Lead, Product Development

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd•Miami, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead, Product Development serves as the Product Owner for guest experiences, shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises by transforming product vision into high-quality, guest-centric journeys. Based in Miami, the Lead oversees the day-to-day development, execution, and delivery of new concepts, experiences, activities, programs, and excursions across ships and/or destinations. This role translates the product vision into seamless, thoughtful, and intuitive guest journeys while driving cross-functional workstreams to execute every sensory touchpoint flawlessly. The Lead champions the guest experience and ensures products are operationally, technically, and financially feasible. The ideal candidate combines creative thinking with critical analysis, problem-solving, leadership, and relationship-management skills, and thrives in an iterative environment where flexibility and resilience are essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Two to three years of experience in product development, design, or a similar role developing physical products or customer experiences.
Proven success in a fast-paced environment with demanding timelines.
Experience developing products grounded in strategies informed by consumer insights.
Ability to communicate effectively across a broad ecosystem of partners and builders spanning product definition, design, construction, and operations.
Exceptional verbal and written communication, storytelling, presentation, and project or program leadership skills, including the ability to communicate with executive leaders.
Ability to assemble, lead, and influence cross-functional teams to execute against a shared vision.
Ability to document and package detailed operational requirements and guest experiences.
Strong attention to detail, follow-through, research, prioritization, and implementation.
Creative problem-solving skills, initiative, a positive outlook, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
Ability to build sustainable relationships and achieve results through collaboration.
Comfort navigating complex or unfamiliar topics with flexibility and resilience.
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.

Nice To Haves

master’s degree is a plus.
Experience working with architects, designers, and creative or innovation consultants is a plus.
Travel-industry experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Own approved concept strategies and business cases through launch by translating them into detailed, actionable plans and driving cross-functional execution toward the product vision.
Lead experience ideation, development, documentation, and execution with partners across Design, Operations, Food & Beverage, Entertainment, Onboard Revenue, Revenue Management, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, Legal, and other functions.
Create guest-experience briefs and playbooks that detail the guest journey and the components required to bring the vision to life, using strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a data-driven approach.
Serve as the primary source of product vision and requirements for leaders, partners, and stakeholders, ensuring a shared understanding of the intended guest experience.
Partner with cross-functional teams to define requirements and ensure all needs supporting the experience are addressed throughout development and execution.
Assess operational, technical, and financial feasibility; identify solutions to challenges; and lead forums and materials needed to align partners on the path forward.
Identify opportunities to enhance products throughout the development process and lead the documentation, review, and approval of briefs and supporting materials.
Follow the project-management framework, communicate changes and priority shifts, and provide proactive progress updates to management and cross-functional teams.
Work with Operations and Design on run-of-show events to validate that programming and delivery align with the product vision.
Collaborate with Marketing, Public Relations, and Revenue Management to ensure brand communications and systems accurately reflect the latest product information.
Establish and monitor startup plans, training materials, standard operating procedures, and playbooks to support flawless onboard execution.
Ensure onboard and onshore product delivery remains consistent with approved visions, standards, practices, and experience-design guidelines.
Define success criteria, metrics, and key performance indicators; manage product and experience audits; and monitor post-delivery performance.
Support governance for guest-facing product changes in line with Product Development’s Operational Excellence standards.
Hire, train, coach, and develop direct reports, if any, and evolve team skills, roles, and responsibilities.
Travel up to 20% of the time, including onboard ships, to shipyards, other offices, and domestic or international locations as needed.