Category Manager

Royal Caribbean Group; Weybridge; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Caribbean Group in Weybridge, UK, is seeking a Category Manager – Marine Technical Procurement to own strategic category management for technical procurement across our global cruise fleet.

You will develop category plans, shape supplier strategy, drive commercial value and collaborate with senior technical and operations stakeholders to deliver long-term procurement outcomes.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing or supplier management.
• Background in technical, engineering, maritime, transport, manufacturing or other asset-intensive environments.
• Experience buying technical products or services, such as marine equipment, ship systems, engineering components, maintenance services, repairs, spares, new-build or retrofit categories.
• Strong knowledge of technical procurement, supplier markets, specification-led sourcing and contract management.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Confidence working with engineering, technical and operational teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a global, fast-moving environment.
• Beneficial: Degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management or similar; CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies for marine technical products and services.
• Lead sourcing, supplier selection, negotiations and contract implementation.
• Support dry dock, maintenance, new-build and retrofit projects with effective procurement solutions.
• Partner with technical, operational, new-building and supply chain teams to understand specifications and demand.
• Manage supplier relationships, performance and service delivery.
• Deliver cost savings, value improvement, risk reduction and service enhancements.
• Use spend analysis, market insight, cost modelling and supplier evaluation to inform decisions.
• Resolve commercial, supplier and operational queries in line with procurement strategy.
• Up to 25% domestic and international travel as necessary.

Skills

Procurement

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Engineering background

Maritime knowledge

Global collaboration

Education

Engineering/Business/Supply Chain degree

CIPS or equivalent

Job description

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Category Manager

Category Manager – Marine Technical Procurement
Location: Weybridge, UK
Journey with us
Bring your technical procurement experience to a global Marine Procurement team supporting one of the world’s largest cruise fleets. Royal Caribbean Group offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, strong career development opportunities, and the chance to work in a dynamic, international environment.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is the world’s largest cruise line, operating globally across an exciting and fast-moving industry. Our teams are passionate, innovative and focused on continuously improving how we work.

Job Summary
As Category Manager – Marine Technical Procurement, you will take ownership of strategic category management for technical procurement categories that support vessel reliability, maintenance, dry dock, new-build and retrofit projects across our global cruise fleet.

This is a strategic role focused on developing category plans, shaping supplier strategy, driving commercial value and partnering with senior technical, new-building, operational and supply chain stakeholders to deliver long-term procurement outcomes.

You will source specialist products and services, negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts and use market insight, spend analysis and supplier performance data to deliver commercially strong procurement solutions.

This role is well suited to a procurement professional with experience in strategic category management, technical categories, supplier management and stakeholder engagement within an engineering, maritime, transport, manufacturing or asset-intensive environment.

• Develop and deliver category strategies for marine technical products and services
• Lead sourcing, supplier selection, negotiations and contract implementation
• Support dry dock, maintenance, new-build and retrofit projects with effective procurement solutions
• Partner with technical, operational, new-building and supply chain teams to understand specifications and demand
• Manage supplier relationships, performance and service delivery
• Deliver cost savings, value improvement, risk reduction and service enhancements
• Use spend analysis, market insight, cost modelling and supplier evaluation to inform decisions
• Resolve commercial, supplier and operational queries in line with procurement strategy
• Up to 25% domestic and international travel as necessary

What we’d love you to have:

• At least 5 years’ experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing or supplier management
• Background in technical, engineering, maritime, transport, manufacturing or other asset-intensive environments
• Experience buying technical products or services, such as marine equipment, ship systems, engineering components, maintenance services, repairs, spares, new-build or retrofit categories
• Strong knowledge of technical procurement, supplier markets, specification-led sourcing and contract management
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Confidence working with engineering, technical and operational teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a global, fast-moving environment
• Beneficial: Degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management or similar; CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification

You can expect a unique global opportunity, exciting challenges and great colleagues in one of the world’s largest cruise operators.
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.