Specialist - Procurement Inflight & Catering

Role Overview

Specialist - Procurement Inflight & Catering at flydubai. The role manages end-to-end procurement activities for inflight catering operations, onboard products, catering services, and associated operational support contracts across the airline network.

Role Purpose

To manage the full procurement lifecycle for inflight catering and related operational services—including sourcing, tendering, evaluation, negotiation, award, implementation, and contract management—to achieve cost efficiency, service quality, operational continuity, and compliance with airline, aviation, food safety, and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Tendering

• Manage the full procurement lifecycle for inflight catering and related operational services including sourcing, tendering, evaluation, negotiation, award, implementation, and contract management to achieve cost efficiency, service quality, and operational continuity.
• Support new route launches, network expansion, and operational changes by sourcing suitable catering solutions within required timelines.
• Develop contingency and backup supplier strategies to minimize operational risk and ensure business continuity during disruptions.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Maintain strong Supplier Relationship Management practices with strategic and operational vendors across the network to ensure effective management of supplier performance and contract compliance.
• Support consistent service delivery, regulatory adherence, and uninterrupted availability of catering products and services.
• Coordinate regular business reviews with caterers and suppliers to address performance gaps, monitor supplier performance and contract compliance, and implement corrective action plans.
• Monitor supplier capacity, operational readiness, and service continuity during peak operations, disruptions, and irregular operations.
• Act as a key procurement focal point for inflight-related operational issues and supplier escalations.

Contract Administration & Negotiation

• Ensure all contracts, purchase orders, and award documentation are prepared accurately and issued on time to avoid operational disruption or delayed implementation.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing structures, service level agreements (SLAs), rebates, penalties, escalation clauses, and operational KPIs with suppliers to achieve best value for the company.
• Monitor all incoming documentation related to contract performance and ensure all procurement and contractual actions comply with flydubai policies, aviation regulations, and applicable government requirements.

Cost Optimization & Financial Management

• Guide and support the procurement team in preparing comprehensive commercial and financial evaluations of supplier proposals for management approval.
• Conduct spend analysis, budgeting support, cost modeling, savings tracking, and financial reporting across the inflight catering portfolio.
• Identify and implement cost optimization opportunities while maintaining required product and service standards.
• Support invoice dispute resolution, pricing validation, and commercial reconciliation with suppliers and Finance teams.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to enhance service quality, food presentation, innovation, sustainability, and passenger experience.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate closely with Inflight Services, Catering Operations, Finance, Quality Assurance, Legal, Flight Operations, Supply Chain, and external suppliers to ensure uninterrupted delivery of catering products and services while achieving commercial savings, service excellence, and operational efficiency in line with industry benchmarks.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Administration, or Hospitality Management.
• Minimum 4 years of procurement experience, preferably within Airline inflight catering, Aviation services, Hospitality procurement, or Food & Beverage sourcing.
• 7–9 years total experience with qualifications.
• Procurement or Supply Chain Certification (CIPS or similar).
• Fluent in English; other languages an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Teamwork
• Effective Communication
• Personal Accountability & Commitment to achieve
• Resilience & Flexibility (Can do attitude)
• Decision Making
• Inspiring & Developing Others
• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen

Additional Information

• Reads and complies with the company's Information Security Reporting (ISR) policies and diligently reports any weakness or incidents to the respective Line Manager or the Information Security team.
• Completes all required ISR awareness sessions and follows associated guidelines in day-to-day business operations.