Lead Technical Materials, ASE, Tooling & Facilities at Kenya Airways

Brief Description        

The candidate will provide guidance for new systems and enhancements to existing systems/applications, and insights to key stakeholders to plan, direct and coordinate activities for provision of aviation support services.  Develop insights and understanding of the market for the MRO including growth opportunities. To ensure that strategic inventories, Tooling & ASE control processes are in place to enable operational and maintenance continuity. Takes a co-coordinating lead, working closely with internal and external parties to ensure supply of materials is in place to satisfy maintenance requirements. Able to deliver efficient, effective, and flexible solutions to meet maintenance requirements. Develop coordinates and plan warehouse storage and distribution strategies for all technical materials, Equipment and Tools to ensure an effective business support through timely availability of materials and spares.  Ensure all corrective maintenance activities are responded to and completed by the outsourced facility maintenance contractor, within agreed contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs), by monitoring output performance, chairing regular performance review forums. Technical asset management through running of day-to-day sub -ledger. Day to day management of all materials in outstation and outsourced consignment globally.

Detailed Description        
Principal Accountabilities (Responsibility)

Strategy and Development

• Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practices in inventory control vision, strategy, policies, processes, and procedures to aid and improve operational performance.
• Develop tactical and operational plans in support of Departmental strategic directions.
• Develop and implement materials movement transaction processes for all KQ inventories that ensure timely, accurate and complete recording of materials related business operational costs across the business functions for an effective and efficient cost structure and management accounts reporting.
• Develop and coordinate implementation of stock management policies and procedure guidelines for all Company inventories across the network and devise a revision mechanism that guarantees business development strategies are adequately aligned with such policies to promote growth.
• Support function (third party Maintenance/Business).
• Developing of asset management framework.

General and Task Management

• Maintain receiving, issuing and transportation operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing company policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement measures that ensure that all aircraft spares, tools, and materials received comply with specifications and airworthy documentations in the Acceptance, Storage, Control, Security, Handling and Delivery as per KCAA and KQ requirements whilst ensuring that the data is correctly recorded in the OASES system.
• Controls inventory levels by conducting cycle counts and other physical counts as needed. Ensures that all results are properly reconciled with OASES data.
• Monitoring the contracted consignment stocks and ensuring timely inventory reconciliation and reporting.
• Ensuring effective and efficient distribution system of Technical Materials to 3rd Party MRO clients.
• Implementation and management of free-trade zone operations in the bonded warehouse.
• Continuously design, develop and implement flexible solutions to aid business efficiency, drive process improvements and add value.
• Ensure strategic and operational information, reports and metrics are available to share with others in the business as and when required.
• Report on achievement of targets and identify any corrective action.
• Maintains physical condition of warehouse by planning and implementing new design layouts, ensure regular repair and maintenance, to create a conducive working environment for staff.
• Monitoring material movement in the outstation.
• Independently makes decisions on strategy and policy as guided by KQ policies and procedures.

People Management

• Manage, coach, and develop a high performing team that meets agreed objectives, and which delivers best practice results, added value and continuous improvements.
• Ensure planning for leave days, staff training, appraisals, hiring of new employees and their orientation, employee performance appraisals, coaching and mentoring front line supervisors.
• Set departmental objectives/KPIs and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports.
• Ensure that the function operates in accordance with any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of self, staff, and visitors.
• Monitoring the performance of contracted staff and ensuring agreed targets are met.

Relationship Management

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to forecast, plan, and facilitate on-time materials availability as and when required avoiding disruption to maintenance.
• Take lead on internal and external relationships to ensure consistent, timely and effective communication regarding material availability.
• Work with cross functional teams to deliver effective solutions.
• Liaise with stakeholders on product change requests and review and communicate the impact on material availability and schedules.
• Support new business initiatives and projects and contribute to review meetings and change process. Ensure effective implementation takes place relating to the changes.
• Contribute to supplier meetings and negotiations to ensure demand for materials is met.
• Resolve supplier concerns and evaluate supplier performance in conjunction with members of the materials management and procurement team.
• Work closely with the purchasing team to ensure purchasing strategies are maximized.

Self-Management

• Comply with the Health, Safety and Environmental Policies.
• Support, encourage and develop team.
• Proactively contribute to creating a good team atmosphere.
• Is resilient, optimistic and open to change.
• Self-starter and able to motivate others.
• Flexible and works well under pressure.

 Budget and reporting

• Develop and implement the annual budget for Technical Stores.
• Prepare management reports to support decisions on a regular basis.
• Approve and review all freight invoices to ensure proper billing for services received, review and dispute when necessary any charge backs and/or unforeseen accessorial charges.
• Review and approve freight invoices through checking for fairness, accuracy, and conformity with contracted terms to ensure proper billing for services received.

Contract Development and Management

• Working in conjunction with other stakeholders to develop, maintain and manage contracts with suppliers for improved materials availability. 

Process Development and Improvement

• Continuously evaluate functional capability of the aircraft MRO system (OASES) to optimize business information exchange for better planning and operational purposes.
• Liaise regularly with Material Planning to continuously develop and review an aircraft materials stock holding policy to ensure adequate and cost-effective inventory holdings are achieved.
• Develop continuous process improvement initiatives for Technical Stores such as KQ Way.

Job Requirements        
Qualification(Minimum)  

• A University Degree in Engineering/Procurement/Business Management.
• CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) or equivalent.
• 7 years’ experience in aviation with minimum of which 3 years in Supply chain operation or in material management position.
• Experience of managing outsourced operations. .
• Expert knowledge and understanding of a variety of aviation processes, component handling and supply chain management.
• Knowledge of asset management.
• Working experience within an airline Technical or Supply Chain department with respect to Storekeeping or Ability to understand Parts certification, Company Publications such as Shelf Life Manual and TPM, HSE manual, Familiar with EASA, FAA and KCAA regulations.
• Member of KISM and a valid practicing license.
• Dangerous Goods Regulation qualified added advantage.
• Strategic thinking and business understanding.
• Proficiency in computerized inventory control system.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Proven management skills with the ability to optimize team performance and development.

Additional Details        
Other Skills

• Flexibility.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly skilled communicator with the ability to form and maintain good relationships internally and externally.
• Proven analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Unquestionable integrity and ethics.
• Experience of delivering results through cross-functional working.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Results orientated and organized with the ability to plan and deliver against deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.