Manager, Product Development

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Position Summary:

Based in Miami, FL and reporting to the Senior Director, Product Development, the Manager Product Development at Celebrity Cruises will be responsible for managing the people and team that ideate and deliver high quality products for our guests. The Manager, Product Development oversees a team of two Leads Product Development. This role champions the product vision to every stakeholder and partner.

The Manager, Product Development will lead the implementation and execution of new physical concepts, experiences, activities, dedicated spaces and new programming for Celebrity Cruises through his/her team with a high level of creativity and innovation. The ideal candidate will possess a combination of creative thinking, exceptional storytelling capabilities (through memo’s, presentations, ideations) and proven product development skills. Furthermore, this person will excel at hands on problem solving that keep stakeholders focused on the vision.

Additionally, this person will manage various strategic rollout efforts on new ships, modernization efforts for our existing fleet or private destinations. This role has a hands-on approach to manage all the elements of the guest experience, from brief, through design and execution ensuring that concepts are brought to life in line with the strategic goals and with a full understanding of feasibility (operational and construction). To be successful, the Manager Product Development must work collaboratively with other teams including Product Strategy, Operations, Newbuild, Design, Marketing, Consultants, and other stakeholders.

This position also evaluates and makes recommendations for existing products to achieve the brand’s long-term guest satisfaction and revenue-driven ambitions through the Operational Excellence process.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Product definition:

• Provides direct management, direction and collaboration with all partners and stakeholders ensuring that the products being created for Celebrity Cruises are viable, feasible and desirable for our guests. In addition, the Manager must foster and develop a highly collaborative team dynamic and approach that connects various disciplines from the brand, operations, and all partners to ensure a successful product.
• Ensures that concepts are marketable, drive guest satisfaction and ultimately drive revenue.
• Create guest stories and guest journeys (in the form of presentations) outlining the business environment, product positioning, competitive landscape, insights, and data findings to ultimately share recommendations and updates with senior management as well as partners and stakeholders.

Product delivery:

• Accountable for new products and experiences that are developed for Celebrity Cruises and is ultimately responsible for the final delivery of the product realizing the vision and bringing to life the desired experience for our guests.
• Work with Operations, Newbuild, Marketing and senior leadership to ensure proper awareness, collaboration, approvals, and planning is not only in place, but seamlessly integrated into a repeatable process.
• Work closely with operations and design teams to lead run of show events and showcase the new product to ensure the guest experience will deliver on strategy and vision.
• Ensures the team creates startup plans, SOPs, and training materials to ensure each concept/experience is flawlessly executed.
• Work with creative partners to create visual identity and craft narratives to bring the concepts to life. 

Product Standards:

• Manages the collaborative effort of establishing, evolving, and maintaining our Celebrity Cruises brand essence, ensuring the product development standards, practices and experience design guidelines are consistent across all products, projects, and teams.
• Owns and manages the product and experience audit and post-delivery success monitoring of new products and experiences. Delivers regular updates on performance and success to leadership.
• Works in close collaboration with Product Strategy, to develop annual plans for product development, including advocating for the appropriate funding as necessary to meet the proper design quality standards while ensure the aspiration for each product is delivered.
• Identify clear short and long-term goals for the team and effectively project manage complex timelines and deliverables.
• Manage the Operational Excellence program and governance for guest facing product changes that are identified by product owners or key stakeholders in the business.  Ensuring that all product changes are thoughtfully considered and a full operational and guest facing plan is developed prior to any change taking effect.

Personnel management:

• Responsible for all aspects of personnel management (training, coaching, guiding, development, hands on assistance and support) of direct reports.
• Enhance and evolve the Product Development team direct reports by coaching and developing new and required skills, roles and responsibilities needed to excel in concept creation, storytelling and new experiences for the brand.

Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills:

• Minimum 3 to 4 years in a physical product, design or other similar role developing experiences for consumers. Previous product owner experience is required.
• Bachelor’s degree required.  
• Experience in leading teams in bringing high quality physical products to market.
• Experience working with Architects/Designers/Creatives/Consultants a plus.
• Proven track record of success in fast-paced environment with aggressive timelines.
• Experience with project management highly preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Very collaborative and an exemplary communicator in speech and writing. Strong ability to tell the story to stakeholders.
• Comfortable with a startup like environment and navigating the “gray”.
• Proven ability to collaborate with and achieve actionable results through others.
• The ideal candidate will possess a combination of creative thinking, executional skills, team supervision, and able to problem solve in the moment with creative solutions that keep everyone focused on the vision.
• Extensive knowledge with the development of physical products and experiences, as wel as an understanding of consumer-centric solutions
• Ability to effectively communicate across a large ecosystem of partners and stakeholders
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and project management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively to the executive levels of the company.
• Ability to assemble, lead and influence cross functional teams to execute against the new product vision
• Able to craft and tell a compelling, if not influential, story for partners and collaborators
• Comfortable to navigate the “gray”. Use positive outlook and willingness for personal initiative in this start up like environment. Obsessive attention to detail and follow-through.

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.

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