Director, Performance and Cost Management

Carnival Corporation•Seattle, WA

4d•$136,200 - $183,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Performance and Cost Management is an enterprise finance leader accountable for setting and governing cost‑management and capital‑efficiency strategy across Holland America Line and Seabourn. Reporting to the Brand CFO, this role owns the performance management framework for operating costs and capital returns, ensuring sustained delivery of savings, capital avoidance, and returns on invested capital (ROIC) while protecting brand standards and guest experience. The Director sets enterprise‑wide standards, targets, and governance mechanisms for cost and capital performance across shipboard and shoreside operations, including fuel and energy, food and beverage, hotel operations, technical maintenance, procurement, labor, shore excursions, and fleet investments. The role establishes clear accountability for realized financial outcomes, oversees benefit‑realization tracking, and has authority to challenge, escalate, and course‑correct initiatives that are not meeting targets. The Director is accountable for translating financial and operational insights into executable actions, embedding cost and capital discipline into budgeting, forecasting, long‑range planning, and investment decisions. The role also owns the evaluation, prioritization, and governance of AI‑enabled cost and capital initiatives, ensuring disciplined ROI/ROIC validation and measurable financial impact. As the enterprise owner of cost and capital performance frameworks, the Director serves as a primary decision partner to the Brand CFO and senior leaders, with responsibility for delivering measurable, sustained improvements in efficiency, capital productivity, and long‑term ROIC across both brands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Engineering, Maritime Operations, Data Science, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred).
Strong analytical skills, including financial modeling, KPI development, variance analysis, ROIC calculations, dashboard creation, and data visualization. Familiarity with AI applications in fuel optimization, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, or similar maritime/hospitality use cases is a significant advantage.
Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills — able to translate complex benchmarking, tracking, ROIC, and AI-related data into clear executive insights.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (advanced Excel), financial/ERP systems (e.g., Oracle), business intelligence tools, and exposure to AI/analytics platforms.
Willingness to travel occasionally to ships, headquarters (Seattle area), or other locations as needed.
10–12+ years of progressive experience in performance management, cost optimization, capital allocation, FP&A, operations finance, or operational improvement within complex, multi‑site organizations, preferably in the cruise, hospitality, maritime, transportation, or asset‑intensive service industries.
Demonstrated progression into enterprise‑level roles with accountability for setting frameworks, targets, and governance, not solely conducting analysis or supporting decision‑makers.
Proven track record of owning and delivering sustained, material cost savings, capital avoidance, and ROIC improvement, with direct responsibility for initiative prioritization, benefit realization, and post‑implementation performance validation.
Experience leading enterprise‑wide benchmarking, performance governance, and operating cadence, including translating insights into mandated actions and holding senior stakeholders accountable for results.
Deep expertise in major cruise or hospitality cost drivers (fuel, labor, food & beverage, maintenance, hotel operations, technical operations, procurement) and associated financial and operational performance metrics (e.g., cost per ALBD, productivity ratios, capital productivity, ROIC).
Hands‑on experience evaluating and governing large‑scale operational or analytical initiatives, including technology‑enabled or AI‑driven solutions, with accountability for ROI/ROIC assessment, prioritization, and ongoing performance outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to operate credibly at the executive level, influencing Brand Presidents, CFOs, and functional leaders; effectively challenging assumptions, redirecting initiatives, and escalating issues where financial commitments are at risk.
Experience working across multiple brands, business units, or operating models, with the ability to balance enterprise consistency and governance with brand‑specific strategic and operational needs.
Prior experience within Carnival Corporation brands or similar‑scale global organizations is highly desirable.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree
Familiarity with AI applications in fuel optimization, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, or similar maritime/hospitality use cases
Prior experience within Carnival Corporation brands or similar-scale global organizations

Responsibilities

Lead development and execution of comprehensive cost‑management strategies across all major shipboard and shoreside expense categories.
Set enterprise cost‑performance targets and required run‑rate savings assumptions in partnership with the Brand CFO.
Establish decision rights and escalation protocols for cost initiatives that fail to meet financial or operational commitments.
Certify and report realized savings and capital benefits as part of monthly and quarterly financial reviews.
Ensure sustainable cost savings while maintaining premium and ultra‑luxury service standards.
Establish, track, and report KPIs for operational efficiency, productivity, financial performance, and ROIC.
Maintain and govern structured tracking frameworks and dashboards for all cost‑saving and capital‑efficiency initiatives, with accountability for realized savings, capital avoidance, and ROIC impact; escalate variances and require corrective actions where targets are not achieved.
Deliver clear, insight‑driven reports and presentations to senior leadership.
Own the capital‑efficiency and ROIC governance framework for HAL and SBN, including standard methodologies, hurdle rates, and post‑investment performance review.
Approve or challenge capital and operating initiatives based on ROI/ROIC outcomes, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and capital discipline.
Lead post‑implementation reviews to validate returns and enforce accountability for underperforming investments.
Develop and oversee frameworks to optimize capital efficiency, including working capital, fleet deployment, dry‑dock planning, and technology investments.
Drive initiatives that enhance ROIC through improved asset utilization, predictive maintenance, and disciplined capital allocation.
Conduct ROI/ROIC evaluations for major capital and operational projects, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and corporate priorities.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range planning with capital‑efficiency insights and ROIC modeling.
Establish enterprise benchmarking standards and recurring governance cadence, including required actions and leadership accountability tied to gaps.
Determine which findings translate into mandated initiatives, not just insights, and oversee execution through benefit realization.
Lead internal benchmarking across ships, itineraries, and brands to identify best practices and performance gaps.
Conduct external benchmarking against Carnival brands, premium/luxury competitors, and broader hospitality/shipping peers.
Use benchmarking insights to set targets, inform fleet and itinerary decisions, and prioritize high‑ROI initiatives.
Drive cross‑functional process‑improvement projects to streamline operations, automate workflows, and enhance productivity.
Perform deep‑dive analyses on cost drivers, capital allocation scenarios, sensitivity testing, and future cost structures.
Serve as enterprise owner of AI‑enabled cost and capital initiatives, including prioritization, funding recommendations, performance validation, and benefit realization.
Approve continuation, scaling, or termination of pilots based on measured financial outcomes and risk assessments.
Identify, evaluate, and prioritize AI/ML initiatives that reduce costs and improve capital efficiency across fuel, F&B, maintenance, labor, procurement, and other high‑impact areas.
Implement structured tracking of AI benefits, including savings, capital avoidance, and ROIC impact.
Ensure all initiatives comply with safety, regulatory, environmental, and brand‑quality standards.
Foster a data‑driven, innovation‑oriented culture across shipboard and shoreside teams.