Contract Manager, Cruise

Wärtsilä; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wärtsilä is seeking a Contract Manager for cruise maintenance programs, based in the United States with a hybrid working model. You will oversee end-to-end delivery of long-term maintenance agreements, driving customer satisfaction, financial performance, and contract continuity.

You will collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver contract scope, monitor KPIs, and identify risks and upsell opportunities while supporting sales and tendering efforts. Some travel (~10%) is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the marine, cruise, or similar industry.
• Experience managing long-term service or maintenance agreements is strongly preferred.
• Good understanding of operations and maintenance of complex machinery (e.g., marine engines or similar assets).
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, with experience managing contract performance.
• Structured and proactive way of working, with strong planning and prioritization skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and cultures.
• Customer-focused mindset with a solution-oriented approach (“can-do” attitude).

Responsibilities

• Execute assigned agreements in accordance with contractual commitments, Wärtsilä processes, and sound management practices, ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery
• Act as a primary point of contact for the customer, maintaining proactive communication and ensuring timely resolution of operational and commercial topics
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders (technical, operational, financial) to ensure effective delivery of contract scope
• Drive actions that improve customer satisfaction and contract profitability
• Plan, forecast, and monitor key financial KPIs (e.g., sales, margin, cost development) for assigned agreements
• Set annual targets for each contract and track performance against these objectives
• Identify and assess risks related to contract execution, and proactively implement mitigation plans
• Escalate risks and issues as required, providing clear summaries and recommended actions
• Ensure high quality and consistency across all aspects of contract execution and deliverables
• Support the sales and tendering process by contributing contract expertise, cost input, and risk identification at key review stages
• Monitor and support customer compliance with contractual requirements (e.g., operational and maintenance practices, including fluid quality where applicable)
• Identify opportunities for upselling, contract extensions, and lifecycle value enhancement
• Manage contract mobilization and demobilization activities
• Contribute to continuous improvement by implementing new tools, processes, and ways of working

Skills

Stakeholder management

Financial awareness

Planning & prioritization

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

We are now looking for a Contract Manager, Cruise to join our team working for a better future.

The position is permanent, follows a hybrid working model, and the preferred location is in the United States.

What you will be doing

General Job Description

As Contract Manager, you will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of long-term maintenance agreements covering engines and associated auxiliary systems for a strategic cruise customer. You will play a key role in ensuring customer satisfaction, strong financial performance, and long-term contract continuity, including successful renewals. You’ll work closely with Agreement Management and Delivery, a team focused on driving a proactive, transparent partnership with the Customer that maximizes agreement value by balancing customer success, operational performance, and sustained margin protection, and you will report to GM, Agreement Management.

As Contract Manager, your work will focus on these responsibilities:

• Execute assigned agreements in accordance with contractual commitments, Wärtsilä processes, and sound management practices, ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery
• Act as a primary point of contact for the customer, maintaining proactive communication and ensuring timely resolution of operational and commercial topics
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders (technical, operational, financial) to ensure effective delivery of contract scope
• Drive actions that improve customer satisfaction and contract profitability
• Plan, forecast, and monitor key financial KPIs (e.g., sales, margin, cost development) for assigned agreements
• Set annual targets for each contract and track performance against these objectives
• Identify and assess risks related to contract execution, and proactively implement mitigation plans
• Escalate risks and issues as required, providing clear summaries and recommended actions
• Ensure high quality and consistency across all aspects of contract execution and deliverables
• Support the sales and tendering process by contributing contract expertise, cost input, and risk identification at key review stages
• Monitor and support customer compliance with contractual requirements (e.g., operational and maintenance practices, including fluid quality where applicable)
• Identify opportunities for upselling, contract extensions, and lifecycle value enhancement
• Manage contract mobilization and demobilization activities
• Contribute to continuous improvement by implementing new tools, processes, and ways of working

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related discipline/experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the marine, cruise, or similar industry
• Experience managing long-term service or maintenance agreements is strongly preferred
• Good understanding of operations and maintenance of complex machinery (e.g., marine engines or similar assets)
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, with experience managing contract performance
• Structured and proactive way of working, with strong planning and prioritization skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and cultures
• Customer-focused mindset with a solution-oriented approach (“can-do” attitude)
• Ability to identify risks and drive corrective actions in a timely and constructive manner

In this role, some travel is required to meet with our customers around the world. Thus, we hope you to be ready to travel approximately 10%, even though most of the meetings are held virtually.

Why you and us?

We at Wärtsilä believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility of our work. We support each other’s growth and co-creation is the true basis of our innovation. We have courage to see opportunities and take initiative.

We are authentic and honest, and we strongly believe in that by being your own true self you can accomplish so much more. We don’t always get it right the first time, and if mistakes are made, we make sure to learn and grow from them. We want everyone to voice their opinions freely. That is why we have built an environment that empowers you and everyone around you, and where you can feel safe and cared for. Are you eager to be part of this ambition?

We have an amazing team and we are excited about our work and the impact it has on building sustainable societies. We are looking to find a colleague with this shared passion for smart technologies and a sustainable future.

Last application date: 18/11/2026

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

This is Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.