Senior Manager, Entertainment New Build

2065 Magical Cruise Co., Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private medical insurance & dentalcare

Complimentary Disney Theme Parks entry

Disney discounts on merchandise and F

Excellent parental and guardian leave

Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ DIS

Job summary

Disney Cruise Line seeks a Senior Manager, Entertainment New Build to shape the program development for new shipbuilding projects. You’ll oversee guest venue requirements, back-of-house space, crewing and circulation, while coordinating with Disney Live Entertainment and Entertainment Operations to align shows and schedules.

You will guide the New Build Cruise Director during commissioning and opening phases, and support Dry Dock projects as required.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in cruise line operations and project programs.
• Experience supporting new build, commissioning, launches, or major operational transformations.
• Strong collaboration with design, construction or imagineering teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive development of program for new shipbuilding projects, including guest venue requirements and validation.
• Liaise between Disney Live Entertainment and Entertainment Operations to define shows.
• Provide planning and communication support for pre-launch activities (crew training, costuming, embarkation).
• Lead the New Build Cruise Director during commissioning and opening phases.
• Support Dry Dock projects alongside New Build initiatives.

Skills

Senior leadership

Cruise line operations

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Multitasking

Verbal and written communication

Travel flexibility and readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business / Hospitality / Entertainment / Maritime or related field

Job description

Senior Manager, Entertainment New Build

About the Role & Team

About the Role & Team The Senior Manager, Entertainment New Build, reports to the Director, Entertainment New Build supporting the program development, vessel delivery and operational readiness of Disney Cruise Line’s newest vessels. You will be responsible for providing strategic and critical analytical, decision, and communication support to drive and align project scope and delivery on behalf of DCL Entertainment, Mainstage, Youth Activities, Port Adventures and Technical Operations along with Walt Disney Imagineering throughout the project life cycle. You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day. This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or Friday working from home. You will also be required for occasional international travel.

What You Will Do

• Drives the development of the program for new shipbuilding projects, including guest venue requirements and validation, back of house space requirements, crewing and circulation.
• Ensuring program requirements are implemented into the General Arrangement at each stage project, acting as a liaison between WDI & DCL Entertainment Operations.
• Responsible for developing the primary Entertainment program to provide an outline of the number, type and scale of shows required to effectively activate the ship for the Guests based on feedback from Operational partners, Disney Live Entertainment (DLE) partners, number of venues and proposed itineraries.
• Lead the Client Request process between Entertainment Operations and Disney Live Entertainment to define and agree the shows to be produced.
• Liaise with the Entertainment Operations team throughout the New Build process to solicit continual feedback to design evolutions, provide regular progress reports and mediate between overlapping program requirements.
• Develop and manage OFE lists to support the set‑up and initial opening of the ship for all Entertainment areas, including collaboration with Operational partners for current supplies and timely input.
• Coordinate DCL Entertainment operational readiness efforts.
• Providing planning and communication support for the following pre-launch activities; vessel commissioning team set up, crew training and costuming, logistics arrangements for crew embarkation, and operational completion of crew and guest spaces.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the New Build VCT Cruise Director during the commissioning and opening phases of the project, include driving daily collaboration between WDI and DLE partners for the turnover of the venues and the opening of the shows.
• In addition to New Build projects, to similarly support Dry Dock projects in the areas outlined above.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Entertainment Management, Maritime Studies, Project Management or comparable experience
• Extensive senior leadership experience in cruise line operations, including expertise in managing large projects and teams.
• Experience supporting new build, commissioning, launch, dry dock or major operational transformation projects.
• Confidence in collaborating with design, construction, or imagineering teams throughout a project lifecycle
• Highly motivated self-starter able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
• Strong verbal, written, presentation skills.
• Demonstrated strong partnering skills.
• Good problem solving and continuous improvement process skills.
• Proven ability to initiate, organize, prioritize, take, and provide direction, and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to work in a team environment with strong interpersonal skills and positive demeanor.
• Flexibility with work schedule, including weekends and holidays.
• Must be able to travel extensively as required.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Complimentary admission to eligible Disney Theme Parks, giving you the opportunity to experience the magic we create and make memories of your own. Admission is subject to availability, capacity restrictions, applicable rules, block-out dates, and eligibility requirements.
• Access to a wide range of Disney discounts on Disney merchandise, Disney Food & Beverage, Disney Resort Hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, and more. Offerings are subject to availability and may be seasonal, and subject to applicable rules, restrictions, and eligibility requirements.
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Employment Type: Full time

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