COLOGNE - Purchasing Specialist

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused voyages on oceans, rivers and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person®.

Viking has more than 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 ever received these same honors by both publications at the same time.

Please note that we can only accept applicants who are eligible to work in Germany or in possession of a valid work permit.

ROLE DESCRIPTION 
As Purchasing Manager, you will be part of the Technical Organization River (TOR) that oversees Maintenance & Repair Operations for Viking’s fleet of 80+ river ships. You will report to the Senior Manager Purchasing & Logistics and work closely with the technical department leadership team and other key stakeholders in the company. 

This interesting and diverse role is based in Cologne (Germany) and requires travelling based on business needs and projects.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•    Review and process purchase and transfer orders based on ship requisition
•    Manage adjustments in adherence to budget guidelines & inventory in liaison with stakeholders 
•    Build and maintain relationships with suppliers
•    Select prospective suppliers and negotiate contracts, prices, quality and timeliness 
•    Support the Senior Purchasing Manager in developing a purchasing strategy
•    Monitor and compare ship ordering volumes and warehouse stock levels to be in-line with forecasts and budgets, and report significant issues and deviations to management
•    Collaborate with logistics department to guarantee a smooth, streamlined and efficient end-to-end supply chain
•    Keep up with trends in purchasing technology
•    Work closely with the Purchasing and key stakeholders, as well as vendors to implement initiatives and processes optimizations to improve day to day supply chain management

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Education and professional experience
•    Graduate education within the technical industry, preferably with a degree in business administration, purchasing management, engineering or equivalent work experience
•    2 years of relevant job experience is desirable 
•    Relevant knowledge and general understanding of technical spare parts and components
•    Familiar with warehouse management systems, experience with Dynamics365 desirable 
•    Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English and German
•    Knowledge of customs clearance, transportation and documentation of dangerous good is a plus
•    Experience with AI-related software and common project management software is a plus

Soft skills and others
•    Customer oriented, pro-active and flexible with interpersonal skills
•    Curious and open-minded to new ideas (change management)
•    Proactive and diplomatic approach with strong will to do what is needed to complete a task
•    Ability to effectively challenge and tactfully influence maintenance operations to ensure adequate cost control and purchasing practices
•    Analytical skills to analyze data and produce meaningful reports
•    Willing to be available on-call during unusual business hours and at the weekend 

COMMUNITY & CULTURE
•    Fast-growing and dynamic environment, a modern workspace, flexible working hours

HOW TO APPLY
Please apply via our website www.vikingcareers.com, including your CV in English and a one-page cover letter to introduce yourself and your interest for the role. 
For more details about this position, contact Marta Pikusa under +41 61 638 60 11