Manager, Youth Operations

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Paid Time Off including holidays and vacation

Job summary

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES is looking for a Manager of Youth Operations to oversee youth programs across 29 ships in the US and Australia. This leadership role will ensure safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include managing teams, developing programming, and enhancing guest experience. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of relevant experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to effectively communicate with various stakeholders. This position is based in Miami, Florida.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in youth programs operations and management.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Strong communication, leadership, project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and daily operations for onboard Youth Programs.
• Oversee guest and crew communication channels for Youth Programs.
• Conduct monthly calls and ship visits to maintain communication with shipboard teams.

Skills

Leadership Excellence

Communication Skills

Data Analysis

Revenue Generation

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field

Master’s preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Excel

Job description

Manager of Youth Operations is responsible for the comprehensive management and safe operation of onboard Youth Programs across the US and Australia fleet of 29 ships carrying over 1 million youth annually leading 650+ team members. This role drives the vision, execution, and operational efficiency for Turtles, Camp Ocean, Circle “C,” and Club O2. The Manager is accountable to ensure youth safety and compliance by defining and executing policies and procedures, training curriculums, and audits. The Manager oversees revenue, operational technology, and guest communications ensuring alignment with business goals and industry standards.

The Manager leads teams to achieve operational excellence by assuring policy compliance, resource optimalisation, financial performance and safety protocols. The role focuses on delivering seamless Youth Programs experiences, implementing improvements based on data‑driven insights, and fostering collaboration across key departments. It provides strategic leadership for the shipboard teams, including Youth Programs Directors, Youth Programs Supervisors, Camp Counselors, Animators, Teen Leaders, and Fleet Supervisors and manages the promotion process.

With a commitment to talent development, operational excellence and technology efficiencies, the Manager ensures consistent, safe and cost‑effective youth and family experiences while driving guest satisfaction and team performance. Key areas of oversight include policy and procedure adherence, training curriculums, safety protocols, shipboard team development, revenue and guest conflict resolution.

Essential Functions

Program, Operations & Innovation

• Programming and Operations: Lead development and daily operations for onboard Youth Programs (Turtles, Camp Ocean, Circle 'C,' and Club O2), ensuring adherence to department standards, policies, and procedures. Support programming and partnership activations that enhance guest experience and align with company goals. Oversee team scheduling, leader development and promotion plan. Resolve escalated guest issues.
• Youth Safety: Oversee implementation and management of training curriculums, including Youth Staff Academy, to ensure staff are fully prepared to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for children, teens and families.
• Guest Technology: Develop guest technology for Youth Programs to enhance efficiency, compliance, child safety, and guest experience. Utilize technology to manage guest flow, revenue transactions, compliance requirements and reporting.
• Fee‑based Experiences: Build and enhance revenue streams, increase current revenue and minimise costs to deliver greater profitability. Implement effective cost‑control measures while maintaining quality of entertainment offerings.
• Guest Communication: Oversee guest and crew communication channels such as HubApp, Scala, website, and printed materials tied to Youth Programs.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure quality control and operational excellence across all youth and family operations, providing ongoing evaluation to maintain a premium guest experience.

Team Leadership & Development

• Fleet Leadership: Lead and mentor Fleet Supervisors to maintain and optimise standard operating procedures, daily functions, entertainment programming, operations, and supply guidelines.
• Shipboard Leadership: Manage the shipboard team of Youth Programs Directors and Supervisors, providing leadership, guidance and training. Inspire and motivate teams through clear expectations, recognition and culture of excellence.
• Cultural Essentials: Promote Carnival’s expected behaviours such as speaking up, respecting and protecting, improving, communicating, listening and learning, and empowerment. Encourage team feedback and proactive conflict resolution.
• Talent Recruitment: Partner with Casting and Booking teams to identify and recruit top talent for Teen Leader and Assistant Youth Director roles, building a pipeline of potential candidates. Conduct interviews, give feedback and assist individuals with career growth.
• Career Development: Support growth of Youth Staff by collaborating with shipboard leaders, offering training and development opportunities.
• Training: Implement training and best practices, continually enhance training programs, and partner with Talent Development to update documentation and share best practice.

Collaboration

• Cross‑Functional: Work with other Entertainment departments to align the consistency of shipboard youth and family operations across the fleet.
• Senior Leadership: Work with entertainment teams and shoreside directors to align strategies with broader business goals including NPS improvements and hotel operations.
• Inter‑Company: Foster cross‑functional collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors, IT, F&B, Housekeeping, Communications, Casino, HR, Marketing, Public Relations, Revenue Partners, Global Sourcing, Procurement, Legal, Security, Sanitation, Marine and Technical teams.

