Senior Category Manager
Basel, BS, CH, 4030
Since 1967, Jet Aviation has been crafting flight in its smoothest form. From one hangar in Basel, Switzerland, to over 4,500 employees, and some 50 locations worldwide. Aircraft Management, Aircraft Sales, Charter, Completions, Government Services, FBO, Fixed and Rotary Wing Maintenance, and Staffing. Behind every seamless Jet Aviation experience, is a team of dedicated professionals perfecting the art of flight. The artisans of aviation. The craft that brings our customers’ journey to life. In the hangar, on the ground, and behind the scenes. Enabling global flight, with passion.
Position Summary
We are looking for a highly skilled and results-driven Senior Category Manager to take ownership of strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiations, and category optimization across key spend areas. This role directly supports our MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul), RMU (Refurbishment, Modification & Upgrade), Completions programs, and FBO (Fixed-Based Operations).
As a senior member of our Supply Chain Management team, you will work closely with Sales, Engineering, Production, Quality, Program Management, and Logistics to design and execute category strategies that ensure reliable supply, drive cost efficiency, and enable on-time delivery of complex aviation projects.
Your role
- Own and Lead Category Strategy: Develop and execute strategies for assigned spend areas aligned with corporate objectives and program needs.
- Act as Primary Procurement Lead: Serve as the key procurement and category lead within MRO, RMU, and Completions project teams.
- Manage Supplier Lifecycle: Oversee supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and performance for critical goods and services.
- Conduct Market and Supplier Analysis: Perform market research, capability assessments, and cost benchmarking to guide sourcing decisions.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Production: Influence specifications to achieve cost-effective and supply-secure solutions.
- Drive Supplier Performance Improvements: Implement plans to meet quality, delivery, and cost targets.
- Monitor and Report Category KPIs: Track cost savings, on-time delivery, supplier quality, and risk indicators.
- Anticipate and Mitigate Supply Risks: Develop contingency sourcing plans and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Support Continuous Improvement: Enhance category management processes, tools, and templates.
- Ensure Regulatory and Policy Compliance: Comply with internal policies, contracts, regulatory requirements (EASA/FAA), and EHS standards.
- Lead Strategic Procurement Initiatives: Drive efforts such as supplier consolidation, localization, and digital procurement adoption.
What we offer you
- An exciting and challenging job in a dynamic environment.
- Various opportunities for professional and personal development.
- Working with the latest technologies and tools.
- A motivated and cheerful team that looks forward to working with you.
- Our events are great! We also have lots of fun together outside of working hours.
Your profile
- Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in procurement/category management, ideally within manufacturing, aviation, or aerospace.
- Proven track record in developing and executing category strategies in a project-driven environment.
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with hands-on contract management expertise.
- Solid knowledge of procurement, supplier quality, and logistics processes.
- PMP, CPSM, or similar certification preferred.
- Skilled in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and digital procurement tools.
- Fluency in English (German is a strong asset).
- Ability to manage multiple high-value projects in a fast-paced, complex environment.
- Experience in technical subcontracting is beneficial, especially where it involves interpreting engineering data and supporting collaboration between production and procurement.
- Additional certifications (e.g., CIPS, Lean Six Sigma) highly valued.
If you are interested in a multicultural, challenging and innovative working environment and your profile matches our requirements, we are looking forward to receiving your online application in English.