Strategic Cruise Contract Manager - Renewals & Growth

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

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.