Director – Supply Chain & Vendor Management

UAE  |  Director-level  |  50%+ travel (overseas mandatory)

Our client,  a greenfield aerospace programme is seeking a Director of Supply Chain & Vendor Management to build its procurement, supplier base, and trade compliance function from the ground up.

What you'll own
 

  • End-to-end procurement, supplier qualification, and inbound logistics for a certification-grade aerospace programme
  • Building and maintaining an Approved Vendor List, including airworthiness and quality-system approvals (AS9100, EASA/FAA Part 21)

  • Ensuring suppliers of flight-critical parts deliver conforming parts with full traceability and valid release documentation

  • Export/import trade compliance (ITAR, EAR, and local regulations) and supply-risk management

  • A small, growing team across strategic procurement, supplier quality, and logistics

What you'll bring

  • 12-15+ years in supply chain/procurement, including senior leadership in aerospace, defence, or advanced manufacturing

  • Proven track record building and running Approved Vendor Lists and supplier audit programmes

  • Working knowledge of aerospace airworthiness and authorised-release requirements

  • Experience managing export-compliance programmes

  • ERP procurement-module experience (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)

  • Type-certification-campaign exposure a strong plus

This is a rare opportunity to build a critical function from zero on a new aircraft programme, if you want to shape a supply chain rather than inherit one, we'd like to hear from you.