Manager – Strategic Material Planning

Etihad Engineering; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Etihad Engineering is seeking a senior leader to head strategic material planning in Abu Dhabi. The role focuses on ensuring material availability at the lowest total cost while driving resilience, minimizing aircraft downtime and enabling continuous operations through data-driven planning and risk mitigation.

You will lead a high-performing team, align with Engineering, Maintenance, Procurement, and Finance, and drive automation in replenishment to optimize inventory and working capital.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, engineering, or related field; master’s preferred.
• 12–15 years in aviation supply chain/MRO.
• Proven leadership in material planning and inventory optimization.
• Experience with ERP/MRO systems such as AMOS and CMRO.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute material planning strategy aligned with objectives.
• Implement data-driven forecasting and system-based planning models and efficiency.
• Balance service levels, cost, and risk across material categories.
• Deliver high material availability for routine, non-routine, and replenishment demand.
• Minimize AOG exposure and disruptions through proactive planning.
• Align material planning with maintenance schedules, fleet plans, and customer demand.
• Optimize inventory levels, stock turns, and working capital.
• Eliminate non-moving and excess inventory and return customer-owned stock timely.
• Deliver material targets and cost efficiencies.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Maintain audit readiness with zero critical findings or overdue actions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Procurement, and Finance to align priorities.
• Support customer service delivery and satisfaction targets.
• Drive automation and system-based replenishment.
• Lead continuous improvement and process standardization initiatives.
• Build and lead a high-performing planning team.
• Develop team capability through training and coaching.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Data-driven forecasting

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

AMOS

CMRO

ERP software

Job description

Lead strategic material planning to ensure optimal inventory availability at the lowest total cost. Drive supply chain resilience, minimize aircraft downtime, and enable operational continuity through data-driven planning, risk mitigation and build high-performing supply chain that minimizes operational disruption.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute material planning strategy aligned with operational and financial objectives


• Implement advanced data-driven forecasting and system-based planning models and efficiency


• Balance service levels, cost, and risk across all material categories


• Deliver high material availability across routine, non-routine, and replenishment demand


• Minimize AOG exposure and operational disruptions through proactive planning


• Align material planning with maintenance schedules, fleet plans, and customer demand


• Optimize inventory levels, stock turns, and working capital


• Eliminate non-moving and excess inventory, including customer-owned stock timely return


• Deliver material targets and cost efficiencies


• Ensure full compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards


• Maintain audit readiness with zero critical findings or overdue actions


• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Procurement, and Finance to align priorities


• Support customer service delivery and satisfaction targets


• Drive automation and system-based replenishment


• Lead continuous improvement and process standardization initiatives


• Build and lead a high-performing planning team


• Develop team capability through training, coaching, and diverse MRO business exposure


• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Engineering, or related field (master’s strongly preferred)


• 12–15 years of experience in aviation supply chain / MRO


• Proven leadership in material planning and inventory optimization


• Strong knowledge of aircraft consumables, expendables, components, repair cycles, and regulatory requirements


• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management capabilities.


• Experience with ERP/MRO systems (e.g., AMOS, CMRO)


• Strong strategic and analytical leader with commercial acumen, capable of driving execution, influencing stakeholders, and delivering results under uncertainty.


• Ability to lead, develop, and manage teams, motivating them to achieve targets and drive improvement.