Manager Maintenance
- Recruiter:
- Viking
- Category:
- Land Based Jobs
- Position:
- Marine, Technical & Engineering
- Published:
- December 16, 2025
Viking (NYSE: VIK) was founded in 1997 and offers destination-focused cruises on oceans, rivers and lakes worldwide. Designed for experienced travellers with an interest in science, history, culture and cuisine, chairman Torstein Hagen often says that Viking offers experiences for the thinking person\u00AE.
Viking has received more than 450 awards to date, including being named No. 1 for rivers, No. 1 for oceans and No. 1 for expeditions by Cond\u00E9 Nast Traveller in the 2023 and 2024 Readers' Choice Awards. Viking was also voted number one in its categories by Travel + Leisure. No other cruise line has ever received the same accolades from both publications at the same time.
Viking offers a fast-growing and dynamic working environment and flexible working hours. Please note that we can only accept applicants who are eligible to work in Germany or are in possession of a valid work permit.
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ROLE DESCRIPTION
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The Manager Maintenance plays a critical role in ensuring 24/7 technical support and consistent technical operation and safety standards across the Viking River Cruises fleet in the respective region.\u00A0
This role involves keeping the ship up to company standards, regularly visiting and asses its current state, ordering and supervising necessary repairs and restoration works.
This role requires advanced technical expertise and the ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously by setting the right priorities. The role is based in Cologne, Germany, and involves intensive traveling across Europe.
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Maintenance operations
- Oversee the maintenance of our river cruise ships.
- Ensure adherence to SOPs and guidelines outlined in Technical Manuals for ship maintenance.
- Collaborate with engineering teams onboard to address defects, irregularities, and damages.
- Conduct regular inspections to assess the condition of ship systems, machinery, and equipment.
- Coordinate repairs and restoration following accidents, incidents, or planned maintenance.
- Work closely with ship crews and external contractors to restore the ships to their intended state.
- Prioritize urgent repairs to minimize downtime and ensure operational readiness.
Leadership & stakeholder management
- Monitor the effectiveness of maintenance procedures and adjust as needed.
- Collaborate with relevant departments to maintain high-quality standards.
- Provide technical guidance to shipboard staff and crew members.
- Reports directly to the Senior Manager Maintenance responsible for their specific region.
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KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Functional skills
- A minimum of 2 years of experience in marine or technical operations
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
- Familiarity with maritime technologies and sustainable practices.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough inspections and oversee repairs and maintenance.
Education and professional experience
- A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
- Proven experience on board a river cruise ship as an Engineer is an asset.
- Professional certifications in maritime safety and maintenance management are a plus.
- Experience with modern maintenance management systems.
Leadership Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively.
- Strong focus on continuous improvement and innovation in maintenance practices.
- Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities and environments.
Other requirements
- Language skills: English and German (oral and written) on a business level.
- Professional appearance and demeanor
- Willingness and ability to travel exensively within the operational areas, including potential international travel and regular 24/7 Hotline Duty
- Proficient in using MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and maintenance management software. \u00A0
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HOW TO APPLY
We look forward to receiving your complete application documents, stating your salary expectations and your earliest possible starting date. Start with us and take on challenging tasks in a skilled and highly motivated team. Convince us with your commitment and personality and send your application \u2013 preferably by e-mail to:
Viking Technical GmbH, Personalabteilung, Industriepark 17, 56291 Wiebelsheim
E-Mail: hr.wbl@viking.com
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Language Requirements
Good knowledge of the English language is required.
Viking
THE VIKING STORY
More than 20 years ago, Viking® set the standard for what river cruising should be, and today we are the leader that all others follow. In 2015, we took the same small ship, destination-focused experience to the seas and reinvented ocean cruising. Over the years Viking has won numerous ocean and river cruise line awards from Condé Nast Traveler, Cruise Critic, Travel + Leisure, Travel Weekly and more.
Viking is a strong and dynamic company—with a growing fleet of more than 80 river ships and seven ocean vessels cruising over 100 itineraries around the world.
JOIN THE VIKING FAMILY
If you have always dreamed of combining your love of travel with the ability to grow your career, consider a position at Viking. We are the world’s leading small ship cruise line, and there is tremendous potential to advance your career with us. As part of our crew, when your ship is docked at the many destinations we visit, you can explore ashore and refresh during your free time.
Additionally, with Viking’s award-winning service and thoughtfully curated onboard experiences, our guests are typically very satisfied. This, combined with Viking’s gratuity guidelines, means that you can expect to be well rewarded as an employee on board a Viking ship.