Director, Shipboard HR & Crew Management

WHO WE ARE

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we now take almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the "Exhilaration of Discovery".

The Director, Shipboard HR & Crew Management will collaborate with the Sr. Director of HR and SVP Operations and Planning to align shipboard HR strategy with organizational goals. This role serves as the HR leader for all shipboard personnel, partnering closely with shipboard and shoreside leadership to support crew career development, performance management, and employee relations.

In addition, the Director provides oversight of third‑party crew management partners supporting the U.S. and Bluewater fleet, ensuring key performance indicators (KPIs) are met and driving continuous improvement in recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, travel/logistics, and overall crew lifecycle management. The Director also owns and manages shipboard crew expense budgets, including wages and travel, ensuring financial stewardship and alignment with operational needs.

This role acts as a critical link between shoreside HR, onboard leadership teams, and external partners, ensuring alignment with company values, policies, and maritime labor standards while fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, and professional growth across the fleet.

To perform this job successfully, the incumbent must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Additional duties may be added or assigned as needed.

• Serve as the HR partner to shipboard leadership, providing guidance on employee relations, performance management, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes. Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters and ensure timely resolution of issues.
• Lead workplace investigations for shipboard personnel (e.g., harassment, discrimination, safety, policy violations), partner with General Counsel, ensure proper documentation and compliance, and respond to urgent employee relations issues as needed.
• Partner with shipboard and shoreside leadership, including the Sr. Director of HR, to support crew career development, succession planning, and leadership capability building, while designing, implementing, and continuously improving performance management programs for shipboard teams.
• Provide strategic oversight and management of third‑party crew management partners, ensuring delivery against KPIs related to recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, travel/logistics, and crew experience, while building strong partnerships and driving continuous process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and service quality.
• Own and manage shipboard crew expense budgets, including wages and travel, ensuring accurate forecasting, cost control, and alignment with financial targets. Partner with Finance and Operations to monitor budget performance, identify cost‑saving opportunities, and improve financial efficiency across crew operations.
• Own and manage HR compliance requirements for U.S. crew, including background checks, employment eligibility verification, and termination validation, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and company policies.
• Develop, implement, and maintain shipboard HR policies, ensuring they are current, consistently applied, and aligned with company standards, legal requirements, and maritime regulations.

• Participate in strategic HR planning including compensation design, technology selection, and organizational development

• Minimum 8 years of progressive maritime HR or crew management experience.
• Experience in employee relations, performance management, and workplace investigations.
• Experience leading projects and change management.

• Strong leadership, influencing, and stakeholder…