Manager, Strategic Sourcing

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 sourcing policies across assigned categories and leading strategic sourcing initiatives using a structured strategic sourcing process.

This includes market analysis, supplier risk analysis, and baseline spend analysis to develop and document sourcing strategies covering RFP execution, negotiations, contract execution, implementation, and ongoing performance monitoring.

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 spend decisions.

Essential Functions:

• 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.

• Identifies 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.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Scope: 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. The role also collaborates with adjacent sourcing functions, including Port Operations, to support cross-functional initiatives, share best practices, and ensure alignment on shared suppliers and processes. 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.

• Problem solving: 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.

• Impact: 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.

• Leadership: T The Manager demonstrates leadership by: 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.

For all roles:

• Knowledge: Understanding of business operations, workplace policies and procedures / Familiarity with team collaboration tools and techniques.

• Skills: Strong time management and organizational skills

• Abilities: Ability to maintain reliable and consistent attendance / Capacity to be punctual and meet deadlines / Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and work as part of a team / Demonstrated professionalism in all interactions and tasks.

Essential/Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Marine/Industrial Engineering, Naval Architecture, Construction Management, or similar discipline is required.

• MBA preferred.

• CPSM or CPM preferred

Essential experience required

• Minimum 5+ years of experience leading strategic sourcing initiatives within technical operations, marine operations, hotel refurbishment, commercial construction, ship building, or related industries, utilizing best-practices category management methodology (e.g., "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.

• Results-oriented under fast-paced, ambiguous conditions.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including developing PowerPoint presentations and frequently presenting to senior stakeholders.

• Strong contract development and negotiation strategy and skills.

Travel: Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential..

Physical Demands. Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time..

This position is classified as “in-office.” As an in-office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida Monday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Fridays. Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience.

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non-sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan. Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including:

• Health Benefits:
  • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans
  • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources
  • Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage
• Financial Benefits:
  • 401(k) plan that includes a company match
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Paid Time Off
  • Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.
  • Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year. Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year. All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure.
  • Sick Time – All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year. Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.
• Other Benefits
  • Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends
  • Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement
  • On-site Fitness center at our Miami campus

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