Summary
Air Arabia is hiring a Procurement Manager for ground handling and airport services in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The role leads sourcing, tendering, contract negotiations, supplier performance, and cost-optimization initiatives, including Ground Handling Agreements and airport fees. It also supports station launches, airport incentives, lease agreements, and procurement governance. Applicants need at least 10 years of procurement experience, including aviation ground handling and airline contract management, with three years in a managerial role; English fluency is required and Arabic is preferred.
The posting
As published on airarabia.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Job Purpose
Responsible for developing and executing the ground handling and airport services procurement strategy, driving cost optimization, operational continuity, service quality, through strategic sourcing, contract management, commercial negotiations, and supplier partnerships, while ensuring compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and IATA SGHA standards.
Key Result Responsibilities
- Develop and implement group-wide ground handling category strategies, leading strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier consolidation, and preferred supplier partnerships to support network expansion, operational requirements, service excellence, and cost efficiencies.
- Conduct market intelligence, benchmarking, spend analysis, and supplier evaluations to identify sourcing opportunities and support informed procurement decisions.
- Support new station launches and operational readiness through supplier selection, contract establishment, and ground handling service implementation.
- Develop and evaluate business cases in collaboration with Ground Operations for self-handling opportunities at strategic hubs, enhancing operational control, service quality, and cost efficiency.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing and tendering activities, including RFI, RFQ, and RFP processes through Oracle Fusion sourcing platforms, ensuring transparent, competitive, and compliant procurement practices.
- Develop and standardize commercial and contractual frameworks to support effective supplier engagement, risk mitigation, and governance.
- Drive cost optimization, value improvement, and operational efficiency initiatives through benchmarking, spend analysis, and commercial negotiations, delivering measurable savings while supporting budgeting, forecasting, and the Group’s low-cost carrier strategy.
- Lead the negotiation and execution of Ground Handling Agreements (GHA) in accordance with IATA SGHA standards, establishing optimal commercial models, including activity-based pricing, fixed-rate structures, and other cost-effective contracting mechanisms.
- Ensure comprehensive contractual coverage encompassing performance and productivity measures, SLAs/KPIs, liability and indemnity provisions, service scope, and operational requirements to safeguard business interests and service delivery standards.
- Negotiate aeronautical fees with airport authorities, including landing charges, navigation fees, passenger facility charges, and overflight fees, to achieve optimal cost structures across all operating stations.
- Partner with Network Planning, Commercial teams, airports, tourism boards, and other stakeholders to negotiate and secure airport incentives, route development funds, marketing support, fee concessions, and other commercial subsidies that enhance route viability and profitability.
- Negotiate and manage airport space lease and rental agreements, including operational, commercial, and office facilities, while overseeing the full contract lifecycle from award and implementation through renewals, amendments, and termination to ensure cost effectiveness, operational suitability, and contractual compliance.
- Establish and monitor supplier KPIs and SLAs, conduct regular performance and business reviews, and drive supplier accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives while managing escalations and dispute resolution to ensure operational reliability and contractual compliance.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, commercial, and contractual risks while ensuring compliance with procurement policies, aviation regulations, contractual obligations, and responsible sourcing and sustainability requirements.
- Partner closely with Airport Operations, Finance, Legal, Network Planning, and other key stakeholders to provide commercial and procurement support for route launches, operational changes, and strategic business initiatives, ensuring alignment between operational requirements and commercial objectives.
- Drive the adoption of eSourcing and Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems while standardizing procurement templates, processes, and best practices to enhance operational efficiency, governance, and reporting transparency.
People Management
- Provides direction, coaching and guidance to team members for their career and professional development.
- Creates a conducive working environment to build and sustain a performance driven, engaged, and committed team.
- Ensures people management responsibilities are handled effectively in line with company procedures.
Qualifications (Academic, training, languages)
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Engineering, Commerce, or a related field; MBA preferred.
- Strong understanding of the IATA Airport Handling and SGHA framework, ICAO charging principle and Airport Economic Regulations.
- Familiarity with ground operations and airport environment.
- Experience with Oracle Fusion, eSourcing, or CLM tools preferred.
- Proficient in MS Office.
- Familiarity with IATA framework agreements and international contracts and regulations.
Fluent in English language; Arabic is preferred.
Work Experience
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in procurement, with strong exposure to aviation ground handling services and proven expertise in airport commercial negotiations, SGHA contracting, and supplier management across multiple geographic regions, particularly within EMEA and Asian markets. with 3 years of experience in a managerial role.
- Experience in contract management within the airlines industry.