AVP, Product Development & Operational Excellence

AVP, Product Development & Operational Excellence

The Associate Vice President of Product Development and Operational Excellence will play a critical role in delivering on the brand’s strategic direction and execution of our shipboard and destination product initiatives. This position involves leading a cross‑functional team to drive innovation, enhance product offerings, and align development efforts with market needs and business goals.

This leader possesses a strong background in product management, extensive experience in product lifecycle management, and a deep understanding of industry trends. Experience or knowledge of operational requirements and success metrics are required. This leadership role requires a blend of strategic vision and hands‑on execution, ensuring that our products not only meet market expectations but also deliver outstanding customer satisfaction.

Associate Vice President of Product Development and Operational Excellence plays a pivotal leadership role within the organization, responsible for driving strategic initiatives and operational excellence across various functions. This position reports directly to the Vice President or higher executive and works collaboratively with senior management to align departmental goals with the organization’s overall vision. The AVP will oversee multiple teams, manage resources effectively, and ensure the successful execution of projects and programs.

Product Development is the process of bringing a new product or service from concept to market. It involves a series of stages, including idea generation, design, testing, and launch. The Associate Vice President of Product Experience will play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the overall user experience across our product portfolio. This position is responsible for leading a cross‑functional team to ensure our products not only meet market demands but also provide exceptional user experiences that drive customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Associate Vice President is responsible for cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and excellence across the organization. This role involves leading initiatives to enhance team performance, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. This role will be responsible for crafting & executing unforgettable customer experiences that enhance our brand's reputation and drive guest loyalty.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Vision: Develop and implement a holistic product experience strategy that aligns with the company’s mission and enhances guest satisfaction throughout their journey. Scope involves first in class cruise ships, cruise modernization, private destinations and non-private destinations.
• Innovation: Staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in product experience to drive innovation within the organization.
• Senior Leadership Alignment
  :
  Collaborate with executive leadership to define product strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives. Owning the process of which alignment is gained.
• Product Lifecyle: Oversee the product development lifecycle, from final concept brief through launch and post-launch evaluation.
• Guest-Centric Design: Advocate for a guest-centered design approach, leveraging customer insights, market research, and feedback to shape product offerings and experiences.
• User Advocacy: Champion a user-centered design approach throughout the product lifecycle, utilizing research and insights to inform product decisions.
• Market Analysis: Conduct competitive analysis and stay informed about industry trends to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation in our cruise offerings.
• Implementation of the product:
  Liaison with Hotel Operations and Operational Stakeholders to gain buy in and co-develop the guest experience brief and standard operation procedures.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with various departments to identify best practices and share resources that promote high performance across the organization. Collaborate closely with marketing, operations, guest services, and onboard teams to ensure seamless…