Strategic Sourcing Director

The Director, Strategic Sourcing - Indirect will:

• Lead the development and execution of strategic sourcing initiatives across Indirect spend categories (Marketing) and Onboard Revenue categories (Retail Concessionaires), including the design and implementation of complex, multi-year, global sourcing strategies that deliver sustainable value for our 4 North America brands.

• Partner cross-functionally to drive alignment with business objectives while leveraging deep category expertise, market intelligence, and data-driven analysis to optimize total cost, service, and risk. 

• Influence and engage senior stakeholders to support strategy adoption and execution, strengthen supplier relationships, and ensure consistent delivery of enterprise-wide sourcing outcomes.

• Manage significant financial impact for OPEX and CAPEX in the range of $500M-$750M in annual spend and/or revenue.

• Lead a team of Sr. Managers and/or Managers

Essential Functions:

Strategic Sourcing Leadership & Execution:

• Architect and implement an integrated strategic sourcing framework across four North America brands, partnering with executive stakeholders and Corporate leadership to develop value-driven multi-year category strategies. Drive identification and capture of high-value sourcing opportunities that effectively leverage organizational scale to deliver sustainable competitive economic advantage while maintaining or enhancing quality and service delivery standards. Exercise strategic oversight of $500M-$750M in annual OPEX and CAPEX spend, applying advanced analytical methodologies and data-driven insights to resolve complex sourcing challenges and optimize enterprise value creation.

Executive Leadership & Engagement:

• Demonstrate executive presence and strategic influence through sophisticated stakeholder engagement and collaborative leadership. Cultivate strong relationships with C-suite and senior leadership teams, provide strategic counsel and building consensus for transformational sourcing initiatives. Develop and nurture high-performing teams while establishing robust project pipelines, orchestrating end-to-end sourcing execution from strategy development through contracting and implementation phases.

Develop Multi-Year Sourcing Strategies:

• Design comprehensive strategic roadmaps spanning 3-5 year horizons that align sourcing and procurement activities with enterprise business priorities. Architect strategies that optimize supplier partnerships, reduce total cost of ownership, proactively mitigate enterprise risks, and catalyze innovation across category portfolios. Ensure sourcing strategies serve as the foundation for value-generating initiatives and projects that deliver measurable business impact and competitive differentiation.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Provide strategic oversight and governance for critical supplier relationships and enterprise contracts. Establish focused supplier relationship management frameworks for strategic partners, conducting quarterly business reviews to drive performance excellence and continuous improvement. Ensure seamless transition of negotiated contracts to procurement operations, maintaining service continuity and value realization throughout the contract lifecycle.

Supplier Performance Management:

• Drive enterprise value delivery through rigorous performance management and achievement of strategic objectives. Lead development and execution of annual savings targets, cost avoidance initiatives, and sustainability goals that align with broader organizational priorities. Establish robust measurement frameworks and tracking mechanisms to ensure consistent delivery of financial benefits and value creation across sourcing portfolios.

Manages Strategic Sourcing Initiatives. 

• Execute strategic sourcing initiatives utilizing disciplined 7-step methodology encompassing comprehensive market analysis, rigorous vendor evaluation, and detailed baseline spend assessment. Develop sophisticated negotiation strategies in collaboration with key stakeholders, orchestrate competitive sourcing events, and maximize business value creation through strategic deal structuring and supplier optimization.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Scope: The Director, Strategic Sourcing - Indirect leads enterprise-wide strategic initiatives across four North America brands to secure transformational sourcing opportunities with regional and enterprise-wide impact. This executive role demands sophisticated strategic partnership capabilities, serving as a trusted advisor to VP and SVP-level stakeholders while delivering measurable value through cost optimization, operational efficiency gains, supply assurance, and comprehensive supply chain risk mitigation. The Director must demonstrate mastery in business needs assessment, strategic initiative planning and execution, and stakeholder management, ensuring flawless project delivery against established timelines and deliverables while providing expert guidance in strategy development, spend analytics, advanced negotiation techniques, and data-driven decision frameworks.

