Manager, Compensation

Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our incredible team of employees at Royal Caribbean Group. We are proud 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.

Royal Caribbean Group’s Risk Management Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full time Manager, Compensation reporting to the Sr Director Finance.

Position Summary 

As a Compensation Manager, Shipboard Incentive Programs, you will be an integral member of our Total Rewards team. In this highly visible role, you will take ownership of all shipboard compensation initiatives, including gratuities, bonuses, commissions, and other variable pay types. You will design and implement governance protocols, oversee the auditing of these programs, and drive continuous improvement by measuring their effectiveness. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical acumen, a firm grasp of compliance requirements, and a passion for building programs that drive engagement among our shipboard teams.

This position is based in Miami, FL.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Governance & Compliance 

• Establish and enforce governance over all shipboards pay programs, ensuring alignment with company policies, maritime regulations, collective agreements and Flag State requirements. 
• Perform regular audits to validate program accuracy, adherence, and effectiveness.

2. Program Management 

• Oversee the design, administration, and execution of all shipboard incentive and variable pay programs (e.g., gratuities, bonuses, commissions). 
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth integration of compensation initiatives into core HR, Payroll, and financial systems.

3. Data Analysis & Effectiveness 

• Evaluate performance of compensation programs using data-driven metrics; provide insights and recommendations to improve ROI and alignment with business goals.
• Develop and maintain dashboards or scorecards for senior leadership to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and measure the impact of variable pay programs.

4. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Legal, and shipboard management to develop solutions that balance compliance with competitive compensation.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for shipboard pay inquiries, offering consultation and training to shipboard leadership and other internal stakeholders.

5. Continuous Improvement 

• Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and technological advancements in compensation and total rewards.
• Recommend enhancements to existing processes, policies, and tools to streamline and optimize compensation administration.

6. Communication & Change Management 

• Develop materials and lead training sessions to promote understanding and engagement around shipboard compensation programs. 
• Communicate program updates and changes effectively across the fleet, fostering transparency and trust in compensation practices.

7. Risk Management 

• Identify potential risks related to compensation administration and recommend mitigation strategies to leadership. 
• Collaborate with internal audit and compliance teams to implement corrective actions and maintain program integrity.

Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred. 
• 5+ years of progressive experience in compensation or total rewards, with direct involvement in managing incentive programs. 
• Experience within the hospitality, cruise, or maritime industries is highly desirable. 

Technical & Functional Skills 

• Proficiency in HRIS systems, compensation modeling, and advanced Microsoft Excel (or similar data analysis tools). 
• Demonstrated experience conducting audits, managing governance frameworks, and delivering reports for senior leadership.

Core Competencies 

• Analytical Thinking: Comfortable interpreting complex data sets to draw actionable insights. 
• Communication & Presentation: Skilled at explaining technical or sensitive information to diverse audiences in a clear, concise manner. 
• Collaboration: Proven ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams and senior leadership. 
• Attention to Detail: Adept at prioritizing tasks and projects to ensure accuracy and timeliness. 
• Strategic Mindset: Innovative approach to compensation design and problem-solving, particularly in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.

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'll 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, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.