Manager, Music Direction Job at Carnival Cruise Line in Miami

Overview

Manager, Music Direction role at Carnival Cruise Line. The Manager for Music Direction leads the design and execution of Carnival’s music portfolio, ensuring world-class live and recorded music offerings tailored to guest demographics. This role manages the music rehearsal process and oversees the fleet background music program. Responsibilities include maintaining a broad range of musical acts, managing OPEX budgets, and ensuring compliance with music royalties and license agreements.

The position involves leading shoreside and fleet-based teams, fostering a culture of development and excellence. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and senior leaders is key to integrating music into shipboard programming and ensuring a cohesive guest experience. Vendor relationships are managed to enhance brand visibility and operational efficiency.

Additional responsibilities include establishing safety practices, ensuring compliance with policies, and making data-driven decisions to enhance the guest experience. Financial accountability is crucial, overseeing budgets, planning expenses, and managing vendor relationships for musical equipment and royalties.

Essential Functions

• Program, Operations & Innovation: Design and execute Carnival’s music portfolio, including live and recorded music and the industry-recognized DJ program, ensuring world-class music offerings suited for Carnival’s guest demographic. Manage Carnival’s specialized music rehearsal process, programming specific musical offerings according to venue and guest demographic trends. Design, execute, and maintain fleet background music program across the fleet.
• Carnival Studios: Ensure efficient operation of the music rehearsal program at Carnival Studios. Prepare team members for performance and shipboard contract responsibilities. Evaluate processes and implement changes to accommodate growth and meet standards. Oversee assignment of teaching staff and studio space.
• Quality Assurance: Maintain Carnival’s engaging musical acts through fleet audits and ship visits; delegate and utilize Leads, Supervisors, and Fleet Managers/Trainers.
• Creative Development: Partner with Creative team to generate innovative and engaging ideas, activities, and experiences onboard, ensuring fresh and exciting offerings that enhance guest satisfaction and differentiate the brand.
• Contract Scheduling: Plan and manage rehearsals and onboard contracts; ensure adequate resources including supervisors and capacity are available for each rehearsal period.
• Royalty and Performing Rights: Oversee Carnival’s royalty payments through understanding the company’s license agreements with Performance Rights Organizations.
• Project Management: Assign experienced project managers, balance investment with guest experience, ensure compliance, and develop and implement plans with timelines and milestones.
• Industry Awareness: Research industry trends, attend industry events, build and maintain a collective musical network with industry leaders.

Team Leadership and Development

• Shoreside Leadership: Provide strong leadership to the shoreside entertainment/music team. Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that supports entertainment operations.
• Fleet Leadership: Lead and mentor Fleet Supervisors to maintain and optimize SOPs, daily functions, entertainment programming, operations, and supply guidelines.
• Shipboard Leadership: Manage shipboard teams including Fleet Music Managers and musicians, providing leadership, guidance, and training. Inspire teams by setting clear expectations and recognizing achievements.
• Shoreside Team Development: Support development of shoreside teams through growth opportunities and future-focused development.
• Cultural Essentials: Promote Carnival’s expected behaviors and empower team members to share insights and resolve conflicts.
• Talent Recruitment: Partner with Casting and Booking to identify and recruit top talent, support auditions, and provide feedback.
• Career Development: Support growth of team members through targeted training and mentorship.
• Training: Implement leadership trainings, update training documents, and share best practices.
• DEI: Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into team meetings and operations.

Safety and Compliance

• Safety Practices: Develop and enforce training programs to ensure guest and crew safety and operational integrity.
• Compliance Adherence: Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures, including Global HESS and ADA guidelines.
• Data Privacy and Background Checks: Protect personal information and support background checks for vendors and contractors.
• Immigration and Legal Compliance: Ensure adherence to immigration laws for team members working onboard.

Program Evaluation

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Use data and analytics to inform decisions and refine programs based on performance insights and guest feedback.
• Performance Monitoring: Conduct ship visits and maintain open communication with shipboard teams; report results and action plans.
• Sentiment Analysis: Analyze guest sentiment to identify areas for improvement.

Financial Accountability

• Plan: Prepare financial plans including operating and capital plans; monitor and adjust based on guest behavior and operations.
• Procurement: Oversee purchasing and maintenance of musical equipment within budget; negotiate pricing and manage purchase orders.
• Vendor Management: Develop strategies with cross-functional teams to manage vendor relationships and mitigate risks.
• Travel and Expense: Manage travel and expenses for direct reports in line with policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance, Music Business and/or Education, Entertainment Management
• 5-7+ years’ experience in a leadership role in a music institution

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Adaptability, knowledge of musical repertoire, attention to detail, time management, communication, conflict resolution, data analysis, decision-making, diplomacy, emotional intelligence, financial principles, interpersonal skills, mentorship, problem-solving, project management, strategic planning, software proficiency, specialty platform experience, industry experience, self-directed leadership.

Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods.

Travel: Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential. This position is classified as “in-office.” Employees are required to work from a Carnival office in South Florida five days per week. Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, considering job-related skills and experience.

At Carnival, your total rewards package includes health benefits, retirement plans, paid time off, and additional benefits. See details below for benefits programs and eligibility. Carnival Cruise Line is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, mental, physical or sensory disability, or any other protected status.

About Us: At Carnival Cruise Line, our mission is to deliver safe, fun, and memorable vacations at a great value. We offer a variety of experiences across our fleet and are committed to entertainment excellence and guest satisfaction.

This position requires full commitment to ethical and compliant culture, integrity, honesty, and respectful treatment of others, including speaking up when concerns arise.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries: Travel Arrangements

EEO: Carnival is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.