Team Lead Supplier Management Customer Operations
- Location
- Herndon, VA
- Work type
- On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Salary
- Not listed
- Clearance
- Not required
- U.S. citizenship
- Not stated
- Posted
- Nov 9, 2026
About the role
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Job Description:
Position Summary:
The jobholder leads the Supplier Management Customer Operations team within the Airbus Americas Customer Services organization. He/She manages a customer and supplier portfolio and overall relationships within the Supplier Management Supplier Furnished Equipment OEMs scope. The team focuses on resolving daily operational supplier-related topics escalated by Operators across North and Latin America. The scope is the Airbus Legacy and A220 aftermarket product support contractual framework.
Key Responsibilities:
Customer Operations support (40%)
- Manage an allocation of strategic regional Customers and ensure resolution of customer queries related to supplier management for equipment, cabin and engine suppliers within lead time targets
- Qualify and record queries in Customer Relationship Management tools.
- Manage the customer relationship for key customers with respect to supplier management, including communications on: supplier improvement plans, supplier performance KPIs, Rating results, SIM commitments, and CSIP improvement plan
- Create a network with customer-facing counterparts at Airbus (CSD, Satair, Field Reps, etc.) to ensure airline supplier management needs are captured and addressed
- Ensure Roles and Responsibilities are clearly communicated and applied with other Airbus Customer Services Business Units
- Support tripartite meetings as required
- Conduct regular visits to Customers, also with the team as required
Supplier management (30%)
- Manage an allocation of SFE suppliers.
- Ensure suppliers adhere to Airbus Supplier support requirements (GCP, SSC and SPSA)
- Organize supplier meetings locally in the Americas and regular management meetings, as needed
- Contribute to the development of the long-term supplier improvement plan managed by SOx commodity teams by providing recommendations based on recurrent regional customer issues
- Develop specific regional improvement plans where required
- Ensure supplier follow-up towards airlines for low rating scores and negative comments
- Provide executive briefs on supplier operational topics for airline senior management meetings (SMM, ERM)
- Contribute to briefs for supplier senior management meetings (ASM)
- Actively share customer pain points within the SO organization to ensure the voice of the customer is incorporated into future SSC template and negotiation
Team lead and Strategic activities 30%
- Lead weekly team look ahead meetings with the team to review operational risks and track resolution progress
- Act as the First level of escalation for the team in order to resolve complex Customer queries by interfacing and negotiating with the supplier stakeholders when cases/tickets are not progressing
- Develop relationship and contribute to continuous improvement on ways of working within SO with the Aftermarket Supplier Management team SOM (contract management) and Aftermarket Supply Chain Operations SOP (spares/repairs performance and recovery management)
- Contribute to weekly/monthly supplier reports. Analyze the reports and submit to management a weekly/monthly consolidated but comprehensive review of the suppliers activity
- Actively engage with the other functions in Airbus Americas Customer Services
- Propose and lead improvement projects within the context of the supplier management – operations team related to customer feedback (CSIP, transactional feedback,…) and process improvement
- Lead the team contribution to the regional Airbus and Aviation Industry events and conferences with airlines and suppliers as required (SIM, AMC, MRO, ACPC, SPSA, large-audience training)
- Analyze CSIP results to define team action plans and provide recommendations for the global SO organization
- Report on market perception using insights from the American Supplier Rating, CSIP, customer visits, and market demand analysis
- Prepare analytical insights from annual Americas Supplier Rating survey results for the regional webinar
- Track Tech Request/Salesforce activity and monitor OnTime Delivery KPIs to identify trends and corrective actions
- Consolidate performance data and provide relevant reporting inputs for internal monthly, quarterly and yearly management reviews such as MOR, MBR, and AAP forums
- Act as the Deputy for the Head of Supplier Management Americas on Customer Operations topics
Additional Responsibilities:
As a team leader, the jobholder is expected to support management by:
- Coaching and guiding the training and professional development of local team members
- Contributing to best practices and FAQs for customer queries, and recommending process improvements within supplier management and related Airbus departments
- Developing self-service documentation and tools to support customer training and self-sufficiency
Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:
Education:
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Quality Management.
Experience:
- Mandatory: Minimum of 8 years of technical aviation experience with a focus on aftermarket, MRO, or Airline operations
- At least 4-5 years in a team management or supervisory role
- Airline or OEM background is preferred
Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages):
- Fluent in English, written and spoken
- French, Spanish or German are a plus
Unique Position Details/ Required skills and competencies
Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:
- Required Core Competencies:
- Airline business & operations, customer support, and supplier/contract management
- Proactive, autonomous, and collaborative team player with strong customer relationship management
- Cross-cultural communication, executive presentation, and negotiation skills
- Ability to work under high pressure and tight deadlines
- Conflict management
- Proven management, leadership, and team development capabilities in multicultural organizations
- Contract law and negotiation skills
- Supply chain and supplier management experience
- High resilience, flexibility, and operational efficiency
Travel Required:
- 40% Domestic and International
Eligibility:
- Authorized to Work in the US
Clearance:
- None
Decision Making, Complexity:
This role is key to understanding customer needs across North and Latin America and driving the satisfaction of our customers.
North American customers require exceptionally high responsiveness and support availability. Given the scale of major US carriers (Delta, United, and American Airlines are the three largest globally by market value, revenue, and fleet size), this position demands high-level focus and executive attention and active participation in the North America In Service Core team led by the Airbus Customer Support Director.
The relationship with Latin American Operators needs to be further developed. This will require engagement and time investment to enhance the collaboration with the Airbus Customer Services team based in Miami.
Organizational information:
- Subordinate employees (FTE headcount)
- Transnational team headquartered in Herndon, VA, vast and diverse region in terms of customer profiles
- Operating budget (financial teams): (direct & annual travel budget, trade shows etc…)
- Other dimensions relevant to the position:
- Number of customers: 15 airlines in North America, 65 lessors, 28 MROs and 19 customers in Latin Americas
- Number of countries: all North America + Latin America region
- Airlines fleet: 2400+ Airbus aircraft; 800+ in firm backlog
- Number of Airbus suppliers: 45% of Level 1 Suppliers Headquarters based in the US
- Number of Airbus Supplier Product Support Agreements: 140 Legacy Supplier Support Conditions and General Conditions of Purchase, 18 A220 Supplier Product Support Agreements
Direct Reports:
6 Customer Operations based in Herndon and management of 2 FTEs in Airbus Canada under Service Letter Agreement.
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.
Company:
Airbus Americas Customer Services, Inc.Employment Type:
US - Direct HireExperience Level:
ProfessionalRemote Type:
On-siteJob Family:
Material Support & services <JF-CS-MS>------
Job Posting End Date: 11.17.2026------
Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
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Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com.
