Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist in Supply Chain focused on strategic spend categories targeting cost savings/avoidance, driving increased supplier performance (OTIF), growing supplier relationships, and negotiating long-term supplier agreements. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist works closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure contracts are in place on-time within the global markets where Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Seabourn vessels cruise.As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist your daily responsibilities include:
- Develop and support global sourcing strategies with best-in-class suppliers through thoughtful TCO planning and data analysis that deliver value to the stakeholders.
- Execute annual initiative plan by managing timelines, meeting contracting deadlines, and frequently communicating on initiatives status.
- Lead supplier negotiations, manage RFP/RFQs process (7-step sourcing process), and day-to-day category management activities.
- Oversee portfolio of contracts, build and maintain supplier relationships, and hold suppliers accountable to deliver contractual requirements.
- Support Strategic Sourcing - Category Manager/s on program management within the procurement systems and perform deeper category analytics.Essential Functions:
- Development of an effective long-term strategic sourcing plan for highly complex categories and projects that create long term value while meeting brand objectives, including value creation, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and innovation. Effective collaboration on strategic sourcing categories and projects within the organization and stakeholders; developing relationships to become a trusted sourcing partner. Ensuring cross-functional engagement and support of category projects and initiatives.
- Apply category management best practices, tools and techniques in the development and implementation of an integrated strategic sourcing strategy to assess the overall opportunity within the categories for projects. Serve as a subject matter expert on strategic sourcing categories with the stakeholders and foster effective relationships.
- Maintain focus on project timelines and deliverables to ensure business goals and objectives are met. Strong partnership with Finance team to accurately forecast impacts of category strategy, including scenario modeling.
- Research best practices and conduct baseline due diligence to best understand opportunities for savings, reducing TCO, improving efficiencies, quality improvement and service of the sourcing teams. Lead supplier qualification, segmentation and certification programs.
- Effective supplier relationship management; leveraging data, metrics, and internal feedback. Provide and review score cards to improve supplier results. Develop early supplier involvement to ensure suppliers are utilized to their full capabilities and proactively provide input to provide low cost, efficient, and quality goods and services. Effectively influence change and buy-in across the stakeholder group and leadership.
- Implement gold-standard contracts across strategic supplier base. Negotiate strategic supplier contracts, develop innovative pricing models and agreements to deliver value to brands.
- Document activities to share results, best practices and develop a playbook within the sourcing teams.Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree/MBA preferred.
- Certifications: CPSM, CPM, APICS preferred.
- Years & area of professional experience:
- 3-7 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, and/or category management.
- BS/BA in relevant field (or equivalent years' experience) with education in supply chain, business administration, economics, or related field.
- Food, beverage, hotel category sourcing experience (preferred).
- Cruise, hospitality, foodservice industry experience (preferred).
- MBA/CPSM/CPM/APICS (preferred).Leadership, engagement, collaboration & other necessary skills:
- Strong people management skills, ability to effectively lead in a cross-functional team environment and manage multiple priorities. Identify and resolve problems efficiently and effectively.
- Well-developed influencing skills and stakeholder management. Experience with supplier relationship management.Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Intermediate knowledge of specific categories and/or ability to develop knowledge of new categories.
- Intermediate negotiation skills and business judgement.
- Intermediate technical sourcing process knowledge.
- Courage to hold suppliers accountable during challenging events and/or periods of change.
- Ability to conduct analysis required during a sourcing initiative.
- Ability to build strong relationships with suppliers.
- Ability to perform analysis and interpret results into actionable steps.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities at once.
- Strong attention to detail and process orientation.
- Excellent written/verbal communication and presentation skills.Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.Work Conditions: Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential. Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.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 from Tuesday through Thursday. Employees may work from home on Mondays and Fridays. Some positions may require additional in-office time each week and final schedule is determined by your leader. Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.Offers to select candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr