Senior Specialist, Headliner Entertainment

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd•North Miami, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for fleetwide Headliner bookings, approximately 5,400 annually. Key responsibilities include sourcing, recruiting, auditioning, negotiating, hiring, and overseeing fleet schedules for Headliner Entertainers. The role also involves planning, developing, and maintaining the Headliner Entertainment program to ensure a balanced entertainment product aligned with fleet itineraries and guest demographics. The Senior Specialist supports the organization by attending worldwide live auditions, reviewing submissions, and making final talent selections. Additionally, this position oversees the Entertainment Management System, including the talent library, availability calendar, talent profiles, and show billing updates, and ensures that all Headliner Entertainment standard operating procedures are created, updated, and followed. The role also encompasses overseeing fleetwide Headliner schedule, development, support, and talent management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Five to seven years of related experience and/or training or an equivalent combination of education and cruise-related program experience.
Extensive background in Entertainment.
Talent sourcing and/or casting or talent scheduling experience.
Proven success in relationships with schools, colleges, agencies, and related resources must be demonstrated.
Experience as an Entertainer, performer, musician or dancer, in front of live audiences.
Ability to identify and evaluate production and performance quality, technique, intonation, skills, accuracy and repertoire.
Ability to identify and evaluate entertainment qualities such as stage presence, look, ability to speak on a microphone and audience interaction.
Possess strong technical knowledge, including brands, makes and models, as it relates to backline and musical instruments with the ability to make appropriate recommendations based on required application, venue size and musical programming.
Understanding of good sound quality from a technical standpoint with knowledge of signal flow, mixes, EQ and the ability to troubleshoot sound issues in a live performance scenario.
Knowledge in negotiation process, necessary documentation and other travel requirements, contract specifics and excellent understanding of policies and procedures regarding work ethics, hiring and termination of personnel.

Nice To Haves

Cruise industry experience both shipboard and/or shoreside is preferred.

Responsibilities

Recruit, screen, interview, negotiate and hire Entertainers directly, or with agent, for the Headliner Entertainment program.
Measure the effectiveness of each prospective Entertainer according to the required styles and techniques.
Evaluate talent, skills, originality, authenticity, fit for brand, production value and suitability for selected ships and demographics.
Review audio selections and/or videos.
Maintain Entertainment schedules by ship and itinerary.
Adjust schedules based on itineraries, guest demographics, performance, requests, etc.
Review act bookings to anticipate and prevent shortages and selects appropriate replacements within strict timelines.
Plans schedules and rotations ensuring highest caliber of entertainment product offering.
Manage and communicate schedules, oversee onboarding, joining logistics and manage all contract changes.
Partner with Entertainment Administration team to ensure all onboarding and joining logistics are handled.
Partner with Manager, Headliner Entertainment & Comedy Program to continually evaluate fleetwide Headliner Entertainments, provide feedback and work on production items as needed.
Communicate effectively and regularly with Cruise Directors and Stage and Production Managers to provide support, guidance and share information required to maintain the Headliner program.
Prepare annual operating budgets for designated ships and manage expenses within established operating plan.
Liaise with Entertainment Administrative team to support contract and logistics of all Headliners.
Coordinate sign on, sign-off, logistics and contract issues.
Negotiate and finalize all contracts maintaining entertainment KPIs within the annual budget.
Support Manager, Headliner Entertainment & Comedy Program with Newbuild operations, events, revitalizations, and new initiatives ensuring flawless onboard delivery.
Develop and maintain Brand Standards, Standard Operating Procedures, program overviews and training manuals to ensure onboard execution is in line with Headliner Entertainment program standards.
Review guest comments as it pertains to Headliner Entertainment program and deliver feedback to shoreside Manager, Headliner Entertainment & Comedy Program, Cruise Director, and Stage & Production Managers.
Develop objectives for changes or new initiatives as needed.
Participate in Headliner Entertainment program development by tracking emerging trends, analyzing guest feedback, and attending Entertainment performances.
Establish and maintain a network of resources through the development of relationships with schools, colleges, agencies, and related resources.
Travel to the various vessels to evaluate all performances.
Meet with Cruise Directors and Stage & Production Managers to assess and provide feedback regarding the quality of the overall Headliner Entertainment program.
Travel to ships to provide operational support including training and coaching as needed.
Travel to revitalizations and newbuilds for operational support to the Headliner Entertainment team.
Prepare various reports as required including, but not limited to, status reports, talent search reviews, budget analysis and industry trends.
Plan and implement specialized Headliner Entertainment for Sales Events, Groups, Charters, Theme Cruises and shoreside Corporate Events.
Performs other duties as required.