Product / Project Procurement Manager

V R Della Infotech•Orlando, FL

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Product / Project Procurement Manager to lead strategic procurement activities across multiple bids, projects, and product delivery programs in the aviation technology and in-flight entertainment industry. The role requires global supply chain experience, strategic procurement expertise, and product development procurement knowledge. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams, manage supplier relationships, influence stakeholders without direct reporting authority, and ensure procurement activities meet cost, quality, schedule, and risk objectives. This is a strategic procurement leadership position, not a tactical purchasing or buyer role. The position leads procurement throughout solution definition, bidding, project and product development, and production. It involves developing acquisition strategies, evaluating design and sourcing feasibility, supporting cost commitments, managing supplier and contractual requirements, and identifying opportunities to improve cost competitiveness and solution value. The preferred work location is Orlando, Florida, with Irvine, California, as a secondary option. The candidate must be able to work East Coast business hours.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field with 8–12+ years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in a related field with 6+ years of experience.
Strong experience in global supply chain management and strategic procurement.
Experience supporting product development from a procurement perspective.
Strong project and program management skills, focused on strategic procurement rather than transactional purchasing.
Experience managing suppliers, supplier databases, and supplier performance.
Understanding of Make-or-Buy strategies, supplier risk assessment, and mitigation planning.
Experience reviewing engineering databases, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and frequent BOM revisions.
Ability to develop procurement strategies aligned with long-term product objectives and project requirements.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience managing supplier relationships, resolving conflicts, and addressing complex procurement challenges.
Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities, maintain tight schedules, and deliver results in high-pressure environments.
Ability to evaluate complex problems and communicate clear, practical recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work East Coast business hours.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP or other ERP procurement systems.
Experience in aerospace, avionics, aviation technology, or in-flight entertainment and connectivity.
Knowledge of product lifecycles and supplier market dynamics.
Experience with total cost of ownership analysis.
Experience in strategic sourcing, competitive RFQs, and supplier negotiations.
Demonstrated success in cost optimization and cost savings initiatives.
Experience supporting bids, programs, and product delivery projects.

Responsibilities

Evaluate acquisition needs and requirements, and work with suppliers to promote design-to-cost initiatives during solution definition.
Develop procurement and acquisition strategies using market availability, supplier innovations, and emerging technologies.
Conduct Make-or-Buy analyses for structural and project-specific requirements.
Ensure customer contract requirements are incorporated into procurement strategies and supplier agreements.
Align procurement activities with organizational purchasing policies, legal requirements, export controls, environmental regulations, and other applicable standards.
Organize procurement requirements into purchasing work packages for bids, projects, and product development initiatives.
Validate the procurement feasibility of product and project designs.
Develop acquisition plans to optimize purchased-part costs in collaboration with strategic sourcing and category purchasing teams.
Prepare procurement cost summaries and present purchasing strategies at key project review milestones to support bid-phase cost commitments.
Execute procurement plans through project development, product development, and production while meeting schedule, quality, total cost of ownership, and risk targets.
Collaborate with engineering teams, project managers, and purchasing teams to monitor procurement plan execution.
Define, communicate, and monitor contractual requirements for suppliers and procurement activities.
Maintain compliance with acquisition processes and use procurement systems, ERP platforms, and related business tools.
Influence product and solution design by identifying ways to improve cost competitiveness and supplier value.
Serve as the primary link between business stakeholders and purchasing teams, communicating customer requirements, operational needs, and supplier capabilities.
Identify supplier innovations and present recommendations that support product development and improve overall solution value.
Lead supplier discussions, resolve conflicts, manage stakeholder expectations, and address procurement challenges while maintaining project schedules.
Manage procurement activities across multiple projects with tight deadlines and competing priorities.