Director of Materials

Description

National Airlines, based in Orlando, FL, operates passenger charter service as well as customized military and commercial air cargo carriages worldwide. National Airlines specializes in over-sized, time sensitive, and special handling requirements, utilizing A-330, 747-400 and B-777F aircraft to accomplish its missions. 

Job Title: Director of Materials/Purchasing

Location: Orlando, FL

Department: Purchasing

Reports To: Vice President of Technical Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary: The Director of Materials/Purchasing provides strategic and operational leadership for the Materials and Purchasing functions, including procurement, inventory control, stores, warehousing, supplier management, and materials planning. This role is accountable for ensuring aircraft parts and materials are available to support safe, compliant, cost-effective, and efficient airline operations while maintaining alignment with regulatory requirements, company policies, and Technical Operations priorities.

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership and direction for Materials department activities, including purchasing, stores, inventory control, and warehouse operations.
• Implement procurement and materials management strategies that support aircraft parts availability, cost control, supplier performance, and maintenance requirements.
• Direct material warehouse operations, ensuring effective receiving, storage, issuance, traceability, and control of aircraft parts, materials, tooling, and supplies.
• Manage the Materials department budget, monitor spending, and recommend cost-effective solutions aligned with operational needs.
• Maintain accountability for inventory accuracy, cycle count programs, financial controls, and compliance with internal audit and reporting requirements.
• Develop and use analytical tools, reporting, and performance metrics to support purchasing decisions, inventory planning, supplier performance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate staffing requirements, workforce planning needs, and departmental structure to ensure the Materials department is appropriately resourced to meet operational goals.
• Oversee training, development, and performance expectations for Materials department personnel to promote efficiency, compliance, accountability, and operational readiness.
• Establish departmental goals, objectives, operating priorities, and performance measures in alignment with Technical Operations and company goals.
• Direct the purchasing, repair, storage, and distribution of spare parts in accordance with National Airlines’ General Maintenance Manual and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership, direction, and performance oversight for Stores and Purchasing personnel, including senior managers, managers, supervisors and team members.
• Determine and maintain appropriate inventory levels to support aircraft availability, maintenance schedules, AOG requirements, and operational readiness.
• Develop, maintain, and administer purchasing and repair procedures for materials, consumables, and rotatable parts in accordance with National Airlines’ General Maintenance Manual and company standards.
• Ensure required procurement, repair agency, certification, audit, and traceability documentation is complete, accurate, and maintained prior to the procurement, shipment, or repair of aircraft rotatable parts.
• Ensure stores and purchasing personnel complete required training, including HAZMAT, shipping and receiving, and any additional training required by National Airlines approved or accepted manuals.
• Lead supplier, vendor, contract, and agreement management for materials-related services and support partnerships that advance departmental and corporate objectives.
• Oversee the disposition and sale of excess inventory in accordance with company policy, financial controls, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Support the department’s goals, objectives, KPIs, and operating priorities; communicate expectations clearly to team members and monitor progress against established measures.
• Organize team resources to execute department priorities effectively. Coach and mentor senior managers, managers, supervisors and team members, assist in establishing goals and objectives, and re-prioritize work as needed.
• Lead special projects and continuous improvement initiatives that improve materials availability, purchasing efficiency, inventory accuracy, supplier performance, and cross-functional problem resolution.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Quality, Finance, Technical Operations, and other stakeholders to support planning decisions, resolve materials constraints, and align purchasing activity with operational priorities.
• Responsible for the procurement and management of National’s Fly-Away Kit (FAK) program.
• Has the overall responsibility of developing National’s B777F inventory. Work with the VP of Technical Operations to negotiate and implement vendor programs to provide pooling of parts, material and equipment where applicable. 
• Maintain a vendor scorecard on performance and take appropriate action when required. 
• Responsible for National’s warranty program with Boeing and all associated vendors. 
• Provide regular updates to Technical Operations leadership on Materials department performance, risks, priorities, and issues that may affect operational commitments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must possess a working knowledge and understanding of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFRs), National Airlines approved/accepted, as applicable, manuals and the Operations Specifications.  
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in aviation materials, purchasing, supply chain, inventory control, or related Technical Operations functions, including at least 3 years in a leadership or management capacity.
• Must satisfactorily complete the training and/or testing defined in National Airlines approved/ accepted, as applicable, manuals pertinent to the duties and responsibilities defined herein.  
• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, aviation management, logistics, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant aviation experience may be considered.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills to effectively communicate in a variety of settings across all organizational levels. 
• Ability to coordinate and successfully execute projects that involve multiple dependent departments. 
• Superior problem solving and conflict resolution abilities, solid judgment, and influencing skills. 
• Proven ability to multitask and balance multiple priorities simultaneously with the ability to be flexible with the changing needs of our business. 
• Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently. 
• Must be able to pass a 10-year background check 
• Must have a valid passport 

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee may regularly be required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, telephone, copy machine, or printer.
• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and perform multiple assignments under stress. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision due to extensive computer work.
• Ability to perform light to moderate lifting of up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment:

• Moderate noise (i.e., business offices with computers, phones, printers, and overhead lights).
• Ability to work in a confined office or open cubicle environment

The work physical demands and environmental characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

National Air Cargo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, Protected Veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, termination, promotions or other conditions of employment or career development. We take affirmative steps to hire and advance females, racial minorities, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We offer Reasonable Accommodations where necessary to candidates for employment and to our qualified employees with disabilities.

National Airlines also expects all our employees to support and promote our Safety Management System (SMS) Safety Policy and Safety Objectives. Employees at all levels of the organization are encouraged to report safety concerns or hazards without fear of reprisal.