Director, Technical Procurement

Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard); Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Annual bonus

Learning & development

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Parental leave

Cycle to work

Onsite restaurant

Job summary

Carnival UK is seeking a Director, Technical Procurement to shape the guest experience strategy for P&O Cruises and Cunard. You will lead a senior team and drive end-to-end technical sourcing across capital projects, refits, and operational categories.

This hybrid, permanent role offers up to two days remote and a chance to influence fleet safety and reliability while delivering value and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in technical procurement or sourcing within a large asset-intensive or safety-critical environment.
• Proven experience delivering technical sourcing strategies across capital projects, refits and operational technical categories.
• Deep expertise in strategic supplier management, contract governance, negotiations, delivery performance and risk mitigation.
• Proven people leadership experience, with ability to build senior commercial capability and influence at Executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead end-to-end technical sourcing strategies across capital projects, refits, facilities, spare parts and fixed-fee categories.
• Own strategic technical supplier relationships, including contract governance, commercial negotiations, delivery performance and risk mitigation.
• Lead procurement for refits, new builds and major technical programmes, ensuring on-time, on-specification and on-budget delivery.
• Build and develop a high-performing Technical Procurement function, strengthening commercial capability, data-led decision-making and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic sourcing

Contract governance

Supplier management

Job description

Job Description

Join us in shaping the future of holiday experiences across our P&O Cruises and Cunard ships as a key senior management person within our Guest Experience department. At Carnival UK, we believe in the power of diversity to drive success, valuing a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. If you're a professional with a strategic mindset towards guest satisfaction, and a track record of overseeing a large department, let's talk. We're not just looking for qualifications on paper; we're searching for someone who can bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to our team.

Job Description

Join us in shaping the future of holiday experiences across our P&O Cruises and Cunard ships as a key senior management person within our Guest Experience department. At Carnival UK, we believe in the power of diversity to drive success, valuing a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. If you're a professional with a strategic mindset towards guest satisfaction, and a track record of overseeing a large department, let's talk. We're not just looking for qualifications on paper; we're searching for someone who can bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to our team.

Role Overview

The Technical Procurement department supports P&O Cruises and Cunard by sourcing the technical materials, services and supplier capabilities needed to maintain fleet reliability, safety and regulatory compliance. Working closely with Maritime, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance and Corporate Sourcing, the team supports capital projects, refits, spare parts and operational technical categories.

As a Director, Technical Procurement, you'll play a pivotal role in steering the guest experience departmental direction of P&O Cruises and Cunard, ensuring we continue to deliver unforgettable holiday happiness. Your strategic direction will not only influence our organisational health but also inspire a team of guest experience professionals to excel in their roles.

Key accountabilities include:

• Define and lead end-to-end technical sourcing strategies across capital projects, refits, facilities, spare parts and fixed-fee categories.
• Own strategic technical supplier relationships, including contract governance, commercial negotiations, delivery performance and risk mitigation.
• Lead procurement for refits, new builds and major technical programmes, ensuring on-time, on-specification and on-budget delivery.
• Build and develop a high-performing Technical Procurement function, strengthening commercial capability, data-led decision-making and continuous improvement.

Job Requirements

This role demands a blend of strategic vision & technical expertise. We're looking for someone with:

• Senior leadership experience in technical procurement or sourcing within a large, complex, asset-intensive or safety-critical environment.
• Proven experience delivering technical sourcing strategies across capital projects, refits and operational technical categories.
• Deep expertise in strategic supplier management, contract governance, commercial negotiations, delivery performance and risk mitigation.
• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to build senior commercial capability and influence at Executive and operational leadership levels.

About You

Your ability to think strategically, drive results with integrity, and inspire your team is what sets you apart. You're not just a business professional; you're a visionary person who's ready to make a significant impact.

• A commercially astute and strategic leader who can balance cost, quality, schedule, compliance and operational continuity.
• A transparent, data-led decision-maker who considers guest impact, business value and risk.
• An inclusive people leader who builds capability, encourages honest feedback and creates a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• A collaborative and influential communicator who can align senior stakeholders, suppliers and operational teams around shared outcomes.

Why Join Us?

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK05, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with hybrid working including up to two days from home.

Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague here.

We're more than just a holiday company; we're a community that values work-life balance, personal growth, and wellbeing. As part of our team, you'll enjoy:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal