Brand Experience and Product Development Director

Job Description

The Director of Brand Experience and Product Development will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning, concept, design, and experience development, from ideation to start-up, across Carnival’s portfolio of exclusive port destinations with the aim of continuously improving guest satisfaction and supporting strategic goals of the Carnival Cruise Line brand.  As the Director of Brand Experience and Product Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our private destinations, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of guest expectations and industry standards.

Work in collaboration with the Carnival Corporation Global Port Destination Development Group to implement and drive innovation, excellence, and sustainability, with a focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences and optimizing operational efficiency.  This role will lead dynamic cross functional collaborations with representation across the organization’s operational and commercial teams.

Essential Functions:

• Project Management: 
  • Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of experience design projects at our private destinations encompassing multi-functional zones-entertainment, food and beverage, retail, attractions, commerce, youth facilities and special features. This includes but not limited to infrastructure upgrades, facility renovations, landscaping enhancements, and environmental sustainability initiatives. 
  • Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, external partners, and regulatory bodies to ensure project alignment and compliance with industry standards.
  • Identify and generate business models or budget analysis in support of new concepts and experience design projects.
  • Create and present updates to senior levels of management including new concept proposals, project progress and status as required throughout the project lifecycle
  • Create and manage processes, planning and reference documents such as responsibility assignment matrices (RACI – Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed), timelines, budgets, approvals, and commitment tracking.
• Strategic Planning and Vision: 
  • Develop and articulate a comprehensive strategic vision for our private destinations, aligning with the company's overarching goals and brand identity. Identify emerging trends, market opportunities, and guest preferences to inform strategic decision-making and long-term planning initiatives. 
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities to enhance the guest experience at our private destinations ensuring alignment with guest preferences and industry trends utilizing metrics and consumer insights to propose innovative experiences for incorporations into master plans. 
  • Participate in the process of identifying, evaluating, and acquiring new destinations; collaborate with the deployment and itinerary planning team on the business strategy.
  • Conceive blue-sky concepts, lead R&D initiatives, build relationships with suppliers for potential future experience design implementations.
• Narrative Development and Presentation Strategy:
  • Develop compelling narratives and presentations to gain alignment and buy-in from stakeholders at all levels on the overall experiential concept including customer journey and touch points.
  • Lead the creative development of visual assets like artwork, signage, and written narratives, as well as collaborating with artists on concept art and animations. 
  • Provide creative direction for media content and interactive experiences, leveraging technology and special features for storytelling such as audio/visual technology, live performance, ride systems, and kinetics.
  • Collaborate with commercial teams on marketing and communication plans for new guest experiences.
• Partnership Management: 
  • Cultivate and manage relationships with external partners, vendors, and local stakeholders to facilitate the development and delivery of unique guest experiences and product offerings.
  • Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, including Operations, Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Guest Experience, to ensure alignment and support for product development and destination enhancement initiatives.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
  • Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the island destination team, encouraging creative thinking, experimentation, and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of operations.
  • Evaluate and implement product updates to existing destinations.  This includes regular communication with operations, and visibility as to how the ports are preforming post implementation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Experience Design and Production or related field.
• 10+years of experience in product development, experience design and/or themed entertainment design, hospitality, theme park and/or cruise line experience. Construction administration.
• Proficiency in MS Office (advanced in MS Excel and PowerPoint). General understanding of how to read architectural drawings, material specifications and/or take measurements on architectural drawings using programs like Autocad or PDF based programs such as Bluebeam Revu.
• Requires regular use of collaborative and communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint
• MBA/master’s degree preferred
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and/or equivalent is preferred. Familiarity with Unreal Engine, Unity, Autodesk M&E Suite, or equivalent is a plus. Graphic and environmental design capability is a plus

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong strategic planning and analytical skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies and initiatives. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders. 
• Provide creative direction to artists, contractors and have an understanding and vision for how graphic design could be applied to an environment.
• Proven leadership ability, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence, and driving results in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to create stories and presentations as needed to turn a vision into an executable project that can be presented to senior leadership for consideration.
• Understanding of the complete ecosystem that makes up a guest experience including the operational requirements needed to support it.

Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time. Requires regular movement throughout CCL facilities. May need to stand for long periods of time.

Travel: Less than 25% shipboard travel likely. More than 50% non-shipboard travel likely.

Work Conditions: Work may require employee to work inside and outside with exposure to changing climate and/or operate machinery. Will be visiting port construction sites.

The range for this role’s base salary is $120,800 - $168,000.  Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience.  

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non-sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan. Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including:

• Health Benefits:
  • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans
  • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources
  • Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage 
• Financial Benefits:
  • 401(k) plan that includes a company match
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Paid Time Off
  • Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 7 company-wide holidays, plus an additional floating holiday to be taken at the employee’s discretion. 
  • Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year.  All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure.
  • Sick Time – All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.  
• Other Benefits
  • Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends
  • Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement 
  • On-site preschool program and wellness center at our Miami campus

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-SR1

About Us