The Role
WHO WE ARE
Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.
Lindblad Expeditions is seeking a dynamic Director of Technical Procurement & Supply Chain to lead our end-to-end technical supply chain operations for the Cruise Division. This leader will oversee demand and supply planning, strategic sourcing, procurement operations, and close collaboration with Logistics to ensure the reliable delivery of critical marine and technical components.
This role is responsible for developing the sourcing strategy for over $40M in annual Opex and Capex technical spend while ensuring operational excellence across planning, procurement, supplier management, and service performance. The Director will work closely with Technical/Marine Operations, superintendents, and shipboard engineering teams to support safe, reliable, and efficient vessel operations
Essential Duties
Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
· Develop and execute sourcing strategies for more than $40M of technical Opex and Capex spend, including alignment with Global Procurement Organizations (GPOs).
· Drive value through competitive bidding, negotiations, supplier development, and cost-optimization initiatives.
· Simplify the technical supplier base to improve service levels and reduce total cost of ownership.
· Manage procurement of selected technical components for new builds, major refits, and dry docks.
Operational Procurement Leadership
· Lead and mentor a team of procurement managers, expeditors, and invoice clerks.
· Oversee purchase order execution, fulfillment, delivery, and issue resolution.
· Standardize and streamline processes.
· Partner with Logistics to ensure timely, cost-effective global distribution to vessels and shipyards.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
· Build strong internal partnerships with Technical/Marine Operations, superintendents, and shipboard chief engineers.
· Cultivate strategic relationships with key external suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Planning & Inventory Management
· Strengthen planning processes including demand forecasting, preventive maintenance planning, shipyard planning, and inventory management.
· Support long-term spare parts strategies and fleetwide standardization.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
· Establish, track, and analyze KPIs for service performance, inventory management, cost innovation, and lead times.
· Drive process improvements in procurement, planning, and systems usage.
· Collaborate with Technical Operations to define systems infrastructure and a digital improvement roadmap.
Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
· 10+ years of experience in supply chain or technical procurement; maritime or cruise experience preferred.
· Proven leadership experience overseeing procurement or supply chain teams.
· Strong knowledge of marine technical components and global supply markets.
· Experience with ERP/EAM systems supporting procurement, inventory, and maintenance.
· Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
· Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
Other Skills/Abilities
Applicants are expected to work well in a high-paced, team-oriented environment. Proficient computer skills in the Windows operating system, including both word-processing and spreadsheet applications, are required. Strong skills in time management, handling multiple tasks, setting priorities, meeting deadlines and working independently are essential. Knowledge of NSE is a plus.
LOCATION AND TRAVEL
· Location is Seattle based.
· Hybrid environment with the expectation to be in the office Tuesday-Thursday
· Travel expected at less than 25%.
Communication Skills
Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos. Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee will also be required to write and type. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
COMPENSATION STATEMENT
Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.
Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.
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The Company
What We Do
In 1958 Lars-Eric Lindblad, considered the father of eco travel, founded Lindblad Travel and pioneered the first non-scientific expeditions to Antarctica (1966) and Galápagos (1967), subsequently opening the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, China, Bhutan, and more to curious, respectful travelers. In 1979, his son Sven-Olof Lindblad founded Special Expeditions, eventually re-named Lindblad Expeditions, specializing in ship-based expedition travel. In 2004 Lindblad Expeditions forged an unprecedented alliance with National Geographic with a joint mission “to inspire people to explore and care about the planet through expedition travel.” Today the company operates a fleet of 10 ships, including the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the world’s ultimate expedition ship, and the 106-guest National Geographic Orion, the newest ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. All ships sail equipped with sophisticated exploration tools, to provide unique, immersive experiences in the planet’s capitals of wildness and culture. Our expedition ships regularly explore Galápagos, Antarctica, Alaska, Arctic Norway, Baja California, Costa Rica and Panama, Europe, the Baltics, Vietnam and Cambodia, and more.
