GM Purchasing Inventory Control

SkyWest Airlines • St. George, UT

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The General Manager of Purchasing & Inventory provides strategic leadership for material procurement, repair administration, warranty recovery, inventory management, and auditing to support SkyWest Airlines' fleet operations. This position leads multidisciplinary teams and partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Finance, Quality Assurance, IT, OEMs, and mainline partners to optimize inventory investment, control costs, and ensure material availability and fleet reliability. The GM serves as a key advocate for SkyWest within the aviation supply chain, driving initiatives that enhance supplier performance and long-term operational success.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Aviation Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Significant leadership experience in supply chain management, procurement, inventory control, or aircraft materials/repair administration.
• Proven track record negotiating complex supplier agreements, repair contracts, and commercial terms.
• Strong financial, analytical, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and stakeholder influence abilities across all organizational levels.
• Ability to manage high-pressure priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.

Nice To Haves

• FAR Part 121 airline operational experience.
• Technical familiarity with aircraft materials, repairable component management, and supplier performance metrics.
• Working knowledge of DER repair development, Owner Produced Parts (OPP) programs, and aviation maintenance processes.
• Experience driving enterprise systems development, business process automation, and operational analytics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for aircraft materials, repairs, services, and inventory support.
• Lead supplier evaluations, RFQs, RFPs, and contract negotiations to secure competitive commercial terms for material acquisitions, repair services, and strategic agreements.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, cost structures, and operational performance to make strategic sourcing decisions that balance cost, quality, reliability, turnaround time (TAT), and operational risk.
• Establish strategic relationships with material and repair vendors; lead recurring business reviews to monitor TAT, quality, pricing trends, and SLA compliance.
• Lead supplier escalation efforts and resolution strategies for critical operational and delivery issues.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, Maintenance, and Executive Leadership to structure agreements, ensuring contractual obligations, warranties, rebates, and performance guarantees are executed and tracked through renewal.
• Develop supplier diversification and contingency strategies to reduce supply chain risk and improve fleet resiliency.
• Develop and implement inventory investment strategies that maximize aircraft availability while minimizing total cost of ownership and unnecessary capital expenditure.
• Analyze stock levels, consumption trends, and reliability data to determine optimal thresholds for component repair, replacement, or retirement.
• Oversee inventory audit programs to ensure absolute accuracy of inventory reporting and regulatory controls.
• Partner with stakeholders to optimize spending and asset allocation decisions supporting leasing, charter operations, and company objectives.
• Ensure Aircraft on Ground (AOG), Deferred Maintenance Item (DMI), and Maintenance Control Item (MCI) requirements receive immediate prioritization to minimize operational disruption.
• Provide escalation support for critical operational recovery and AOG events in partnership with Expediting, Maintenance Control, and the Manager on Duty.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Engineering, and suppliers to identify and champion cost-saving alternatives, including Designated Engineering Representative (DER) repairs, Owner Produced Parts (OPP), and alternative sourcing solutions.
• Partner with Finance on annual budget planning, operational forecasting, and financial analyses to support strategic business decisions and contract amendments.
• Represent SkyWest at conferences and supplier forums to advocate for the company regarding supply chain constraints, pricing practices, and material availability.
• Build executive-level relationships with suppliers, OEMs, peer airlines, and mainline partners to align supply chain requirements and share best practices.
• Collaborate with IT and application development teams to enhance business systems, increase automation, and improve data visibility for decision-making.
• Drive process improvements and establish cross-functional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across purchasing, inventory, and repair management functions.
• Maintain responsibility for assigned sections of the General Maintenance Manual (GMM).
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure departmental practices, approved vendor programs, and procedural updates remain compliant with company policies, contractual obligations, and FAA regulations.
• Provide leadership, direction, and performance expectations to the Purchasing, Repair Management, Warranty Administration, and Inventory Analysis teams.
• Foster a culture of critical thinking and continuous improvement, ensuring analytical resources are directed toward initiatives that yield measurable financial and operational value.
• Other duties as assigned by executive leadership.

Benefits

• 401(k) match
• Performance Rewards and Profit Sharing
• Health care - medical, dental, and vision
• Discounted worldwide flight benefits, including discounts and free standby travel on available open seating for you and your family with all four of our major airlines (Delta, United, Alaska, and American)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager