Director, Strategic Supplier Relations

Director Strategic Supplier Relations

Irvine CA (Hybrid) or Remote USA

Position Summary

Thales is looking for aDirector Strategic Supplier Relations to act as a key liaison between Thales In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) InFlyt Experience and aircraft seatmanufacturers with the objective of building and strengthening strategic partnerships that deliver winwin results for Thales our airline customers and the seat suppliers. You will need to be a strong relationship builder comfortable working at senior levels in both manufacturing and airline organizations strategic in mindset commercially oriented and technically savvy enough to understand the cabin/seat IFE/connectivity ecosystem.

In this position you will also own the interface and collaboration with seatmanufacturers (both linefit and retrofit) uncover new opportunities (e.g. joint offerings bundled seat IFE/connectivity solutions integration synergies) negotiate frameworks and strategic agreements and drive value for our airline customers by enabling differentiated cabin experiences improved costofownership simplified interfaces and stronger combined value propositions.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Develop and execute a strategic plan for partnerships and alliances with seat manufacturers (linefit and retrofit) that align with Thaless IFE/connectivity/cabinexperience roadmap and our airline customers needs.
• Identify onboard and nurture key seatmanufacturer relationships: evaluate potential partners build business cases structure collaboration models (comarketing joint offerings packaging retrofit kits service bundles).
• Work closely with internal Thales teams (product management integration engineering retrofit business airline account teams service operations) to ensure alignment of seatpartner initiatives with Thaless IFE/connectivity solutions (e.g. AVANT FlytLIVE InFlyt360 etc.).
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract frameworks with seat partners (e.g. supplier agreements preferredsupplier status joint pricing or bundling frameworks coinvestment models); Serve as the key interface at major industry events / trade shows (e.g. aircraft interiors exhibitions seatmanufacturer forums) to promote Thaless seatpartnership capability build awareness and capture pipeline.
• Develop value propositions for airlines leveraging the seat IFE/connectivity partnership: evaluate what differentiated experiences or cost/weight/power synergies can be created build business cases present to airline stakeholders; Monitor partnership performance: track key metrics (conversion rates joint wins retrofit deals margin improvement customer satisfaction) identify areas for improvement and drive continuous enhancement of the partner ecosystem.
• Provide market intelligence on seat trends (material weight/volume/power constraints seatmanufacturer strategies retrofit growth) and ensure that Thaless IFE/connectivity offerings remain aligned and competitively differentiated in cabinseatings contexts; Collaborate with marketing/comms to craft joint partner campaigns whitepapers casestudies and thoughtleadership content showcasing seat IFE/connectivity innovation; Ensure compliance with relevant aerospace certification and safety standards across joint seat Thales solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree (Engineering Business Aviation or related) required; MBA or advanced business qualification preferred.
• 10 years experience in aerospace or aviation in roles involving cabin interior/seat manufacturing aircraft OEMs IFE/connectivity or airline account management with a track record of building/managing strategic partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen: experience negotiating strategic contracts alliance/jointventure frameworks bundling/commercial models; Excellent relationship and stakeholdermanagement skills: able to engage senior executives at seatmanufacturers airlines and Thales internal leadership.
• Solid technical understanding of aircraft cabin interiors seatmanufacturing constraints linefit vs retrofit business cabinintegration and aircraft certification environment; Good knowledge of IFE/connectivity business in aviation and how that integrates with cabin/seat ecosystems. Knowledge of weight volume power installation maintenance costofownership dynamics a plus.
• Strategic and analytical mindset: able to create business cases evaluate market trends prioritize opportunities and drive execution; Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to present compelling value propositions to airlines and seatmanufacturers; Willingness to travel internationally (to seatmanufacturers airlines trade shows etc.).
• Strong collaboration skills: able to align internal crossfunctional teams (product engineering retrofit business development) and external partners; Resultsoriented selfdriven and able to manage multiple initiatives in parallel.

If youre 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; role is eligible for 9/80 schedule.
• Physical Environment: General office & warehouse environment.
• Physical Demands: Typical desk related work with a computer.
• Travel: This position may require domestic and international travel up to 50%.
• Regulatory Compliance Requirements: None.

What We Offer

The anticipated TTC range for this role is $142558.50 - $221065.50 USD Annual. The Company reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation depending on circumstances not related to an applicants status protected by local state or federal law.

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 and Dental plans.
• Retirement Savings Plan with a company contribution and a match and without vesting period.
• Company paid holidays vacation days and paid sick leave.
• Company provided Life Insurance.

Why Join Us

Say HI and learn more about working at Thales click here.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-AR1

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 .

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

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 employees career path history competencies skills and performance as well as the companys annual salary budget the customers program requirements and the companys internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation depending on circumstances not related to an applicants 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