Director, Construction Engineering

Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our exciting team of employees. Royal Caribbean Group is pleased to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and excellent career development opportunities, each offering unique ways to explore the world.

 We are proud to be the vacation-industry leader with global brands — including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — the most innovative fleet and private destinations, and the best people. Together, we are dedicated to turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests.

The Royal Caribbean Group’s Port Operations team has an exciting career opportunity for a full time Director, Construction Engineering reporting to the VP, Port Services.

The position is onsite and based in Miami, FL.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the location where this position is based. The position is not eligible for immigration or work-visa sponsorship now or in the future.

At Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), we care about your health, financial security, and overall well-being. That’s why we provide a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support what matters most to you across every area of life: physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. Here’s an overview of the benefits available to you, including but not limited to:

• Cruise and Travel Privileges
• Health and Wellness Benefits
• 401(k) + Employer Contribution (US Only)
• Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive Time Off Package
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Training & Professional Development
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement (US Only)

Specific benefits may vary by location and position. See more details about our benefits here.

What does the Destination Development Team do?

The Destination Development Team at Royal Caribbean Group leads the strategy, development, and operation of unique destination experiences that extend the vacation journey beyond the ship. The team partners across design, construction, operations, safety, health, and commercial functions to create immersive, reliable, and brand-aligned destinations that enhance guest satisfaction, support local collaboration, and contribute to long-term growth.

How you can make an impact:

• Manage the development and construction of ports, terminals, and other destination development projects. Responsible for coordinating internally and externally the successful implementation of construction and development projects. Activities include overseeing project planning, master planning, construction budgets, selecting, hiring and negotiating with service providers and contractors as necessary to meet RCG’s Destination Development goals and objectives.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Key decision-maker who represents and acts on behalf of RCG in business and government negotiations involving complex deal structuring encompassing business, tax, audit, finance, and legal knowledge.
• Co-manage a growing portfolio of construction, maintenance, and development projects while retaining the ability to support the start and development of additional investments.
• Represent the Company with investment partners and before government authorities, Port Agents, Tourism Ministries, and similar groups during negotiations to initiate, formulate, permit, and implement projects.
• Serve as decision-maker on day-to-day project issues, provide regular business advice to senior management, identify issues, and correct problems.
• Manage construction contract negotiations with support from Legal, Planning, Accounting, Tax, Risk Management, and other relevant departments. Interface with external attorneys, financial consultants, contractors, marketing consultants, owner’s construction representatives, and other professionals as necessary.
• Partner with Destination Development leadership to establish the department’s capital budget, provide continual updates, track actual expenses against forecast, and recommend actions to ensure budgetary compliance.
• Work with architects, planners, and other professionals to prepare and maintain construction budgets. Communicate budgets to senior management and operating groups to receive direction and feedback.
• Negotiate agreements and settlements with contractors. Manage relationships with architects, contractors, and other construction professionals; monitor onsite construction; and resolve construction, schedule, and financial issues to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.
• Perform other duties as required. This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees may be assigned other job-related duties by their supervisor or management.

How to achieve success:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline such as Architecture, Civil Engineering, or another relevant field is required.
• MBA or Master of Science in Construction Management is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of construction experience in a mid-level executive position.
• Ability to travel internationally more than 50% of the time.
• Strong analytical, financial, conceptual, planning, strategic-thinking, and complex deal-structuring capabilities.
• Advanced knowledge of contract law and negotiations; international law knowledge is a plus.
• Experience negotiating with general contractors, architects, and other construction professionals.
• Excellent judgment and ability to assess acceptable levels of business risk for RCG and its investments.
• Initiative, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills to identify, develop, and implement opportunities.
• Outstanding oral and written communication, consensus-building, and presentation skills.
• Ability to organize and manage complex processes involving multiple entities.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills and ability to drive change.
• Ability to coach and develop a team of external professionals by providing direction, enabling success, and delivering timely informal and formal feedback.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all employee levels and quickly establish credibility with partners and investment employees.
• Global perspective and familiarity with different countries and cultures.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports, business periodicals, contracts, legal documents, and technical reports.
• Familiarity with U.S. and international business, tax, audit, finance, and legal concepts.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects and priorities, facilitate meetings, and solve problems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, and online research tools.

Agency and Third-Party Submissions: Please note this is a direct search by the Company, and applications through agencies and other third parties will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited resumes. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered the Company's property.

We know there's a lot to consider. As you go through the application process, our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance, and more relevant details to answer any additional questions. Thank you again for your interest in Royal Caribbean Group. We hope to see you onboard soon!

It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to support candidates with disabilities during our hiring process. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at hraccess@rccl.com. This email is for disability-related accommodation requests only.