Safety & Compliance

• Safety Practices: Lead safety practices, create, update and enforce training programs to ensure the highest level of guest and crew safety while maintaining operational integrity.
• Compliance Adherence: Ensure full compliance with company policies and procedures, emphasizing safety protocols and operational standards as outlined by ADA and HESS guidelines.
• Partnerships: Build and maintain strong partnerships within Sanitation, Compliance, Security and Legal teams to develop safety and compliance policies for Youth Programs.
• Legal: Collaborate with the Legal department to ensure all operations comply with legal standards and regulations and maintain focus on child safety and occupational health.

Program Evaluation

• Data‑Driven Decision Making: Leverage data and analytics to inform decisions and refine programs based on KPI, guest surveys and operational metrics.
• Performance Monitoring: Conduct monthly calls, sailings, and ship visits to maintain communication with shipboard teams and report on results and action plans.
• Sentiment Analysis: Analyze sentiment to identify patterns and trends and pinpoint specific aspects of customer experience requiring improvement.

Financial Accountability

• Plan: Prepare and propose financial plans for operating expenses and capital IT investments exceeding $6M, monitoring and adjusting to achieve revenue targets.
• Resource Management: Establish usage guidelines for resources, inventory and supplies for core youth programs, high‑visibility events, seasonal holidays and branded activations.
• Vendor Management: Partner with Sourcing, Procurement, Purchasing, Legal and Compliance to negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships and optimise cost savings.
• Travel and Expense: Manage personal and direct reports’ travel arrangements and expenses in line with Carnival Cruise Line policies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Leadership Excellence: Inspire, guide and motivate employees to achieve optimal performance.
• Communication Skills: Convey information and expectations clearly to team members and stakeholders.
• Adaptability: Adjust to changing circumstances and challenges.
• Coaching and Mentoring: Provide guidance and support for team growth.
• Emotional Intelligence: Manage own emotions and influence others.
• Interpersonal Skills: Build and maintain positive relationships and foster collaboration.
• Revenue Generation: Build and enhance revenue streams while minimizing costs.
• Financial Principles: Understand financial statements, accounting principles and revenue recognition.
• Decision‑Making: Make informed, timely decisions benefiting the team and organization.
• Data Analysis: Analyse large datasets using Excel, SQL and data visualization tools to identify participation numbers, revenue trends and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Entertainment Management, Business, Hospitality and Tourism, Sports and Recreation or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years experience in a similar role centred on youth programs operations and management (cruise ship experience is a plus).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office 365 applications, advanced skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint (Oracle and online databases a plus).
• Valid passport required.
• Strong communication, leadership, project management and multi‑tasking skills.
• Experience operating a youth program and leading a team.

Travel

Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely.

Work Conditions

Work may require employee to work inside and/or outside with exposure to changing climate and/or operate machinery.

Physical Demands

Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time. Requires regular movement throughout company facilities.

Location

This position is classified as “in‑office.” Employees work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida Monday through Thursday each week and may work from home on Fridays. Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.

Additional Information

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job‑related skills and experience.

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. We provide 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 with company match; Employee Stock Purchase plan.
• Paid Time Off: Holidays – All full‑time and part‑time employees receive days off for 8 company‑wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays. Vacation Time – All full‑time employees start with 14 days/year; directors and above start with 19 days/year. Part‑time employees receive time off based on hours worked, minimum 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 receive based on hours worked, minimum 60 hours/year.
• Other Benefits: Complementary standby cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, special rates for family and friends; Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement; On‑site Fitness center at the Miami campus.

About Carnival Cruise Line

At Carnival Cruise Line, our mission is to consistently deliver safe, fun, and memorable vacations at a great value. As the world’s most popular cruise line, we offer a variety of unique experiences across our fleet, ensuring that every voyage is filled with excitement and discovery. From world‑class entertainment and dining to exploring stunning destinations, we create lasting memories for our guests while maintaining a dedication to the places we visit and the lives we touch.

Join us and embark on a career that offers not only the chance to grow professionally but also the opportunity to be part of a global community that makes a difference.

In addition to other duties/functions, this position requires full commitment and support for promoting an ethical and compliant culture. It requires integrity, honesty and respectful treatment of others, as well as a willingness to speak up when concerns arise.

Carnival Corporation & plc and Carnival Cruise Line are an Equal Employment Opportunity/affirmative action employer. In this regard, it does not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, mental, physical or sensory disability or any other classification protected by applicable law.

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