SKF AEROSPACE  

GLOBAL ROLE  |  EUROPE & US  |  10-FACTORY NETWORK  |  LOCATION: United States, Italy or France preferred

The opportunity

As part of the continued transformation of SKF Aerospace, we are looking for a Global Supply Chain & Purchasing Manager to lead two critical, connected agendas across our global factory network. The primary transformation mandate is to build a more connected, standardized and execution-focused Supply Chain. At the same time, the role will advance Purchasing performance and Integrated Cost Reduction by realizing the full value available through supplier strategy, commercial execution, and cross-functional cost improvement.

This is a strategic Business Unit leadership role with direct impact on customer service, operational stability, inventory, cash, cost competitiveness and profitable growth. The ideal candidate will pair enterprise-wide leadership with effective execution, collaborating with regional and factory teams in Europe and the U.S. while working closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance.

THE MANDATE
Transform the Aerospace Supply Chain and convert the full Purchasing and cost-reduction opportunity into sustainable business performance.

What you can expect in the role

Supply Chain transformation and performance

• Shape and direct the global Aerospace Supply Chain strategy and transformation roadmap so it aligns with Business Unit priorities and the Operational Excellence journey. Improve sustainable performance in Net Working Capital and inventory while balancing customer service, production stability, capacity and business requirements.
• Reinforce adherence to plan through robust S&OP/S&OE and planning routines, clear accountability, transparency and disciplined execution.
• Enhance and further expand common processes, KPIs, governance and ways of working across the network, using Nexus as a key enabler of standardization, data consistency and transformation.
• Improve end-to-end visibility across demand, supply, capacity and inventory to enable faster, fact-based decisions and effective risk management.
• Lead Supply Chain support for industrial transfers, ramp-ups, ramp-downs and other major operational changes.
• Develop a robust global Supply Chain community and enhance capability in planning, inventory, systems, data and performance management across the factories.

Purchasing, supplier performance and Integrated Cost Reduction

• Define and direct the Aerospace Purchasing agenda in line with Business Unit priorities and SKF Group Purchasing principles.
• Lead category, sourcing, and supplier strategy efforts for Aerospace activities throughout operations in Europe and US.
• Enhance supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, capacity, cash, and risk by reinforcing commercial agreements, negotiation discipline, and supplier development.
• Lead the Aerospace Integrated Cost Reduction agenda and maintain a credible, measurable pipeline of structural cost-improvement opportunities.
• Mobilize Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Finance around design-to-cost, value engineering, sourcing, negotiation and specification optimization.
• Enhance  Purchasing governance, data and performance indicators to ensure accountability, opportunity conversion and measurable business impact.

Leadership and business integration

• Lead and develop the global Supply Chain and Purchasing organization through regional and functional responsibilities, with clear priorities, decision rights and accountability.
• Connect Supply Chain and Purchasing choices to customer commitments, factory performance, cash, cost and profitable growth.
• Identify performance gaps and opportunities, prioritize the highest-value actions and sustain improvements beyond individual initiatives.
• Create effective collaboration across factories, regions and functions while maintaining high expectations for local execution and ownership.

What we are looking for

You are an experienced international leader who can shift between enterprise strategy and factory reality. You bring the transformative leadership required to reshape Supply Chain performance, together with the commercial sharpness and execution discipline needed to capture the full Purchasing opportunity.

• Significant leadership experience across Supply Chain and Purchasing/Procurement in a complex international manufacturing environment, ideally spanning multiple sites, countries or regions.
• Established record of shaping Supply Chain transformation, standardizing workflows, and supporting sustainable performance growth.
• Deep understanding of demand and supply planning, S&OP/S&OE, inventory and Net Working Capital, capacity management and operational execution.
• Extensive experience in direct-material purchasing, category or sourcing strategy, supplier management and complex commercial negotiations.
• Ability to deliver structural cost reduction, value creation and supplier-performance improvement.
• Experience leading cross-functional cost-improvement, value-engineering or design-to-cost initiatives.
• Experience with ERP, planning and Supply Chain systems, supported by consistent  data, process and performance-management discipline.
• Ability to translate Business Unit priorities into concrete actions and measurable results at regional and factory level.
• Skilled in people leadership and in developing capability, building communities, and supporting accountability across organizational and cultural boundaries.
• Effective at building relationships, communicating clearly, and managing stakeholders in an international matrix setting.
• Fluent English and willingness to travel across the Aerospace network.

As a leader at SKF, you lead by example: you enable performance through empowerment and feedback, develop yourself and others, and move the business forward with a future‑oriented mindset. You build trust through transparent, authentic communication, enjoy leading and coaching diverse teams, and actively encourage change in an inclusive environment - always living the SKF values of Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage and Care.

You will enjoy working here if you are...

A transformation leader: You set a clear direction, question established practices and turn complex change into simpler, standardized and sustainable ways of working. You use advanced analytical capabilities and implement new digital approaches including AI and automation.

Business-minded: You understand how Supply Chain and supplier decisions shape service, stability, inventory, cash, competitiveness and growth.

Commercially sharp: You see value opportunities, test assumptions and bring rigor to sourcing, negotiations and opportunity conversion.

Performance-driven: You translate strategy into priorities, ownership and measurable results, and you stay close enough to execution to make change happen.

Collaborative and effective: You bring factories, regions, and functions together around shared goals while keeping accountability clear.

Passionate about people: You coach leaders and teams, build capability near the work, and encourage an environment in which people act with responsibility.

Our offer

*This is a distinctive opportunity to shape two major performance levers across a global Aerospace business.
You will lead a meaningful Supply Chain transformation, strengthen Purchasing execution and cost competitiveness, influence strategic business decisions and create lasting impact through people, processes, systems, suppliers and cross-functional collaboration. As an SKF leader, you will develop yourself, others and the business while living our values of Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage and Care.

*A culture of diversity and inclusion!
At SKF we are committed to creating a diverse environment, and we firmly believe that a diverse workforce is essential for our continued success. Therefore, we only focus on your experience, skills, and potential. Come as you are – just be yourself #weareSKF

*Fair and transparent compensation!
We provide transparent salary information in line with local legislation and base our decisions on objective criteria to ensure fairness and consistency throughout the recruitment process.

With reference to the Pay Transparency law Italy, the information regarding the minimum salary for the position will be shared to eligible candidates, in accordance with local legal requirement. For Italian candidates the salary information can be found HERE.

Some additional information

This position will be located at one of our Aerospace site in Blue Bell, PA or Falconer, NY (United States), Airasca or Villa Perosa (Italy) or Valenciennes (France) preferred.

You will report to the Aerospace Business Unit Director, who is located in Blue Bell, PA, USA. 

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Katrin Edelmann, Talent Acquisition Partner Europe & Africa, who is located in Schweinfurt, Germany, at katrin.edelmann@skf.com.  Please note that we can't accept applications via email.

Is this you? 
If the answer is yes, submit your application no later than November-18-2026. 

To support a transparent process, we may include assessments and before hiring we can verify the information in your application in compliance with country-specific laws and regulations.