Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives

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.

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Position Summary:

As a key member of the Corporate Development team, the Senior Manager in Strategic Initiatives will play a pivotal role in driving key strategic projects and initiatives across Royal Caribbean and will be the focal point of contact between the Royal Caribbean Group and its portfolio of over 25 Joint Ventures (JVs), overseeing their financial performance and issuing periodic reports to management. The Senior Manager will work cross-functionally with senior executives to drive broad-ranging strategic initiatives, evaluate business improvement opportunities, and leverage insightful analytics to influence activities across the portfolio. The ideal candidate will be able to leverage his/her experience to frame complex issues in terms of trade-offs, risks, and benefits. The Senior Manager oversees the financial performance of the JV Portfolio and issues periodic reports to management. They monitor corporate governance and provide board support in collaboration with relevant business and finance leads.

The Senior Manager in Strategic Initiatives will be a self-starter and a natural leader with excellent quantitative, finance, project management and verbal communications skills. They will possess the maturity and confidence to interface with company executives and demonstrate a humble, self-aware personal style that enables them to lead cross-functional teams to consensus around solutions. This position reports directly to the Director of Strategic Initiatives and will have two direct reports.

This position will report onsite in Miami, FL

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Supports VP of Corporate Development and Director of Strategic Initiatives in overall Royal Caribbean Asset Management process governance
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives to drive the successful rollout of strategic initiatives through meticulous implementation planning, impactful change management, and comprehensive training programs
• Lead task forces and immediate response teams to address emergency situations; communicate with senior leadership; coordinate priorities as required
• Ensure new joint ventures (JVs) are properly set up and integrated with essential corporate functions such as FP&A, legal, treasury, and accounting.
• Facilitate onboarding for first-time board members through training and key material distribution, and transition IMO key stakeholder responsibilities to business and finance leads to ensure compliance with IMO processes.
• Conduct quarterly reviews of the JV portfolio with the CFO, and potentially the Executive Committee (EC) and board members.
• Perform an annual review of the JV portfolio, aligned with the strategic plan, to evaluate financial performance, strategic value, risks, and activities, and assess whether joint ventures (JVs) are meeting their investment objectives while providing support to help them achieve their strategic goals.
• Automate JV reporting and develop new tools and dashboards to provide real-time visibility and centralized data capture, enabling key decision makers to quickly assess portfolio performance and trends.
• Work closely with internal teams, including finance, brands, and legal, to ensure cohesive portfolio management.
• Liaise with external stakeholders, such as partners, government bodies, and other market participants to maintain strong relationships and ensure transparency.
• Mentor and develop a team of asset management professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure team members have the resources and support needed to succeed.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing within the team and across the organization.

 Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

• Bachelor degree required, MBA or equivalent preferred, CPA/CFA preferred 
• Minimum 7-10 years related work experience 
• Corporate development, restructuring, management consulting, investment banking, transaction advisory, or private equity background preferred  
• Experience in the travel, hospitality, or cruise industry is highly desirable (not required)
• Proven track record of leading and executing strategic projects in a complex, fast-paced environment, with the ability to multitask effectively
• Demonstrated experience in financial modeling, business case development, and project management
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely, including communication to all levels of the organization
• Self-starter with intellectual curiosity, a strong desire to learn, and passion for creating an excellent work product 
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the responsibility of overseeing two direct reports.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy and quality in all work
• Ability to develop rapport and credibility with diverse groups with a focus on facilitating buy-in and solution development 
• Ability to understand and utilize best practices for managing partnerships 
• Ability to understand and shape our strategic objectives in a JV, and those of our partner(s). 
• Understanding of planning, economics, and financial controls (related to OPEX, CAPEX, investment decisions, NPV calculation, business case development, etc.) 

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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