Brand Development Manager 12 Month FTC

Carnival; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise operator is seeking a P&O Cruises Brand Development Manager in Southampton. The role involves driving brand strategy, managing initiatives, and fostering relationships to enhance brand experience. Ideal candidates will possess brand management skills in a B2C context and a strong ability to negotiate with stakeholders. This full-time position offers a hybrid work model, combining office and remote work, with a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Employee Discounted Cruising

Annual bonus

Extensive learning opportunities

Minimum 25 days leave

Private medical and dental insurance

Employee Shares Plan

Discounted retail via discounts portal

Qualifications

• Experience in the hotel/hospitality/leisure sector is essential.
• Experience of product development with product teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and implement cross-functional brand initiatives.
• Keep abreast of brand trends in the holiday sector.
• Lead brand development strategy for various product areas.
• Guide teams using guest data to improve conversion rates.

Skills

Brand management experience in B2C

Experience in managing customer-centered strategies

Research usage for planning

Building relationships with third parties

Excellent negotiation skills

Influencing senior stakeholders

Commercial cost/quality understanding

Job description

Carnival UK is in search of a P&O Cruises Brand Development Manager who is crucial in developing strategy and providing direction of the brand to grow brand equity and achieve our brand ambition.

Role Overview

This role plays a pivotal part in bringing to life the vision of getting Britain’s holidaymakers cruising and delivering extraordinary holidays. As Brand Development Manager, the focus is on driving the strategic evolution of the P&O Cruises brand proposition and experience, ensuring it resonates with our target audience while aligning with both short- and long-term commercial goals.

Acting as a strategic partner across the business, the role involves proactively influencing, consulting, and guiding various projects to maintain consistency with the overarching brand strategy. Additionally, it includes identifying and cultivating opportunities to collaborate with brand partners and individuals, enhancing the product and brand experience in meaningful and innovative ways.

Key responsibilities

• You’ll take ownership of your part of the brand plan. Planning, coordinating and implementing cross functional brand initiatives, propositions, product development and strategic or commercial projects
• Keep abreast of brand trends within the holiday sector and product non-sectors ensuring new opportunities are brought to the table for consideration to drive brand equity.
• Lead the brand development strategy for specific product areas which could include food & beverage, entertainment, retail, shore experience, hotel, deployment, seasonal events and holiday trades
• Interpret guest data to provide meaningful guidance and recommendations to teams for product development and approach to communications to increase conversion from awareness to consideration to conversion

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK07, offered as a full-time position, on a 12 month fixed term basis, we offer hybrid work including up to two days from home.

Requirements: Your Expertise and Leadership

To thrive as a P&O Cruises Brand Development Manager, we're looking for:

• Brand management experience developed in a B2C environment
• Experience of managing, developing and implementing brand and customer centred strategies
• Use of research to evidence and plan
• Experience of building multi-faceted relationships with third parties
• Excellent and proven negotiation skills
• Experience of influencing with senior stakeholders
• Commercial cost / quality understanding

About You: A Catalyst for Change

We believe that diversity enriches our team. We're interested in candidates who:

• Delivering the essential requirements in the Hotel/hospitality/leisure sector
• Experience of product development (working with product teams)

Other features of this role (travel, hours of work, working conditions etc):

• Main place of work will be Carnival House, Southampton with a hybrid working model involving work from home days. Current expectation is a minimum of 3 days a week spent with colleagues (in the office or offsite), including every Wednesday in Carnival House
• Periodic travel away from the office, ship visits or other operating companies
• Full time work during the standard office hours 9am – 5pm, with out of hours work, as required
• Flexible working available upon discussion with the line manager.

Why Join Us?

Working with us is about more than a job. It\'s about creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests and a fulfilling career for you.

Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague.

CUK-employee-experience-guide-July-2025.pdf

Our benefits package reflects our commitment to your wellbeing:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Ready to Lead?

If guiding a team to new heights excites you, we're eager to hear from you. Apply now to start your journey with us, where your performance-led leadership will make a difference in our shared success.

Recruitment Journey

For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit https://bit.ly/CUKCandidateJourney

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#Job Functions: Business Development; Project Management; Strategy / Planning;

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