Category Buyer Intellectual Services & Information Technology

Thales; United States; Remote; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales Alenia Space is seeking a Category Buyer for Intellectual Services and Information Technology. The role involves managing procurement processes, supplier selection, and strategic alignment to enhance business performance. Strong analytical, organizational, and relationship skills are essential to navigate this diverse and multidisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Min 5 years experience in structured procurement processes.
• Advanced use of office applications and purchasing tools.
• Fluent in English and Italian; French is recommended.

Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement process from RFI/RFQ to supplier selection.
• Consult with suppliers and ensure compliance with procurement contracts.
• Monitor global markets and advise on sourcing strategies.

Skills

Supplier management

Organizational skills

Relationship management

Project management

Perseverance

Advanced analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP/SAP

e-Acq

PROC BI

Contratech

Excel

Job description

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

Job Description Category Buyer Intellectual Services and Information Technology

The Category Buyer is responsible for the application and performance of the Procurement process relevant to her/his Category. She/He manages from RFI and/or RFQ until PVET 4. She/he manages the supplier selection phase to answer the Company needs and ensure deployment and application of the strategy for her/his category. She/He can take one or more categories. She/he needs to ensure the necessary competitiveness of suppliers to the business and propose change in the supplier base in order to improve performances and properly support the business. She/He functionally refers to the Category Manager to align to Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and Thales Strategy.

Mission and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the category strategies for short, medium, long term:
  • Ensure the application of TAS Strategy according to the Category Manager/Team Leader guidelines and supporting the category's strategy;
  • Ensure buy-in and application of Category strategy by relevant stakeholders, and by Entities/Local Countries
• Organize competitions, assess and select best supplier for her/his category in close collaboration with Entities/Local Country and with regular feedback loops:
  • Ensure application of consultation process (e.g. PVet/Tender 1 to 3) and the use of relevant tools (e.g. e-ACQ, PROC BI, Contratech) to ensure clear transparency of all activities at global level;
  • Implement the purchase contracts;
• Consult with suppliers: send or coordinate RFx; analyse proposals; enrich and validate the expression of need; prepare risk and opportunity analysis; finalize proposal analysis; prepare and propose negotiation tactic; prepare the contracts; guarantee the conformity of procurement contracts with relevant international/national laws, TAS/Thales regulations and customers' requirements; inform non-selected suppliers; ensure the acquisition end to end process properly followed up including lessons learnt and fully recorded in the information system
• Organize the Hand Over with the responsible for the Execution;
• Ensure application of claim management in coordination with Execution and Category Manager;
• By using the info on supplier base identify for her/his categories supplier who need development and involve CM to set actions (Audit, development action plan etc.)
• Define TCO and savings (UPD, PPV, rebates, avoidance) by category/supplier and also by Domain/Competence Center and project;
  • Provide competitive solutions for our products/projects based on the implementation of different suppliers/methods/technologies
  • Lead and run Product Cost Down efforts with suppliers
• Ensure that the Operational Buyer receives all the information needed to place and follow up the Purchase Orders
• Download and analyze operational supplier Backlog;
• Analyze the spending through the years on a specific Category and provide strategic approach to create Frame Agreements and Long Term Agreements to leverage on costs and to reduce the effort for Operative Procurement Buyers. Ensure the use of GFA (Global Frame Agreement) when available; Follow up of Thales/TAS conditions for HSE, ESG, Cybersecurity, Cash and other legal documents.
• Monitor global markets for her/his categories, including key players, suppliers, economic evolutions, innovations and technology in order to propose optimum solutions

Technical and Soft Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field;
• Knowledge of the Market (Worldwide, European and Italian scopes) and able to define the best fitting sourcing strategy in terms of involvement of Vendors, Resellers, Distributors and System Integrators;
• Understading of Vendor Qualification Process and Standard Documentation as General Terms of Condition, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Data Process Agreement, Ethical Code;
• Understands quickly organizations, their evolution and adapt behaviors accordingly

• Able to work in multidisciplinary/international environment (Italian mandatory, fluent in English; French is recommended);
• Supplier management background;
• Organizational, priority management and progress control skills;
• Perseverance and proactivity in achieving and maintaining commitments;
• Advanced relationship skills with the ability to interact effectively with internal stakeholders, team members and procurement organization (engagement, escalation...) and bring added value with pragmatic approach;
• Ability to Enforces TAS values and ethics rules
• Use KPIs to identify/diagnose supplier risk and development needs;
• Structured experience in Procurement (min 5 years) and from Production Companies is a plus;
• Understanding and management of the acquisition (PVet process);
• Advanced use of office applications (Excel) and purchasing tools (ERP/SAP, e-Acq, PROC BI, Contratech);
• Able to synthetize a complex problem through a global vision;
• Project management skills, with experience using project management methodologies and tools is a plus
• Technical and commercial background gained in the companies or general knowledge in Information and Communication Technology;
• In-depth knowledge of ICT systems, software development principles, and hardware architecture

At Thales Alenia Space we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales Alenia Space employing around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US, our mobility policy enables employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth #SpaceForLife. Great journeys start here, apply now!