Specialist, Strategic Sourcing - Food and Beverage

Carnival Corporation•Miami, FL

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Specialist supports Food & Beverage sourcing by developing and implementing category strategies, optimizing the supply chain, and driving cost savings. The role conducts market research and spend analysis, collaborates with cross-functional teams, manages supplier relationships and contracts, monitors supplier performance and compliance, and reports on category performance and sourcing activities to senior management. The position supports strategic sourcing across the organization and helps ensure value creation, supply continuity, risk mitigation, innovation, quality, and alignment with brand objectives. The specialist develops long-term sourcing plans for complex categories and projects; assesses opportunities using category management practices; and partners with stakeholders, including Finance, to forecast strategy impacts and model scenarios. The role leads supplier qualification, segmentation, certification, and relationship-management efforts, using data, metrics, feedback, and scorecards to improve supplier results. It also negotiates strategic contracts and pricing models, influences stakeholder and leadership buy-in, maintains project timelines, and documents results and best practices for sourcing teams. This is an in-office position based at a designated Carnival office in South Florida Monday through Thursday, with the option to work from home on Fridays. Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. Travel is less than 25%, with shipboard travel likely. The work is primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety or health hazards, and requires remaining stationary at a desk or computer for extended periods.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
3–5 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, and/or category management.
Food, beverage, or hotel category sourcing experience, and/or cruise, hospitality, or foodservice industry experience.
Intermediate negotiation and contract management skills.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Intermediate knowledge of specific categories and/or ability to develop knowledge of new categories.
Strong attention to detail and process orientation.
Ability to build strong supplier relationships and hold suppliers accountable in challenging situations.
Ability to analyze information and interpret results into actionable steps.
Ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Strong people-management skills and ability to lead effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
Ability to identify and resolve problems efficiently and effectively.
Well-developed influencing and stakeholder-management skills.
Experience with supplier relationship management.
Must be located in or willing to relocate to the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.
Travel of less than 25%, with shipboard travel likely.
Ability to remain stationary at a desk and/or computer for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

MBA.
CPSM, CPM, or APICS certification.

Responsibilities

Develop and expedite category strategies to meet company objectives.
Develop long-term strategic sourcing plans for complex categories and projects that create value while meeting brand objectives, including supply continuity, risk mitigation, and innovation.
Identify and evaluate potential suppliers; negotiate contracts; and manage supplier relationships within the assigned category.
Conduct market research on industry trends, best practices, and sourcing opportunities.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to understand category needs and support strategic sourcing projects and initiatives.
Analyze spend data and identify opportunities for savings, total-cost reduction, process improvement, efficiency, quality improvement, and service improvement.
Apply category management tools and techniques to assess opportunities and develop integrated sourcing strategies.
Partner with Finance to forecast the impacts of category strategies, including scenario modeling.
Lead supplier qualification, segmentation, and certification programs.
Monitor supplier performance, review scorecards, address non-compliance, and ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
Develop early supplier involvement and use supplier capabilities and input to support low-cost, efficient, and quality goods and services.
Manage supply risks and support continuity of supply within the category.
Maintain project timelines and deliverables to meet business goals and objectives.
Influence change and build stakeholder and leadership buy-in for sourcing initiatives.
Implement gold-standard contracts across the strategic supplier base and negotiate strategic supplier contracts, pricing models, and agreements.
Prepare and present reports on category performance and sourcing activities to senior management.
Document activities, share results and best practices, and develop a playbook within sourcing teams.

Benefits

Annual cash bonus program for non-sales roles.
Medical, dental, and vision plans.
Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources.
Company-paid term life insurance and disability coverage.
401(k) plan with company match.
Employee Stock Purchase plan.
Paid time off, including company-wide holidays and floating holidays.
Vacation time, with accrual based on role level and tenure.
Sick time.
Complimentary stand-by cruises and employee discounts on confirmed cruises.
Special cruise rates for family and friends.
Personal and professional learning and development resources, including tuition reimbursement.
On-site fitness center at the Miami campus.