scorecards, annual reviews, reporting metrics, dashboards, and financial analysis; lead Quarterly Business Reviews focused on SLAs to drive accountability, proactively identify improvements, and monitor progress throughout the contract period.
• Manage supplier performance by addressing conflict resolution, escalations, and resolution procedures promptly and effectively to ensure issues are resolved and continuous improvement is maintained.
• Support compliance audits regarding contractual adherence and collaborate with internal stakeholders and business units to develop and maintain ongoing entitlement controls.
• Partner with Legal and Sourcing/Procurement teams throughout the supplier lifecycle to ensure robust contract operations, governance, and policy alignment.
• Build strong partnerships with existing and new strategic suppliers to enable high‑quality, efficient support for internal stakeholders and business units; champion continuous improvement to enhance quality, efficiency, and cost savings across sourcing activities.
• Stay abreast of emerging AI technologies and tools relevant to category management; lead pilot projects to test and scale AI applications that deliver measurable performance and cost savings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience/training
• 7 years of relevant experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, or Business Administration/Management, Computer Science, Information Systems Management, or other related field
• Experience leading a Strategic Sourcing team with direct reports

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience/training
• 12+ years of relevant experience in Procurement
• 5+ years of experience leading IT Strategic Sourcing team(s) with direct reports

Skills, Licenses, And Certifications

• Ability to be an action-oriented leader with the natural ability and desire to effectively engage employees, stakeholders, and suppliers to produce strong results
• Ability to demonstrate leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and effectively lead those in their span of care
• Ability to lead teams to develop and implement effective category strategies
• Skills in negotiation, contract management, and driving supplier performance
• Strong analytical thinking and strategic problem-solving skills
• Strong process analysis/development skills
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, SQL, Power BI/Tableau/Alteryx)
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and influence cross-functional teams
• Ability to demonstrate an aptitude for problem-solving and strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Ability to manage multiple and diverse projects with changing priorities
• Passion for sustainability and sustainable sourcing practices
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Knowledge of Coupa or other procurement related sourcing tools and systems
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout

What You'll Get

American Airlines offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional well-being. This includes:

• Travel Perks: Explore 365 destinations on over 6,800 daily flights with travel benefits for you, your family, and friends.
• Health Benefits: Access health, dental, prescription, and vision benefits from day one, along with virtual doctor visits and flexible spending accounts.
• Wellness Programs: Tools, resources, and support to help you achieve your best self.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire, with employer contributions after one year (depending on workgroup).
• Additional Benefits: Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance, and discounts on hotels, cars, and cruises.

Inclusion and Diversity at American Airlines

At American Airlines, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of their dynamic workforce. Their 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups connect team members to customers, suppliers, communities, and shareholders, fostering an inclusive work environment where everyone can reach their full potential and meet the needs of a diverse world. Feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction helping to keep the world’s largest airline running smoothly.

Key Skills/Competency

• Strategic Sourcing
• IT Procurement
• Supplier Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Category Strategy
• Cost Reduction
• Team Leadership
• Data Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Performance Management
• AI Technologies