Procurement Service Liaison

Airbus Helicopters, Inc. is seeking a high-caliber Procurement Service Liaison to serve as a mission-critical focal point between internal operations, external suppliers, and Airbus affiliates worldwide. This role ensures critical and AOG (Aircraft on Ground) parts are delivered seamlessly to support aerospace operations.

About the Team

The Procurement team acquires indirect goods and services for Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters, driving value and competitiveness. Team members ensure on-time, on-quality delivery of equipment and systems, leveraging expertise in Industrial, Operations & Quality Management, and strong relationship-building skills to proactively mitigate supply chain issues.

Location

This role is based in Columbus, Mississippi, home to Airbus Helicopters' manufacturing, assembly lines, and North America Center of Excellence. The facility produces UH-72A Lakota Helicopters for the U.S. Army and H-125 aircraft for civil and commercial customers.

Responsibilities

• Customer Interface and Facilitation (40%):
  • Build customer rapport and establish clear, efficient two-way communication internally and externally.
  • Create collaborative action plans and present status updates on customer concerns and resolutions.
  • Manage external and internal customer issues, ensuring on-time delivery, on-quality performance, and 100% customer satisfaction.
  • Understand customer dynamics, operational and strategic goals, and business requirements.
  • Coordinate and facilitate operational needs with internal functional departments.
  • Escalate unresolved issues to appropriate levels.
  • Hold regular meetings with Airbus affiliates and Internal Customer Support to organize material shipments for AOG, critical items, and other requirements.
• Support and Process Management (40%):
  • Coordinate with internal teams to review and lead forecast updates (twice per year) for partners and external suppliers.
  • Facilitate quarterly meetings to address forecast risks and notify customers of potential impacts with mitigation recommendations.
  • Provide risk overviews to management, including impacted customers, business percentages compromised, and mitigation plans.
  • Engage Strategic Procurement when suppliers report lead time changes; facilitate discussions with DMG group for SAP updates.
  • Provide feedback to Strategic and Procurement Operations from external suppliers regarding forecast alignment and risks.
  • Review and improve inventory management procedures to reduce material shortages and minimize over-stocking costs.
  • Expedite materials into the facility to meet customer and production requirements, ensuring visibility of expedited materials status.
  • Lead information loops with programs to ensure on-time completion of POs and sales orders for new and rework parts.
  • Resolve goods receipts blocking parts from being received.
  • Facilitate Siebel Service Requests for return or replacement of parts with quality issues, ensuring timely resolution to avoid blocking customer requirements.
  • Maintain oversight of Service Requests until complete resolution.
  • Coordinate with internal departments to resolve quality and engineering issues from suppliers or internal customers.
  • Create and manage POs for suppliers to support business needs.
• Metric Assessment and Analysis (20%):
  • Prepare and distribute status reports; connect with customers and vendors to support required delivery dates.
  • Assess supplier-provided capacity analysis, rate readiness studies, and capital investment information; provide feedback to management, including risk assessments and recovery plans.
  • Track and assist in closing quality notes to ensure continual movement of parts to support customers.
  • Collaborate on supplier assessments, quarterly forecast templates, risk mitigations, and data sharing with internal customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience (4 years).
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in Supply Chain, Project Management, Customer Service, or Planning.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Aviation Industry Supply Chain Management.
• Strong skills in Data Analysis, Business Insight, Logistics, Time Management, and multitasking.
• Ability to understand customer needs, communicate effectively, and create action plans to meet requirements.
• Experience with forecasting structures and collaboration with suppliers on future requirements.
• Ability to meet critical customer timelines and provide high-level status updates to management.
• Understanding of FARs and DFARs.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and SAP/MRP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Industrial Supply Chain, Project Management, and/or Engineering.
• 10 years’ experience in Supply Chain, Project Management, Customer Service, Engineering, or Planning.

Travel

5% domestic and international travel required.

Citizenship

Must be a U.S. Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder, or person covered under an existing ITAR license).

Physical Requirements

• Work Environment: 95% onsite in Columbus, MS.
• Vision: Ability to see and read computer screens, documents, reports, and engineering drawings (daily).
• Hearing: Ability to participate in conversations in person, via teleconference or phone, and hear production floor sounds, including safety warnings (daily).
• Speaking: Ability to speak in conversations, meetings, and communications (daily).
• Equipment Operation: Ability to operate most office and personal electronic equipment (daily).
• Carrying: Ability to carry documents, tools, drawings, and electronic equipment up to 10 lbs/5 kg (daily).
• Lifting: Ability to lift up to 10 lbs/5 kg (daily).
• Pushing/Pulling: Ability to push and pull small office furniture and equipment/tools (occasionally).
• Sitting: Ability to sit for extended periods during meetings or computer work (daily).
• Squatting/Kneeling: Ability to retrieve or replace items on low shelving (occasionally).
• Standing: Ability to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor (daily).
• Walking: Ability to walk through office and production areas, including uneven surfaces (occasionally).

PPE Requirements: Steel-toed shoes required for shop floor visits; appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required.

Benefits

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation (including profit-sharing schemes), retirement savings plan, and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Work/Life Balance: Paid time off (including personal time, holidays, and a generous paid parental leave program).
• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage (medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability), Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), and other supplemental benefits.