Sr. Director, Data & AI Strategy

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. 

The Sr. Director of Data & AI Strategy is responsible for setting the strategic direction and execution of ML, AI/GenAI initiatives within Carnival Corporation’s Corporate operating unit, while also supporting global governance, integration, enablement, and communication efforts related to AI across the brands. 

The role holds independent decision-making authority over Corporate AI use case prioritization, enterprise data and AI architecture, tool and vendor selection and management, as well as the development of AI governance models. This role will lead the execution of ML, AI, and GenAI Corporate initiatives (e.g., HR, Maritime, Legal, Finance), and will work closely with brand CIOs and functional leaders to collaborate on strategy, align on standards, and facilitate the adoption of scalable ML and AI capabilities. A key responsibility is ensuring that AI is embedded into all workflows in ways that balance innovation with security, compliance, and operational complexity. This role will also be responsible for a training and enablement curriculum consisting of, but not limited to, online tutorials, in-person workshops, and annual conferences. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and Lead Corporate Data and AI Strategy

• Work with corporate executives to design and lead the execution of the Data and AI strategy for the Corporate operating unit

• Prioritize high-value use cases that drive innovation across functions such as HR, Legal, Maritime, and Finance

• Translate strategic goals into tangible initiatives with measurable ROI

• Manage cross-functional teams and partners against multi-project implementation initiatives across functions and departments. 

• Data and AI Architectural Foundation and Tools

• Define and Lead Corporate Data Strategy and Platforms covering data architecture data quality, MDM, metadata, and enabling AI at scale.

• Design and maintain Corporate Data and AI architecture, including data infrastructure, AI platforms, and agentic capabilities

• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation processes of Data and AI tools and partnerships as well as aligning investments.

• Ensure scalability, security, and compliance

• Establish and Guide Data and AI Governance

• Define governance frameworks for responsible AI use, data privacy, and risk management

• Define and manage data governance across data quality, lineage controls, access controls, etc.

• Collaborate with Legal, Security, and Compliance to set standards

• Create guidance to support consistent GenAI adoption across brands

• Facilitate Brand Engagement and Alignment

• Serve as a strategic advisor to brand CIOs and technology leads

• Guide brand teams on Data and AI best practices, strategic frameworks, and shared architecture

• Support the adoption of scalable use cases through cross-brand communication and alignment

• Promote Culture of Innovation and Education

• Enable functional teams by designing and implementing a program of education, enablement, and training on data and AI literacy.

• Upskill internal teams, champion responsible AI practices, and cultivate a culture of experimentation and continuous learning

• External Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with AI technology vendors, startups, and academic collaborators

• Stay ahead of industry trends to inform innovation pipelines                                               

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Business, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree preferred. 

• Minimum of 15 years of experience leading large-scale digital and technology initiatives, including cross-functional leadership roles.

• Strong background in enterprise-scale architecture, innovation, and AI implementation across complex, global organizations.

• Experience within the hospitality, cruise, or travel industry preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-wide AI strategy and digital transformation initiatives with measurable outcomes.

• Deep expertise in managing global, cross-functional teams and vendor/partner ecosystems.

• Strong grasp of software development lifecycles, agile and hybrid methodologies, and change management best practices.

• Proven track record of aligning technology innovation with strategy.

• Exceptional collaboration, and executive influence skills.

• Familiarity with responsible AI principles, data privacy standards, and governance frameworks.

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 employees 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