Director, HR

Job Location: Basel, Switzerland
Reports to: VP, HR Celebrity Cruises & Silversea
Direct Reports: No

Summary

As the Director of HR for Celebrity River Cruises' new river cruise initiative based in Basel, this position will be responsible for three key pillars: overseeing our shoreside Basel operations, liaising with TKO, and managing our shipboard crew.

This role will play a pivotal leadership role in establishing and overseeing all human resources functions necessary for a successful launch and sustainable operation.
This senior management position combines strategic development with operational execution and excellence to build a high-performing, compliant, and engaged workforce from the ground up.

The Director, HR will demonstrate exceptional talent building capabilities while leading strategy design and execution initiatives that require organizational agility in a dynamic, multi-cultural environment. This position will be responsible for managing relationships with our TKO in all crew-related practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement HR strategies and policies aligned with global standards and local regulations, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, diversity, and agility
• Establish KPIs to measure success in employee engagement, compliance, and operational effectiveness
• Oversee legal complexities related to itineraries, particularly as the fleet expands to include additional entities
• Develop and implement strategic planning to support the growth of the crew complement, projecting to scale over the next 10 years
• Oversee talent acquisition, onboarding, retention, and leadership development programs for both shipboard and shoreside teams in partnership with brand operations and HR COEs
• Conduct workforce planning and build succession strategies to support growth and operational demands
• Introduce processes for onboarding, offboarding, performance management, and lifecycle HR activities inclusive of development policies ensuring crew welfare, safety, and legal compliance
• Ensure adherence to Swiss, German, and international river cruise labor laws, managing crew deployment, certifications, and records in partnership with legal and regulatory bodies
• Build strong relationships with leadership, external partners, and regulators. Act as a strategic HR partner to TKO and operational units (both shipboard and shoreside) and collaborate with global HR teams for tailored programs
• Foster an inclusive, safety-focused culture that reflects brand values. Lead initiatives to enhance crew engagement, retention, and diversity while promoting open communication
• Leverage HRIS, analytics, and technology to optimize HR operations, ensure compliance, and improve employee experience through data-driven insights
• Drive recruitment strategies for onboard crew and shoreside staff, ensuring access to diverse talent pools and effective onboarding processes
• Will be responsible for managing all employee relations cases shoreside and shipboard including, investigations, ethics and management of AWARE hotline

Qualifications and Education

• 10+ years in HR leadership, with success in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Experience in river cruising hospitality, or travel sectors, ideally with multicultural, international teams
• In-depth knowledge of Swiss laws, EU labor standards, and river cruising regulations. Track record in strategy development, process-building, and managing vendor relationships across multiple countries
• Experience in managing talent development, strategic planning, organizational agility, and cross-cultural communication programs. Strong systems thinking to drive impactful HR initiatives
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills; fluency in English required; Swiss German/German/French advantageous. Willing to travel (30%+). Demonstrates executive presence, strategic influence, and project management capabilities
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources or related field preferred
• Legally authorized to work in Switzerland

Financial / Quantitative Responsibilities

• Collaborate with external agencies, suppliers, and partners (including TKO) to ensure recruitment and onboarding expenses align with budget objectives
• Support scaling efforts through workforce planning to meet operational needs while controlling costs
• Manage costs related to legal compliance, certifications, and records management, ensuring adherence to Swiss, German, and international maritime labor regulations while controlling associated expenditures
• Leverage HR technology and analytics to identify efficiencies, reduce operational costs, and optimize employee-related expenditures
  
  

Internal / External Relationships

The Director, HR will possess a strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners. They will build and maintain strategic relationships with leadership, external organizations, and regulatory bodies, serving as a trusted HR partner to TKO and operational teams both shipboard and shoreside. Collaboration with global HR teams to develop tailored programs will also be a key aspect of this role.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those requirements employees must meet to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a pc, communicate, listen, and assess information.  The employee may move about to the office complex, may travel to other office locations and may lift, push, pull or move 10-25 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to walk to the dock, embark and debark the vessel.

Working Conditions

This position involves working primarily in a corporate office setting, with occasional visits onboard ships as needed. The work environment includes both indoor and outdoor settings, reflecting the realities of performing the essential functions of the job.

It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. RCL and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

We know there's a lot to consider. As you go through the application process, our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance and answer any additional questions.

Thank you again for your interest in Celebrity River Cruises. We'll hope to see you onboard soon!

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