The Manager, Strategic Sourcing - Technical will drive strategic sourcing efforts across various spend categories within the Technical Supply Chain. This includes but is not limited to ship systems, safety, hotel, furnishings, navigation, environmental, repair & maintenance to deliver value, drive savings, increase efficiencies and mitigate risks.
This position will work closely with stakeholder groups across our North American brands (Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line, Holland America Line & Seabourn) as a strategic partner who listens to understand business needs; provides expertise in planning and implementing sourcing initiatives; and maintains a focus on project timelines and deliverables to ensure business goals and objectives are met.
The position will use mastery of analytical skills to solve complex problems utilizing a data driven approach to decision making. The Manager applies category management best practices, tools and techniques in the development and implementation of an integrated sourcing strategy and assesses the overall opportunity of the spend categories for projects to engage the stakeholders with facts and data.
This position is responsible for ensuring integration of the sourcing policy across the category and managing strategic sourcing Initiatives utilizing a 7-step strategic sourcing process that includes but is not limited to a rigorous market analysis, supplier risk analysis, and baseline spend analysis, to generate options and document a strategic sourcing plan that includes RFP execution, negotiations with suppliers, contract execution and implementation and monitoring of source recommendations.
This position works closely with functional stakeholder management teams, across the Brands (operating lines), Corporate, and suppliers to ensure effective strategy development and implementation. This role requires someone with leadership experience, business savvy, and the ability to influence decisions.
- Engages and collaborates with our North American regional brand stakeholders. The position will be responsible for leading their assigned category portfolio. Acting as the primary interface with key stakeholders and managing the cross-brand initiatives with Corporate and sister brands.
- Identify Strategic Sourcing Opportunities. This role will work with stakeholders, Corporate and sister brands to identify strategic sourcing opportunities that increase quality and reduce cost. This position will develop a deep spend analysis by commodity and vendor to develop opportunities including an overall sourcing strategy. Will engage key stakeholders with facts and data to develop plans and gain alignment.
- Manages Strategic Sourcing Initiatives. Based on the sourcing initiatives, this role will use the 7-step strategic sourcing process to manage the initiatives including a market, vendor and baseline spend analysis. This role will be responsible for developing a negotiation plan for each initiative in conjunction with key stakeholders.
- Manages Contracts and Key Supplier Relationships. Will manage key supplier relationships for the regional brands on key global relationships. This will include leading and establishing a strong supplier relationship management program. Understand global, regional, and local contracts and manage key contracts. Ensure smooth transition of agreements to procurement team to load pricing for order execution.
- Delivers Results to Performance Goals and Measurements. Using our savings methodology, the role is responsible for leading and delivering hard savings targets for the category as well as cost avoidance targets. Also responsible for supplier diversity and sustainability goals. These measurements include initiatives lead at the brand level and ensuring regional or global initiatives are completed that impact the brand.
- The Manager, Strategic Sourcing – Technical oversees strategic sourcing initiatives across multiple technical supply chain categories, including ship systems, safety, hotel furnishings, navigation, environmental, and repair & maintenance. This role spans North American brands (Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Seabourn) and requires collaboration with corporate teams and sister brands. The position is accountable for developing and executing integrated sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with sourcing policies.
Responsibilities include leading cross-brand initiatives, driving cost savings, improving efficiencies, and mitigating supply chain risks.
- The role demands advanced analytical and critical thinking skills to address complex sourcing challenges. The Manager applies a data-driven approach to:
- Conduct rigorous market, supplier risk, and baseline spend analyses.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and quality improvements through deep commodity and vendor analysis.
- Develop negotiation strategies and sourcing plans using the 7-step strategic sourcing process.
- Resolve conflicts between stakeholder priorities and sourcing objectives by leveraging facts and data.
- Mitigate risks related to supplier performance, global supply chain disruptions, and compliance issues.
- This position directly influences operational efficiency and financial performance by:
- Delivering measurable cost savings and cost avoidance aligned with corporate goals.
- Enhancing supplier diversity and sustainability within sourcing strategies.
- Strengthening supplier relationships to ensure continuity and quality of supply.
- Driving standardization and integration of sourcing policies across brands.
- Supporting long-term business objectives through strategic partnerships and optimized procurement processes.
- Acting as the primary interface for assigned category portfolios across multiple brands.
- Building trust and alignment with stakeholders through transparent communication and collaborative planning.
- Leading cross-functional teams in executing sourcing initiatives and achieving performance targets.
- Influencing decision-making at senior levels by presenting data-backed recommendations.
- Developing and maintaining a strong supplier relationship management program to foster innovation and reliability.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Marine/Industrial Engineering, Naval Architecture, Construction Management, or similar discipline is required.
- Minimum 5 years of experience leading strategic sourcing initiatives in within technical operations, hotel refurbishment, commercial construction or ship building utilizing best practices category management methodology (“six- “or “seven-step process”) with expertise in influencing business strategy, supplier relations, and leadership.
- Excellent experience in running RFP’s/RFX utilizing technology and eProcurement.
- Excellent analytical skills: ability to gather and analyze information skillfully, model information in Excel, financial analysis (including TCO modeling, make/buy analysis, cost-to-serve analysis, etc.), draw conclusions from data. Market analysis (including Industry and Supplier analysis).
- Proficient with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and creating action-oriented presentations.
- Strategic thought leader, including sourcing strategy planning, formulation, implementation.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including developing PowerPoint presentations and frequently presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Strong contract development and negotiation strategy and skills.
Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.