Lead, Deployment Strategy

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Lead of Deployment Strategy has tremendous impact on the financial performance of the brand through the development of our strategic ship deployment while enhancing and optimizing all the detailed itineraries. This is done in close collaboration with a very wide range of external and internal partners and stakeholders.  The role will make strategic recommendations on new deployment that maximizes potential while ensuring compliance with increasingly restrictive environmental regulations.

The lead position is a critical position which requires considerable expertise and knowledge of our deployment and that of the industry and competitive environment.  Combined with detailed global port knowledge and understanding of each ship’s key operating particulars is key to ensuring that our macro and detailed itineraries are operationally viable and optimized for current and long-term planning. 

Deployment and itinerary planning is a 3-dimensional puzzle; many factors must be considered to ensure that each individual itinerary is as appealing, profitable and viable as possible while simultaneously enhancing the strategic positioning of the entire fleet. As a member of this dynamic team, will develop day-by-day itineraries for certain regions of Silversea’s deployment product offering.

Will lead special projects and high complexity deployments including World Cruises and Grand Voyages.  Partner with the corporate deployment team on several projects including competitive analysis, process improvements, decarbonization of the fleet and other deployment tools.

A successful candidate must be dynamic with a well-rounded analytical background, strong insights, proactive, and eager to learn

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Silversea-branded role focusing on developing and implementing long-term and short-term cruise itineraries that align with the company's business objectives and guest preferences.
• Analyze itinerary performance metrics, revenue data, and market trends to identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost savings.
• Create new business processes and roadmaps needed to achieve deployment & itinerary planning goals and increase efficiency.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize itineraries based on market trends, guest feedback, and operational considerations.
• Research new destinations and itinerary options which support our brand specific strategic plans and utilize market research and guest feedback to maximize both market value and guest experience.
• Pro-actively drive and enhance contingency planning for geo-political events impacting both open deployment and new deployment.  Responsiveness and creative solutions are instrumental to ensure that we are ahead of the competition and ready to implement changes when desired by each brand.
• Liaise across most areas of the company including Corporate Deployment, Port Operations, Guest Port Services, Destination Development, Shore Excursion, Hotel/Nautical Operations, GMO, Government Relations, Revenue Management, Revenue Planning, OBR, Sales, MKT, International, New Build, Ship Executive Committees, Charter Sales, ESG, Supply Chain, Global Security, Finance, and other teams on the strategic development and execution of each brand deployment.
• Provide regular competitive update on industry deployment including strategic implications.
• Ensure all itineraries comply with regional and global CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) decarb and other environmental regulations. Create new itineraries which maximizes appeal and profitability while reducing costs including biofuel and carbon taxes.  This is imperative for extending the useful life and right to operate of our older hardware despite escalating and nebulous regulatory environment.
• Manage itinerary changes required to solve berthing and other conflicts. Investigate solutions and collaborate directly with impacted ports and internal teams to analyze and implement optimal alternatives with least guest and cost impact which is still compliant with decarb goals.
• Schedule and lead operations and itinerary change meeting with key operations areas and guest communications to give visibility and solicit feedback for open items of any issues impacting deployment.
• Represent Deployment at various internal sales and other leadership conferences shore-side and shipboard

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

Use this section to specify the minimum years of experience required, skills, abilities, and education for the position.

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) or (BBA.) from a four-year college or university is required. MBA or equivalent desired.
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience
• 3+ years itinerary planning experience required.
• Cruise industry knowledge and experience required.
• Port & Destination knowledge required.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to prepare and present to internal and external audiences.
• Critical thinker with strong decision making/analytical skills, judgment and aptitude for problem solving and able to multi-task.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team of professional staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to collaborate and lead cross functional teams.
• Expertise with deployment and itinerary tools including Odysseus, PRIME, Brenock IMS, ISAAC and NIY calculations.
• Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Smartsheets.
• Familiarity with Deployment, Revenue and Energy MGT dashboards and Hyperion reporting.
• Knowledge of the impact of our itineraries upon each area and be knowledgeable of issues such as:
  • Market Demand and Sourcing Expectations
  • Immigration, Customs and Other Governmental Regulations
  • Port Constraints, Commitments, Incentives and Long-term Relationships
  • Hotel, Marine and Supply Chain Logistics
  • Fuel supply & itinerary consumption.
  • Global safety & security.
  • Familiarization with global IMO and regional environmental regulations including CII, EEXI and NOx Tier levels.

FINANCIAL/QUANTITIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Use this section to enter the financial and quantitative responsibilities of the role. budgets they oversee, revenue size, and other dimensional data specific to the position.

• Directly impacts all revenue streams (net ticket, taxes, onboard, and other) based on the deployment decisions made.
• Impacts overall shipboard operations expenses as itineraries drive a significant piece of onboard expense.
• Deployment decisions based upon the business, environmental and operational analysis and developed will impact bottom line, organizational profitability by tens of millions of dollars.

COMPARABLE POSITIONS/PEERS

HOW HAS THE JOB CHANGED/GROWN

(Only needed if we need to re-evaluate and grade the job. Please explain what is different with the scope from before.)

INTERNAL/ EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

List here the internal (company) and external (market) main interactions within and outside the organization, including the purpose of interaction and frequency.

• Too numerous to list all.  Regular interaction branded Deployment teams, Port Operations, Guest Port Services, Destination Development, Shore Excursion, Hotel/Nautical Operations, GMO, Government Relations, Revenue Management, Revenue Planning, OBR, Sales, MKT, International, New Build, Ship Executive Committees, Charter Sales, ESG, Supply Chain, Global Security, Finance, TAX, International Offices, and other teams daily.
• External:
  • Port agents to review berthing and shire insights on ports.
  • Tourism departments to understand demand and incentives. -
  • Terminal operators to align on future infrastructure plans, calls, and policies.
  • Tour operators to see what products are being offered in each destination.
  • Trade associations representing RCG.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Use this section to list the physical requirements to perform the daily tasks and job duties.

Requirements are typical of those associated with an office job but do require participation in industry and trade conferences.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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