Job Description
Viking (NYSE: VIK) was founded in 1997 and offers destination-focused cruises on oceans, rivers and lakes worldwide. Designed for experienced travellers with an interest in science, history, culture and cuisine, chairman Torstein Hagen often says that Viking offers experiences for the thinking person®.
Viking has received more than 450 awards to date, including being named No. 1 for rivers, No. 1 for oceans and No. 1 for expeditions by Condé Nast Traveller in the 2023 and 2024 Readers' Choice Awards. Viking was also voted number one in its categories by Travel + Leisure. No other cruise line has ever received the same accolades from both publications at the same time.
Viking offers a fast-growing and dynamic working environment and flexible working hours. Please note that we can only accept applicants who are eligible to work in Germany or are in possession of a valid work permit.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
As a Manager Purchasing within the Technical Operations River (TOR), you will lead procurement activities supporting Maintenance & Repair Operations for Viking’s fleet of 80+ river ships. Reporting to the Senior Manager Purchasing, you own supplier performance, contract negotiations and budget outcomes while ensuring policy and regulatory compliance. This position is based in Cologne or Vienna and includes occasional business travel to suppliers and operational hubs in Europe
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Own procurement activities for technical spare parts and consumables Translate fleet requirements into purchasing strategy Partner with technical leadership and suppliers for demand planning and risk mitigation Manage purchasing budget, savings pipeline, and cost performance vs. targets Build and maintain strong supplier and stakeholder relationships Develop a long-term planning strategy with logistics and technical teams to guarantee smooth end-to-end supply chain
Lead continuous improvement and digitalization in purchasing processes and systems Translate the technical leadership planning into purchasing strategy Ensure compliance with procurement policies, standards, and documentation Mentor and coach junior purchasing staff; allocate workload and priorities KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Education and professional experience
Degree in business administration, engineering, or equivalent experience 3–5 years in purchasing or supply chain, ideally in technical environments Strong negotiation and vendor management skills Understanding of technical spare parts and components used in marine operations Knowledge of customs clearance and dangerous goods documentation (preferred) Excellent communication skills English and German Experience with data analytics tools or AI-enabled purchasing solutions (advantageous) Soft skills and others
Clear communicator; able to align cross functional stakeholders Fosters a culture of compliance and continuous improvement Customer oriented, pro-active, enthusiastic and flexible with interpersonal skills Self-starter with a can-do mindset Strong analytical skills, comfortable in a dynamic environment Knowledge of customs/dangerous goods documentation; audit readiness experience Experience implementing process improvements and KPI framework Proactive and diplomatic approach with strong will to do what is needed to complete a task Ability to effectively challenge and tactfully influence stakeholders HOW TO APPLY
We look forward to receiving your complete application documents, stating your salary expectations and your earliest possible starting date. Start with us and take on challenging tasks in a skilled and highly motivated team. Convince us with your commitment and personality and send your application – preferably by e-mail to:Viking Technical GmbH, Personalabteilung, Industriepark 17, 56291 Wiebelsheim
E-Mail: [email protected]
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