Sr. Lead, Indirect Procurement

Royal Caribbean Group, the global leader in vacation experiences, operates iconic brands such as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises. Its Supply Chain division is expanding a new venture called Celebrity River, which will redefine premium river cruising in Europe. The company seeks a Senior Lead, Indirect Procurement to be based in Basel and serve as the European counterpart to the Miami procurement hub. The role will drive the complete onboarding of European suppliers, from initial discovery through contract signing and integration into the procure‑to‑pay system. Responsibilities include gathering vendor data, evaluating candidates against defined criteria, and maintaining detailed stakeholder maps. The incumbent will also act as a cultural bridge, translating Miami‑originated processes to fit European business practices, while coordinating with Product Development, Operations, Legal and other internal teams to ensure compliance with brand standards and regional regulations. Successful candidates must bring a solid background in purchasing or procurement and demonstrate strong negotiation abilities. They need an in‑depth understanding of European geography, especially the continent's waterways, and familiarity with the river‑cruise sector. Experience managing end‑to‑end vendor onboarding, contract lifecycle activities and adherence to European regulatory frameworks is essential. Candidates must be able to work on‑site in Basel and possess the legal right to work in Switzerland without sponsorship. The position offers exposure to a fast‑growing business line, close collaboration with colleagues across the Atlantic, and opportunities to shape procurement strategy as Celebrity River scales. Familiarity with digital procurement tools, data‑driven process improvement, and risk‑mitigation techniques are valued assets that can accelerate career progression within the organization's global supply‑chain network. What the role asks for: - Proven procurement or purchasing experience - Strong negotiation skills - In‑depth knowledge of European geography and waterways - Familiarity with river cruise industry - Ability to manage end‑to‑end vendor onboarding - Experience with contract lifecycle management - Understanding of European regulatory requirements - Eligibility to work in Switzerland without sponsorship - Experience with digital procurement platforms (nice-to-have) - Ability to apply data analytics for process improvement (nice-to-have) - Skills in risk mitigation and supply‑chain continuity (nice-to-have)