Viking, a company founded in 1997, offers destination-focused voyages on oceans, rivers, and lakes worldwide. The Chairman, Torstein Hagen, often says Viking provides experiences for the thinking person.
Viking has over 250 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans, and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler and voted at the top of its categories by Travel + Leisure. No other cruise line has received these honors simultaneously from both publications.
For this role, we can only accept applicants eligible to work in Switzerland or with a valid work permit.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
You will be part of the Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO) function providing 24/7 technical support to the entire Viking River Cruises fleet. You will oversee procurement and logistics functions for all technical items, define and negotiate large maintenance contracts, and lead the planning of scheduled and preventive maintenance activities. Additionally, you will develop internal and cross-departmental processes and implement them within the maintenance software.
As Director Technical Supply Chain & Planning, you will report to the Head of Technical & Newbuild, lead a team of 15+ employees, and liaise closely with the two Director Technical Operations and other departments such as Nautical, Onboard Operations, and IT. This role is based in Basel, Switzerland, and involves extensive travel to service-hubs, shipyards, and docking locations across Europe and Egypt.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Stakeholder Management:
* Leading a team of 15+ employees across two teams (supply chain and planning).
* Developing strong relationships with the maintenance team to ensure continuous process improvement and align planning with strategic goals and operational requirements.
* Coordinating across departments with the nautical and onboard operations teams to guarantee proper resource planning and smooth execution of planned maintenance.
* Working closely with the finance team to define and implement internal processes leading to accurate financial reporting.
* Partnering with the Director Technical Operations in strengthening and developing the relationship with vendors.
* Reporting and communicating business updates to the corporate team and executive leadership.
Technical Supply Chain:
* Leading technical procurement and logistics establishing an effective supply chain to ships and technical warehouses according to defined service levels, timelines, and budgets.
* Defining reference stock levels of technical items based on supply chain and operational needs and managing inventory levels accordingly.
* Negotiating and/or establishing maintenance service contracts with key suppliers through clear bidding procedures leading to cost savings or service improvements.
* Utilizing analytical approaches to identify opportunities for process improvement, cost savings, and operational enhancements.
Planning:
* Planning scheduled and preventive maintenance activities in close alignment with MRO teams.
* Leading the definition of internal and cross-departmental processes for handling maintenance and supply chain activities.
* Training and conducting regular audits to ensure defined internal procedures are followed.
* Overseeing the optimization of maintenance software and its interface with other IT tools to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance team.
* Responsibility for quality, structure, and maintenance of technical item master data.
* Building granular reporting to analyze spend and identify cost-saving opportunities.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Leadership & Functional Skills:
* Proven leadership experience in overseeing procurement and logistics operations, preferably within the maritime or transportation industry.
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, analyze trends, develop strategic recommendations, and communicate them clearly.
* Demonstrated ability to manage large maintenance contracts, optimize procurement processes, and plan large-scale maintenance activities effectively.
* Proven ability to lead and coordinate a large organization across multiple sites.
* Solid understanding of maintenance and supply chain software systems and their implementation.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Soft Skills:
* Strong customer-centricity and exceptional service mindset.
* Positive and open-minded team player with a collaborative attitude.
* Goal-oriented, self-motivated, and self-directed.
* Flexible mindset, with strong social and intercultural competencies.
Other Skills & Requirements:
* Language skills: English (oral and written) on a business level. German is a plus.
* Professional appearance and demeanor.
* Flexible and able to work extended and/or irregular hours, including weekends.
* Able to travel extensively within operational areas, including on short notice.
* Proficient in using the MS Office suite; knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics, Power BI, and Project is a plus.
EDUCATION
Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience working as an analyst is preferred.
Experience in strategic planning and project management is preferred.
CULTURE & BENEFITS
Fast-growing and dynamic environment, modern workspace, flexible working hours.