Director, HVAC-R

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd•Miami, FL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of HVAC-R is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement of all Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) systems across the global Royal Caribbean Group cruise fleet. This role ensures safe, efficient, reliable, and regulatory-compliant climate control systems that support guest comfort, crew welfare, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The Director of HVAC-R together with their team serves as the company’s subject matter expert, setting technical standards, managing lifecycle planning, and leading cross-functional teams to support new builds, dry docks, refurbishments, and ongoing vessel operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HVAC-R engineering experience, preferably in marine, cruise, offshore, or large hospitality environments.
At least 5–7 years in a senior leadership or director-level role.
Strong experience with large-scale marine HVAC-R systems, including chillers, AHUs, ducting, automation, and controls.
Proven involvement in new builds, dry docks, or major retrofit projects.
Experience managing large budgets and cross-functional technical teams.
Marine HVAC-R design, operation, and troubleshooting.
Chilled water systems and energy management.
Automation, controls, and monitoring systems.
Indoor air quality and public health standards.
Regulatory compliance and class requirements.
Lifecycle cost analysis and asset management.
Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
Decisive leader with excellent problem-solving skills.
Effective communicator across technical and non-technical audiences.
Comfortable working in a global, multi-cultural environment.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally and visit vessels as required.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineering (PE) license or equivalent is a plus.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute the long-term HVAC-R strategy for the fleet, aligning with corporate goals for safety, sustainability, guest experience, and operational excellence.
Establish fleet-wide HVAC-R standards, specifications, and best practices.
Serve as the primary technical authority for HVAC-R systems across global marine operations.
Fleet Operations and Reliability
Oversee performance, maintenance, and reliability of HVAC-R systems on all vessels.
Provide technical support and guidance to shipboard engineering teams and shoreside technical ship managers.
Lead root-cause analysis for HVAC-R failures and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Ensure HVAC-R systems support public health standards, including air quality, filtration, and humidity control.
New Builds, Dry Docks and Refurbishments
Lead technical operational input to HVAC-R design reviews, specification development, and system selection for new build vessels.
Oversee HVAC-R scope for dry docks, major upgrades, and refurbishment projects.
Collaborate with shipyards, designers, and vendors to ensure systems meet performance, redundancy, and regulatory requirements.
Manage commissioning, testing, and acceptance of HVAC-R systems.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Drive energy optimization initiatives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions related to HVAC-R systems together with newbuilding and Decarbonization team.
Implement advanced control systems, automation, and data-driven performance monitoring.
Support corporate environmental and decarbonization initiatives.
Compliance and Safety
Ensure compliance with all applicable maritime regulations and standards (e.g., SOLAS, Class Society rules, Flag State, IMO, CDC/VSP where applicable).
Maintain alignment with company safety management systems (QMS).
Support audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews related to HVAC-R systems.
Project and Vendor Management
Manage relationships with OEMs, shipyards, and service providers.
Support the negotiation of service agreements, warranties, and long-term support contracts together with colleagues from Marine Procurement.
People Leadership and Development
Lead and develop a global team of HVAC-R engineers, specialists, and technical managers.
Works with Human Resources in recruiting and screening candidates for the recruitment of shipboard HVAC-R personnel.
Provide mentoring, training, and succession planning for HVAC-R technical talent.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Financial Responsibilities
Develop and manage HVAC-R related capital budgets and provide guidance on operational budgets.
Oversee spare parts strategies and lifecycle cost management together with colleagues from Marine Asset Management.
Manages HVAC-R CAR projects, including those valued at several million dollars.
Accountable for budgets on assigned CAPEX projects.