Manager, Vendor Managment & Warranty

Air Canada•Dorval, QC

About The Position

The Manager, Vendor Management and Warranty is a critical leadership role within Technical Operations, responsible for optimizing vendor performance and warranty recovery across Airframe, Engine, and Component maintenance. The incumbent will oversee a team of 10 professionals, providing direction and leadership to ensure effective vendor performance management and maximize warranty recovery. Additionally, this position ensures compliance with Air Canada’s technical, regulatory, and budgetary requirements while driving cost reduction, operational efficiency, and fleet reliability. The incumbent will lead a team managing vendor relationships, commercial agreements, and warranty entitlement recovery, ensuring maximum value from contracts and warranties through robust processes, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

University degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related technical discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
Minimum 10+ years in vendor management and supply chain operations; experience in warranty management preferred.
Strong leadership skills with proven ability to motivate and develop teams in a multi-disciplinary environment.
Demonstrated expertise in vendor performance management, contract negotiation, cost-benefit analysis, and process improvement.
Excellent analytical, planning, and organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 365 and MRP/ERP systems.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation and stakeholder management.
Demonstrate punctuality and dependability to support overall team success in a fast-paced environment.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest at the time any offer of employment is made and are responsible for obtaining any required work permits, visas, or other authorizations necessary for employment.
Prior to their start date, candidates will also need to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the country of interest.

Nice To Haves

Airline or aviation industry experience is an asset.
Bilingual candidates (preference given based on equal qualifications).

Responsibilities

Oversee vendor performance for component maintenance, ensuring adherence to Service Level Agreements and operational objectives.
Lead and mentor a team of 10 direct reports, fostering a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture.
Develop and manage commercial agreements with vendors, including negotiation and execution in collaboration with Strategic Procurement.
Establish, maintain, and monitor an annual budget and long-range financial plan of $500M, while reviewing and managing associated risks and opportunities.
Establish and monitor KPIs for cost, reliability, quality, and turnaround time; lead quarterly and annual performance reviews.
Drive cost containment and cost transformation initiatives through process optimization and product improvement strategies.
Manage vendor escalation for technical and commercial issues, ensuring timely resolution.
Oversee reconciliation and resolution of vendor invoices and ensure 52-109 compliance.
Prime liaison for all activities requiring escalation (technical & commercial) with vendors.
Be accountable to demonstrate actual performance against goals and monitor on regular basis.
Maximize recovery of warranty entitlements for airframe, engines, and components on existing and new aircraft.
Implement and maintain warranty detection and claims management processes within ACM’s Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system and other Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools as needed.
Lead claims and rejection management functions, ensuring timely resolution and settlement.
Forecast and administer annual warranty recovery budget (approx. $10–15M) and report on performance metrics.
Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, and Aircraft Programs to identify warranty opportunities and enhance terms during contract negotiations.
Educate and support front-line teams on warranty processes and entitlement identification.
Define and document processes, maintain control manuals, and ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate standards.
Participate in daily operational calls, providing updates on component availability and recovery plans.
Lead annual budget preparation for component maintenance and warranty recovery in collaboration with Finance and Planning.
Foster strong cross-functional relationships to ensure seamless execution of vendor and warranty strategies.