Manager, Ports Operational Excellence

The Manager, Ports Operational Excellence is responsible for developing, standardizing, and enforcing operational protocols across all destinations, ensuring alignment with brand standards and compliance requirements. Within this scope is the deployment of a platform to centralize the policies and procedures of the corporate destinations. This role drives consistency, accountability, and operational efficiency.

Also in its core responsibilities, this position will lead the design and implementation of a cross destination People Culture Program focused on employee engagement, values alignment, hospitality standards, and performance. The manager will also oversee the restructuring of a key organizational function, designing workflows, roles and responsibilities, and systems to support long-term strategic goals.

Essential Functions:

• Develop, implement, and enforce operational guidelines to maintain uniformity in different areas of operations (e.g. guest activities, operating procedures, etc.) across all destinations, ensuring that employee and guest experiences reflect the corporation’s goals.                                                                 

• Lead the design and rollout of a People Culture Program that strengthens employee experience and organizational values                                                                        

• Conduct regular audits and assessments of HESS procedures, ports’ products and guest experience to ensure adherence to established brand standards.               

• Develop, enhance, implement, maintain, and monitor a standardized and comprehensive safety management system (HESS-MS) that meets regulatory requirements and promotes a culture of excellence and safety across the organization.                          

• Provide ongoing training and support to employees on company’s policies and procedures, driving awareness and accountability to enhance workplace safety.  

• Lead the implementation of an asset management and work order management solution across all destinations.                                      

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Chemical/Environmental Engineering or related field

• 7-10 years of operations and brand management, cruise industry experience, and health and safety management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• The Manager, Ports Operational Excellence leads the global standardization of operational protocols across all destinations, ensuring brand alignment and compliance. The role drives consistency, efficiency, and cultural transformation through a cross-destination People Culture Program. It also oversees organizational restructuring to support long-term strategic goals and scalable growth.

• This role will be challenged in standardizing operations globally while accommodating local differences. It must overcome resistance to cultural change and align diverse teams around shared values. Legacy systems and inconsistent infrastructure may hinder efficiency and integration. Coordinating cross-functional stakeholders during organizational restructuring adds complexity and demands strong leadership.

• This role enhances operational consistency and efficiency at all destinations, aligning practices with brand and compliance standards. By leading cultural initiatives and organizational restructuring, the role strengthens employee engagement, streamlines workflows, and supports scalable growth—ultimately driving a more unified, resilient, and high-performing business.

• This role requires a high level of strategic and cross-functional leadership, even if direct reports are limited. It demands the ability to lead through influence across multiple departments - shore-side and at destinations. It involves managing the deployment of organizational platforms and programs, which requires oversight of resources, vendor coordination, and budget stewardship for operational initiatives and cultural programs. The role also leads organizational restructuring efforts, necessitating strong skills in change management, stakeholder alignment, and systems design—making it a leadership position with broad organizational impact and high accountability.

Physical Demands: May need to stand for long periods of time.

Travel: 25-50% with non-shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work may require employee to work inside and/or outside with exposure to changing climate and/or operate machinery.

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

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