Vice President, Health, Environment, Safety and Security

Vice President, Health, Environment, Safety and Security; Orlando (FL); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Paid holidays and vacation time

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Margaritaville at Sea seeks a visionary Vice President, Health, Environment, Safety and Security (HESS) to build and lead the HESS function across the fleet as Beachcomber enters service in 2027. This executive role offers direct access to senior leadership and stop-work authority.

You will set standards, build the team, and deliver a data-driven view of HESS performance and risk, with travel to homeports and ships as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marine engineering, nautical science, environmental science, occupational health and safety, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead HESS: Set fleet strategy, standards, budget and multi-year plan.
• Build and lead a shoreside HESS team.
• Report HESS performance and risk to the executive team.
• Own environmental compliance including MARPOL, NA-ECA, VIDA/US EPA vessel discharge.
• Own public health readiness including CDC Vessel Sanitation Program.
• Own the risk assessment program and permit-to-work processes.
• Set occupational health and safety standards for crew and apply human factors to investigations.
• Oversee shipboard security programs under ISPS Code and CVSSA; integrate cyber risk management.
• Partner with third-party ship manager to set HESS KPIs and run assurance/audit programs.
• Lead investigation of significant incidents and drive corrective action to closure.
• Build a culture empowering crew to stop unsafe work and ensure HESS readiness for new ships.

Skills

HESS leadership

Risk assessment

Incident investigation

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in marine engineering/nautical science/environmental science/occupational health and safety or related field

10+ years HESS leadership in maritime or high-hazard industry

ISO 14001/ISO 45001 lead auditor certification

NEBOSH International Diploma or CSP

HFACS or TapRooT training

STCW Master/Chief Engineer level knowledge

Job description

Description

Margaritaville at Sea sells escape. Our Vice President, HESS makes sure every guest and crew member comes home safe and healthy, and that the ocean we sell is left the way we found it. This is a rare chance to build a cruise line's HESS function from the ground up at a moment of growth: our third ship, Beachcomber, enters service from Miami in January 2027. It is a visible, executive-level role with direct access to senior leadership and fleet-wide stop-work authority.

ABOUT MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

Classica Cruise Operator, Ltd., doing business as Margaritaville at Sea, operates Bahamas-flagged cruise ships from Florida homeports in Palm Beach, Tampa and Miami.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Chief Maritime Officer, the Vice President, HESS is the Company's senior executive for health, environment, safety and security across the fleet. You will set the standards, build the team, and give the executive team a clear, data-driven picture of HESS performance and risk.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Lead HESS

• Set the fleet's HESS strategy, standards, budget and multi-year plan.

• Build and lead a shoreside HESS team.

• Report HESS performance and risk to the executive team.

Environment and Public Health

• Own environmental compliance, including MARPOL, the North American Emission Control Area, and U.S. EPA vessel discharge requirements under the Vessel General Permit and the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA).

• Own public health, including CDC Vessel Sanitation Program readiness and outbreak prevention and response.

Safety, Risk Assessment and Human Factors

• Own the risk assessment program: the risk assessment library, job safety analysis, permit-to-work and point-of-work assessment.

• Set occupational health and safety standards for crew, and apply human factors to incident investigation and prevention.

Security and Cyber

• Oversee shipboard security programs under the ISPS Code and the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA).

• Integrate cyber risk management for vessel operational technology into the Safety Management System.

Ship Manager Assurance and Audit

• Partner with our third-party ship manager to set HESS performance indicators, and run an assurance and audit program aboard ship and ashore.

Regulators, Incidents and Culture

• Serve as the Company's senior HESS interface with the flag State, classification society, U.S. Coast Guard, CDC, EPA and external auditors.

• Lead investigation of significant incidents and drive corrective action to closure.

• Build a culture in which every crew member is empowered to stop unsafe work, and lead HESS readiness for new vessels entering service.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU BRING

Required

• Bachelor's degree in marine engineering, nautical science, environmental science, occupational health and safety, or a related field.

• At least 10 years of HESS leadership in the maritime industry or another high-hazard industry, including at least 5 years at Director level or above.

• Certified lead auditor for ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

• NEBOSH International Diploma or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential.

• Formal training in a recognized human factors or root cause methodology, such as HFACS or TapRooT.

• Working command of the ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC 2006 and the ISPS Code, and a record of successful port State inspections and external audits.

Preferred

• Cruise-industry HESS leadership (strongly preferred).

• Working knowledge of the CVSSA and the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program, and a record of successful USPH inspections.

• An STCW certificate of competency as Master or Chief Engineer.

• Experience overseeing a third-party ship manager or bringing a vessel into service.

LOCATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Hybrid schedule based in Orlando, Florida; the successful candidate must reside in, or relocate to, the Orlando area.

• Travel of 25 to 50 percent to our homeports and aboard our ships, including overnight sailings. Shipboard work includes machinery spaces and exterior decks, climbing ladders and wearing personal protective equipment.

• Cruise operations run around the clock; after-hours availability is required for HESS incidents.

COMPENSATION

Competitive and negotiable, commensurate with experience.

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 that includes a company match

Paid Time Off

• Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 10 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.

• Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the below the Director level start with 15 days/year; Director and above level have Discretionary Time Off, which for Directors is generally 15 days and for VPs and above 21 days. Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work.

Other Benefits

• Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Margaritaville at Sea is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.