Senior Ship Manager

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 Global Marine Operations Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full time Senior Ship Manager reporting to the Director, Fleet Technical.

This position will work onsite in Miami, Florida

Position Summary:

Supports Royal Caribbean Group’s vision and mission by assisting the Fleet Director and AVP, Marine Operations in overseeing the operations in the Marine department and the daily operational and financial management of the assigned Ship Manager(s).  Directly responsible for ensuring that the ships continuously operate in compliance with all company standards, policies and appropriate practices and within the rules and regulations of the appropriate governing authorities and agencies. Assists the Fleet Directors in the succession planning, training, evaluation and development for key Marine Operations personnel shipboard and shoreside.  Directly manages Ship Managers, and Vessels, as needed.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures that ships are operated in compliance with the policies of the corporation and within the rules and regulations of the appropriate governing authorities and agencies with special attention given to safety, security and protection of the environment.   

• Monitors, oversees and provides support to the Managers, Marine Operations for their assigned vessels. This includes operations, maintenance, repair, dry docking, replacement equipment purchases and overall budget control, support on-board repair and maintenance through the Ship Managers to ensure approval from the Flag state, Classification Society, or other government bodies for any changes to the construction or equipment on board.   

• Monitors ongoing performance of each ship, maintains frequent communication with the senior management (Captain, Staff Captain, Chief Engineer, and Hotel Director) and provide the Ship Managers with technical guidance/support through prompt and positive action.   

• Follows up on resolution of technical issues by the applicable technical superintendent through assigned Ship Manager.  

• Follows up with technical department with related incidents and damages to ensure they are properly investigated and reported, and that damage claims are validated and settled.   

• Participates in succession planning, training, evaluation and development for all relevant shipboard personnel.  

• Interviews and approves, as well as gives recommendations to Human Resources Department regarding education and training of ship engineers.    

• Supervises and supports the Ship Managers in cooperating with the hotel Maintenance Department, shipboard and shoreside, on operational issues and projects impacting the hotel and marine areas of responsibility.   

• Supervises and supports the Ship Managers in the preparation of annual budgets for the assigned ships.   

• Works in cooperation with the Manager, Marine Operations of newbuild processes and the Site Offices, assists in developing the new ship designs with the proper feedback and support from the Operational perspective.  

• Involved in the manning and training of the technical personnel for the assigned ship, ships certification process, guarantee process.   

• Monitors newbuild liaison prior and during the delivery of newly built Ships.  Identifies and records any problems relating to the product, process, and quality systems in the Marine Operations Department.   

• Maintains frequent communication with the Marine Technical organization, to assist in the selection and installation of machinery, equipment and safety appliances to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, safety and environmental policies from Classification Society and governing agencies.   

• Assists the Fleet Director with over 1,200 shipboard employees, 7 shoreside employees and financial responsibility.  

• Participates in the preparation of annual operational, bunker and capital budgets in support to the Ship Managers for each assigned vessel.   

• Reviews in detail the anticipated needs of the assigned vessels with full consideration for unique opportunities, itinerary changes, maintenance intervals and other factors which may have specific impact on the anticipated funding.  

• Assists the Ship Managers in the guarantee process with Newbuild / yard through to completion for any assigned vessels introduced into the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

• Background as Naval Architect, Deck Officer or Marine/Mechanical Engineer and 5-10 years of experience with a shipping company, classification society or similar.  

• Bachelor’s degree in Marine, Engineering or related field from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent.  

• Chief Engineer license and sailing experience preferred.   

• Ability and willingness to be on-call 24/7 for emergencies. 

• Maintain current knowledge of up-to-date technical research and relevant projects, plus maintain an oversight of new technology for use onboard Royal Caribbean ships and run test programs on such equipment together with ships personnel.  

• Proven ability to manage the financial aspects of the assigned function, including the successful identification of operating efficiencies.

• Manage headcount within an area. Manage a staff in a positive and productive manner by motivating, developing and managing employees.  

• Utilize and administer the disciplinary action process through coaching and counseling to improve performance or terminate employment.

• Must have excellent organizational and communication skills.   

• Experience in managerial coaching and team building in a similar environment would be helpful.

• Ability and willingness to travel, up to 30% of the time, frequently and on short notice. 

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence and memos.  

• Ability to communicate effectively with various departments within the organization, both shipboard and shore side. Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Must be able to maintain a close working relationship with representatives from the various classification societies and governing agencies regulating our ships fleet-wide.  

Physical Requirements:

While performing job functions, you would be regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a computer, communicate, listen, and assess information. You may move about the office complex, may travel to other office locations, and may lift, push, pull or move 10 - 15 pounds. Visual requirements include distant, close and color vision, and ability to adjust focus. You would occasionally be required to walk to the dock, ascend and descend the vessel. This position might travel domestically or internationally.

Working Conditions:

The work environment for this position can be loud at times due to high level of music required for run-throughs of production shows. A high noise level is possible if visiting shipboard or offsite locations.

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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