Procurement Project Manager

Location: Orlando, United States of America

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

When you rely on airlines to connect you in flight, you rely on Thales. In an increasingly fast paced world, we make the unpredictable, predictable by connecting and entertain passengers to make your life better. Combining a diversity of talents, we master the decisive moments that matter to passengers and airlines. Whatever it takes.

Procurement Project Manager

Orlando, FL (Onsite)

Position Summary

Thales is looking for a Procurement Project Manager (PPM) to serve as the strategic procurement lead for complex project deliveries, with end-to-end accountability for procurement performance across cost, quality, schedule, and risk. In this capacity, the PPM drives and advances Thales’ procurement competitiveness at the program level, ensuring supply solutions meet evolving customer requirements while aligning with business line objectives and enterprise procurement strategies.

Operating as a core member of the Business Project Team, the PPM represents and elevates the Procurement function at the program and business line level, shaping sourcing strategies in close partnership with Segment leadership, Category Managers, Engineering, and Program Management. The role ensures optimal supply solutions that fulfill customer commitments while enhancing program profitability, delivery performance, and overall business competitiveness.

The PPM leads procurement strategy execution across the full project lifecycle including but not limited to sustainment and obsolescence management—anticipating supply risks, market constraints, and capacity challenges. The role proactively identifies, mitigates, and manages commercial, operational, and supplier risks, ensuring continuity of supply and protecting program execution and financial outcomes.

In this position, you will also drive supplier innovation and value creation, leveraging strategic supplier relationships to introduce new technologies, cost optimization opportunities, and performance improvements into Thales solutions. This role plays a key part in strengthening long-term program viability and competitive positioning by delivering value-added procurement leadership and influencing cross-functional decision-making at both the program and business line level.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Lead and shape program-level acquisition strategies to optimize competitiveness, affordability, and long-term value by integrating market intelligence, supplier innovation, emerging technologies, and make-versus-buy analysis while ensuring alignment with customer requirements, contractual flow-downs, regulatory obligations, and Thales procurement and ESG standards.
• Define and implement end-to-end acquisition plans and procurement work packages aligned with project objectives, lifecycle phases, and business priorities, committing procurement performance and competitiveness during the bid phase through development and presentation of Procurement Executive Summaries (PES) and Gate 2 commitments.
• Ensure compliance with Thales “Manage Acquisition” governance (Chorus 2), including use of enterprise systems (e-Acquisition, ERP), procurement vetting processes, delegation of authority, and formal gate reviews.
• Drive execution of acquisition strategies for spares and repairs requirements, negotiating and managing supplier agreements while delivering against schedule, quality, total cost of ownership (TCO), and risk/opportunity targets, and monitoring performance through procurement dashboards and reporting.
• Manage supply chain risks across the full product lifecycle (launch, ramp, sustainment, and obsolescence) while identifying value-creation opportunities including cost optimization, supplier performance improvements, and technology insertion.
• Serve as the procurement authority to business teams, influencing engineering, program management, and leadership while driving adoption of global category strategies, strengthening internal and external partnerships, leading post-project procurement reviews, contributing to process improvements, and championing Thales leadership behaviors and operational excellence.
   

Minimum Qualifications

• Education & Procurement Leadership Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of progressive experience, or an advanced degree with 6+ years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including extensive experience leading complex, cross-functional procurement programs in global, matrixed environments with accountability for cost, schedule, quality, and risk outcomes.
• Project & Financial Leadership: Proven project management capability leading complex procurement initiatives across scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk, with the ability to develop and govern integrated project plans, establish performance metrics, and drive disciplined execution through structured governance and post-implementation reviews, supported by strong financial acumen including Lean cost optimization, Make/Team/Buy strategies, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis.
• Executive Communication & Stakeholder Influence: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate procurement strategies and business trade-offs to technical, operational, and executive audiences while consulting, negotiating, and influencing senior leadership, engineering teams, program management, and external suppliers in global matrixed environments.
• Strategic Problem Solving & Leadership: Strategic, results-oriented thinker with strong analytical capability and attention to detail, able to analyze complex data sets, identify root causes, and develop data-driven solutions while influencing and mobilizing international, cross-functional teams without direct authority to achieve program objectives.
• Resilience, Adaptability & Digital Proficiency: Self-directed professional able to operate in fast-paced, high-visibility environments, manage competing priorities, and navigate ambiguity across global and multicultural organizations, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint) to develop executive-level reporting, dashboards, and analytical models supporting procurement performance and decision-making.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

If you’re excited about working with Thales, but not meeting the requirements for this position, we encourage you to join our Talent Community!

Special Position Requirements

• Schedule: Core business hours Monday-Friday.
• Physical Environment: Typical office environment.
• Physical Demands: Prolonged periods working on computer, video-calls.
• Travel: Ability to travel domestically and internationally, estimated up to 5% travel annually.
• Regulatory Compliance Requirements: None.

Why Join Us?

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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with [a] criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal law, state law, and local ordinances.

We are an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please contact us at talentacquisition@us.thalesgroup.com.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between

Total Target Cash (TTC) 98,748.13 - 178,790.50 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please reach out to your HR Shared Service, 1st Point) 

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

•Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance

•Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period

•Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

•Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program