Strategic Buyer Flying Procurement (Japan)

Job Description:

The Strategic Buyer for Flying Procurement (Japan) is responsible, within the framework of the Regional Procurement Office Asia Pacific, for further developing the regional supply chain and maximizing opportunities to both increase Airbus competitiveness and Airbus presence in Asia Pacific.

The Strategic Buyer acts as the strategic link between central Procurement functions and the regional Japanese aerospace market and will work in close cooperation with the Procurement commodities and with the regional teams including cross-divisional.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regional Supply Chain Mapping: Systematically map and maintain a detailed view of all existing aerospace supply chain activities and industrial capabilities across the respective Country/Subregion

• Opportunity and Project Scouting: Proactively identify and assess further industrial capabilities, potential new suppliers, innovation projects, and technical initiatives within the region to support future competitiveness and presence.

• Sourcing Profile Generation: Generate comprehensive, synthetic Country Sourcing Profiles for each major territory, detailing supply base maturity, cost drivers, regulatory and political environment, and strategic alignment potential.

• RFI/RFP Facilitation: Map the major current and potential Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) opportunities relevant to the region to ensure regional industrial capabilities are properly considered by central teams.

• Risk Management: Conduct local supply risk assessments (e.g., political, logistical, quality, financial) specific to Japan.

B. Value Generation & Cross-Functional Strategic Alignment

• Internal Stakeholder Management: Act as the procurement representative and advocate for the supplier base, ensuring internal teams understand supplier capabilities, constraints, and contractual obligations. Strong Collaboration with the Procurement Operational team is required. 

• IC&O Support: Serve as the procurement focal point for the International Cooperation and Offset (IC&O) team in Japan. Provide crucial regional supplier intelligence to support key commercial campaigns and the development of effective offset strategies.

• Organise Commodity Visits: Plan and coordinate all logistical and content-related aspects for visits by central Procurement commodity teams to the country, including scheduling supplier site visits, preparing supplier one-pagers and briefing materials, and ensuring seamless internal stakeholder alignment. Example: Singapore Airshows

• Long-Term Development Strategy: Put in place a development and sustainability strategy for the regional supply chain in close alignment with central Procurement commodities, anticipating the next capabilities needed for future programs and market access goals. Develop opportunities for growing Asia Local for Local initiatives

C. Supplier and Performance Management

• Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key regional suppliers, acting as the primary commercial point of contact.

• Act as Supplier Relationship Manager for key suppliers as could be agreed with commodities. This involves coordinating all strategic information flows, including the organization and preparation of Strategy Fit Meetings (SFMs), delivering consistent and structured Executive Briefs, gathering input for Annual Supplier Evaluations, and providing supportive intelligence for both financial reporting and offset reviews.

• Delegated Support: Support locally the central Procurement Commodities by performing delegated intelligence and coordination activities (e.g., supporting enablement processes or gathering data for cross-program competitiveness support).

• Innovation: Facilitate collaboration between suppliers and internal functions (e.g., Engineering, R&D, Operations) to capture and implement supplier-driven innovations and technical improvements

• Footprint Strategy: Collaborate with central teams (e.g., Airbus International Footprint - AIF exercise) by validating supplier data and providing strategic regional insights to ensure an accurate and current representation of the APAC supply chain landscape.

• R&T and Business Development: Support technology scouting in Airbus Tech Hub Japan and business development activities by providing supplier intelligence and insights as necessary 

• Government Relationship Management: Act as a procurement representative for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and support execution of the collaboration MoU

• Other duties reasonably determined from time to time by the Company

PERSONAL & INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Professional level of English is required. Japanese language skills are highly desirable

• Ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders in a global environment

• Strong negotiation, coaching, communication and presentation skills

• Rigor, integrity, strong problem solving and analytical skills

• Strategic thinking and risk management

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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