• Problem Solving: This role requires exceptional capability to navigate highly complex, multi-faceted supply chain challenges through advanced data-driven analytical frameworks and strategic thinking. The successful candidate will leverage advanced spend management methodologies, innovative analytical tools, and strategic problem-solving techniques to architect and implement creative solutions that optimize cost efficiency while maintaining superior service delivery and supply continuity. The individual must excel at managing competing priorities and organizational pressures across multiple stakeholders, making informed, strategic decisions rapidly to sustain operational excellence and drive continuous improvement across the supply chain ecosystem.

• Impact: This role directly influences enterprise-level cost optimization, operational excellence, and enterprise risk management, serving as a critical enabler of strategic business objectives. The Director ensures rigorous application of the 7-step strategic sourcing methodology across team initiatives, encompassing comprehensive data intelligence, external market insights, supplier risk analytics, and detailed baseline spend assessment. These analyses generate strategic options and document comprehensive plans that may include competitive RFP execution, complex multi-party negotiations, contract finalization, and end-to-end implementation oversight with continuous monitoring of sourcing recommendations and value realization.

• Leadership: Demonstrate exceptional ability to lead through influence and executive presence, coupled with project management expertise and effective people development capabilities. Excel at negotiating complex, high-stakes business agreements while applying critical thinking and strategic analysis to multifaceted business challenges. Possess superior interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and dynamically adapt to evolving organizational needs and stakeholder requirements. Coverage for Fleet Ops Manager responsibilities as required. Facilitate communication strategies that promote transparency, alignment, and strong stakeholder relationships. Lead Virtual FAMs and knowledge-sharing initiatives to elevate team performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain or other applicable disciplines

• CPSM, or related supply chain certifications preferred but NOT REQUIRED.

• Exceptional strategic thinking and complex problem resolution capabilities

• Proven ability to influence and engage effectively across all organizational levels, interfacing independently with cross-functional peers and brand leadership with results-oriented focus

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and adapt to dynamic workload demands

• Advanced analytical proficiency with deep expertise in data analysis, spend analytics, and business intelligence

• Sophisticated negotiation skills honed through extensive sourcing and procurement leadership experience

• Comprehensive contracting expertise encompassing business terms negotiation, scope definition, and risk mitigation

• Proactive, driven approach with ability to work autonomously and take initiative

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal capabilities; proven change management leadership; advanced planning and project management expertise

• Quality management excellence ensuring procedures and activities conform to specifications and organizational standards

• Proven success operating in fast-paced, dynamic business environments with competing demands

While not required, the following emerging technology competencies would complement core sourcing capabilities and accelerate value delivery:

• Experience with AI-enabled spend analytics and market intelligence platforms for advanced category-level insights, trend identification, and competitive market analysis

• Familiarity with supplier risk and performance monitoring systems utilizing predictive analytics for proactive supplier health assessment and risk mitigation

• Knowledge of contract lifecycle management (CLM) intelligence tools featuring AI-enabled clause analysis, compliance monitoring, and automated contract review capabilities

• Exposure to demand forecasting and inventory optimization solutions leveraging predictive modeling, machine learning algorithms, and advanced supply chain analytics

• Understanding of how artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can enhance strategic sourcing decision-making, supplier selection processes, and sustainable value creation across the sourcing lifecycle

Essential Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in accomplished supply chain leadership positions with a focus on Category/Sourcing Strategy development and execution

• 3-5+ years in executive leadership capacity

• Extensive supply chain experience leading transformational strategic sourcing initiatives, including application of industry best practices, category management strategy development, mastery of seven-step sourcing methodology, sophisticated negotiation planning and execution, and proven expertise influencing business strategy and cultivating strategic supplier relationships

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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About Us

Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest leisure travel company, our mission to deliver unforgettable happiness to our guest through our diverse portfolio of leading cruise brands and island destinations, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America and Australia; P&O Cruises and Cunard Line in the United Kingdom; AIDA in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe.

Join us and embark on a career that offers not only the chance to grow professionally but also the opportunity to be part of a global community that makes a difference.

In addition to other duties/functions, this position requires full commitment and support for promoting ethical and compliant culture. More specifically, this position requires integrity, honesty, and respectful treatment of others, as well as a willingness to speak up when they see misconduct or have concerns.

Carnival Corporation and Carnival Cruise Line is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. In this regard, it does not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, mental, physical or sensory disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, federal, and/or international law. 

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