Wizz Air is a leading European low-cost airline. Our mission is to provide affordable and reliable air travel to everyone, everywhere, while minimizing our environmental impact. We are proud to foster a diverse and inclusive team of over 8,000 employees from more than 110 nationalities, who share our values of inclusivity, positivity, dedication, integrity, and sustainability.
As a rapidly expanding airline, we offer exciting career opportunities across a range of functions, from flight operations to engineering, customer experience, finance, and more. We provide extensive training and development opportunities to help our employees grow and succeed in their roles. Joining Wizz Air means joining a team that is passionate about aviation, dedicated to excellence, and committed to making air travel accessible and sustainable for all. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career in the aviation industry, we welcome you to explore our job opportunities and become a part of our success story.
Head of Purchasing
Based in BUD - Office
Purpose of the position:
The Head of Purchasing oversees all procurement activities for Wizz Air, managing procurement across all AOCs. This role is responsible for delivering measurable cost efficiencies, ensuring compliance with policies and governance, and optimizing procurement processes. Additionally, the position includes managing aviation jet fuel procurement, supply chain oversight, and facility management, while leading a team of procurement professionals to drive operational excellence and long-term value creation.
What we offer:
- Base salary and employee bonus scheme.
- Unlimited number of significantly discounted and confirmed seating tickets, giving access to a continuously growing network of destinations.
- Relocation package (if applicable) – expense budget, Temporary accommodation, Administration support.
- Life insurance.
- AYCM sport pass contracting possibility.
- Instant impact, from any level of the organisation, exposure to C-suite management.
- Fast career progression, internal mobility and talent management supported by training opportunities (Wizz Academy and bespoke trainings)
- True international and multi-cultural work environment, passionate, driven and diverse teams.
Responsibilities:
Leadership Functions:
- Develop and execute long-term procurement strategies that align with organizational objectives.
- Drive innovation in procurement systems and processes, ensuring scalability and efficiency.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing procurement team.
- Foster a collaborative environment and build strong cross-functional relationships with internal stakeholders.
- Represent procurement objectives and achievements to senior leadership.
- Provide data-driven insights and recommendations for decision-making at the executive level.
General Procurement:
- Oversee and approve procurement requests, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Develop and manage multi-year project and procurement plans in coordination with department leads.
- Lead the development and execution of RFP processes, including supplier selection and evaluation.
- Ensure all procurement processes adhere to company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Negotiate high-value contracts, delivering cost savings and operational benefits.
- Proactively manage supplier performance and resolve disputes in collaboration with internal teams.
- Oversee due diligence and maintain accurate, transparent procurement records.
Jet Fuel Procurement:
- Direct the annual jet fuel tender to ensure uninterrupted supply across the airline network.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships with global fuel suppliers to secure competitive terms.
- Monitor spanet trends and implement cost-saving strategies to mitigate fuel price fluctuations.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to address fuelling disruptions and operational challenges.
Facility Management:
- Manage the airline’s facility portfolio.
- Oversee relationships with landlords and developers for property projects and expansions.
- Ensure efficient operation, maintenance, and utility management for all facilities.
- Lead accommodation procurement for the airline network and manage provider performance.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (required); advanced degree such as an MBA/Masters (preferred).
- Overall, 8-10 years of professional experience with 3+ years of leadership experience in a middle/high management role within a multinational environment.
- Experience managing multinational teams.
- Management consulting background (advantageous).
- Fluent verbal and written proficiency in English.
Competencies/skills:
- Strong experience in Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) processes.
- Experience with e-Sourcing systems and procurement automation tools.
- Strong analytical skills, including Total-Cost-of-Ownership (TCO) calculations and modelling.
- Proficiency in negotiation tactics and business deal structuring.
- Project/process management expertise.
- Advanced MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
- Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Structured, critical, and practical thinker with the ability to think “outside the box.”
- Attention to detail and multi-tasking capabilities under time pressure.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing environments and priorities.
- Positive, optimistic, and ‘can-do’ attitude with strong team player skills.
When applying, please only provide valid information regarding your educational background and certificates, as the original documents will be requested during the hiring process.
We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your skills and experience. Join the Wizz Air team and discover the world of opportunities.