Category Manager/Sr Category Manager (Professional Services)

Company: American Airlines
Location: Fort Worth
Posted on: March 14, 2026

Job Description:

Intro Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board! Why you'll love this job The Professional Services Category is part of American’s Procurement organization and manages end-to-end sourcing for Contact Centers, Consulting Services, Benefits, Contingent Labor, Marketing, Legal, and Financial Services. The Category Manager/Sr Category Manager plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing sourcing strategies, leading contract negotiations, optimizing stakeholder engagement, and driving vendor value creation. The responsibilities range from building relationships with internal partners and vendors, leading sourcing events that deliver measurable savings & improvements, and navigating the complexities of contracting, financial analysis, risk, legal, and regulatory requirements. What you'll do Join a growing, high-performing team of Strategic Sourcing Professionals with a passion for continuous improvement Work alongside highly driven, energetic, and collaborative team members Develop strategies that achieve cost control, cost reduction, and cost containment targets Expand your professional skill set by partnering with cross-functional teams on high-impact projects Engage with senior leadership on key sourcing and transformation projects Enhance your procurement expertise by utilizing a mix of critical skills - analytics, relationship building, collaboration, and project management Build a strong professional network by engaging with vendors and internal stakeholders Never have a boring day at work again! Lead end-to-end sourcing including scoping the business needs, developing project plans, executing RFx events, driving negotiations to achieve favorable language, supporting stakeholder satisfaction, and monitoring vendor performance Negotiate commercial terms to establish contracts that meet business requirements and support category strategies Deliver hard savings and cost avoidance through strategic sourcing, demand planning, and process optimization, supporting financial targets and Procurement Transformation Initiatives Analyze market trends, supplier proposals, and cost structures, to provide data-driven sourcing decisions Identify, evaluate, and onboard innovative suppliers, to expand sourcing options and drive competitive advantage Maintain organized documentation by completing financial improvement reports, storing contractual documents, and tracking project progress in the appropriate tools Partner closely with Legal, Finance, Business Requestors, and other internal teams to ensure alignment across requirements, risks, and objectives Serve as the strategic interface between internal stakeholders and vendors, ensuring alignment of cross-functional and organization needs Collaborate with Procurement Excellence team and various sourcing groups to implement best practices in sourcing, contracting, and vendor management Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage and support senior stakeholders in a dynamic environment Complete professional development activities including training, leadership presentations, and financial reporting Identify opportunities for improvement across tools, processes, and operations within your category Create, socialize, and implement vendor management tools including scorecards, SLAs/PGs, and Business Reviews Partner with Benefits, Legal, Finance, and other cross?functional teams to ensure sourcing strategies align with applicable regulatory frameworks, including Benefits?related legal considerations Lead contract structuring efforts by developing, reviewing, and negotiating key commercial components such as MSAs, SOWs, NDAs, DSAs, and related agreements Apply strong financial acumen to evaluate supplier proposals, assess payment terms, understand working capital impacts, and quantify hard savings and cost?avoidance opportunities Manage high?visibility, regulatory?complex, and internally sensitive projects that require balancing competing priorities, navigating conflicting stakeholder viewpoints, and maintaining alignment across the organization Leverage knowledge of direct vs. indirect sourcing models to tailor sourcing strategies, with particular focus on the nuances of key indirect categories and their unique practices, risks, and considerations All you'll need for success Minimum Qualifications - Education & Prior Job Experience ?Bachelor's degree in relevant field 3 years related work experience Preferred Qualifications - Education & Prior Job Experience Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Business Management, Finance, Accounting, or other related field Knowledge of Source to Pay systems Strong project management skills Process Mapping abilities Supplier Risk Analysis Vendor Relationship Management Skills, Licenses & Certifications Energetic and ambitious individual looking for a career developing opportunity in Procurement field Skilled communicator and problem-solver, capable of navigating ambiguity, complex stakeholder dynamics, and change Self-directed, organized, and resourceful person with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous tasks with proven record of prioritizing, managing, and executing as outlined. Strong business acumen Understanding of supply chain concepts, with work experience applying those concepts Negotiating and influencing skills Understanding and use of technical tools for analysis, problem solving, forecasting and quality improvement Proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Previous experience with Source to Pay systems High ethical standard What you'll get Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network. Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need. 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year. Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more. Feel free to be yourself at American From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20 Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world. Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.

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