Business Strategy Lead

This role serves as a key advisor to the Chief of Staff and CEO, driving the development, execution, and optimization of high-impact strategic initiatives that align with Carnival Corporation’s overarching vision. The position bridges strategy and execution, ensuring corporate initiatives translate into tangible business outcomes. By leading in-depth business analysis and uncovering strategic opportunities, the role helps shape corporate strategy and enhance organizational effectiveness. The role owns and manages projects across cross-functional teams to drive operational efficiency, performance optimization, and long-term growth. Additionally, the role is responsible for high-level project management, strategic planning, and executive reporting, ensuring leadership has the insights needed for informed decision-making.

Job Functions:

• Lead and oversee projects across cross-functional teams within Carnival Corporation to drive strategic business decisions across multiple brands, including managing special projects for the C-suite, Brand Presidents, SVPs, and VPs.
• Lead market, customer, and competitive assessments, integrating the perspectives of leaders across Carnival Corporation to identify growth opportunities and optimize costs. Drive the development and execution of strategic business initiatives, such as GenAI.
• Develop strategic focus areas and content for major global meetings (e.g., Corporate Town Halls and Board of Directors Strategy Sessions) by collaborating with Carnival executives and Brand executive teams.
• Collaborate with various departments and senior leaders across Carnival Corporation to align on insights across key performance indicators, ensuring cross-functional coordination to drive projects forward, especially projects involving synergies across brands.
• Partner with Executive team to define Corporation-wide objectives and goals and ensure alignment of individual brand strategies and objectives. Analyze and communicate findings from complex data to derive actionable insights for strategic planning and execution.
• Drive ad hoc initiatives and deliverables as questions arise from key stakeholders such as the CEO and Board of Directors, driving efficient and optimized reporting.
• Facilitate communication between different teams both within Carnival Corporation and across brands to ensure alignment with overall strategic objectives.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track the success of strategic initiatives. Regularly assess and report on the progress of strategic projects to senior leadership.
• Perform market, customer, and businesses analyses by synthesizing both primary and secondary research to determine key opportunity areas for revenue growth and cost optimization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field. 3-5 years in the cruise, hospitality, travel, or consulting industry, with a proven track record of leading cross-functional, enterprise-wide initiatives. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute high-impact business strategies that drive revenue growth, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation.
• Experience advising C-suite and senior executives, shaping corporate strategy through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.
• Expertise in structuring and solving complex business challenges, utilizing a combination of analytical rigor, strategic frameworks, and stakeholder collaboration.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• This role requires a high degree of autonomy in decision-making, with independent authority to assess challenges, synthesize insights, and drive cross-functional initiatives. The role works closely with the Global Executive Leadership team while also engaging SVP- and VP-level stakeholders across Finance, Operations, and Commercial functions. Responsibilities include leading complex, high-visibility projects, overseeing performance analytics, and ensuring alignment of corporate and brand strategies. Challenges often involve navigating a dynamic, fast-paced operating environment, balancing long-term strategic priorities with immediate business needs. The role is also accountable for developing executive materials, visualizing data-driven insights, and ensuring clarity in corporate decision-making, ultimately helping to steer Carnival Corporation’s strategic direction.
• Deep understanding of corporate finance, capital allocation, and business performance drivers. Ability to translate financial insights into strategic actions.
• Strong ability to synthesize complex data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights to drive executive decision-making.
• Proficiency with advanced analytics tools (Excel, Power BI, Tableau, SQL preferred). Experience leveraging data for strategic planning and business forecasting.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling executive presentations, aligning diverse stakeholders on strategic priorities. Proven ability to lead and execute cross-functional strategic initiatives that span multiple business units and functions.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with C-suite, board members, and senior leadership.
• Adept at aligning and influencing senior stakeholders across Finance, Operations, Commercial, and Brand teams.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive change, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Operates with a sense of urgency, accountability, and resilience, ensuring strategic objectives are met with excellence.

Physical Demands:  Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.

Travel:  Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

This position is classified as “in-office.”  As an in-office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida Tuesday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Mondays and Fridays.  Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. 

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 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays 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 Fitness center at our Miami campus 

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-LS1

#Corp