Position Summary

Under the oversight of the Director Marine Operations, this role is responsible for providing vision and leadership to the Marine team supporting the marine, training and marine resources systems and operations of the fleet and island(s). This role partners with shipboard and island Steering Committee Members to manage nautical, training, and marine resources aspects of the company’s fleet and islands operations inclusive of new builds, project management including developing fleet marine/nautical and fleet training operational policies and procedures. This role leads the strategy and has accountability for marine operations, shipboard and shoreside professional training operations and technology related to marine training. Additionally, this role manages marine resources including succession plan, hiring process for deck officers, promotion and hiring assessment development/execution strategies and in partnership with DCL Workforce Management provide input on the management of the deck department rotations including new builds and vessel commissioning teams.

Reporting Relationship

As specified in the current department organization chart.

Responsibilities

Marine Operations Strategy

• Develop and articulate long-term priorities for marine training and marine resources operations providing day-to-day leadership and operational direction.
• Lead long-term strategy for deck department shores side professional training program including the development of the professional training strategies, contents, and selection of training facilities for new shore side professional trainings for the deck department Develops the training strategies for new builds.
• Liaise with US Coast Guard and classification societies for marine/nautical and training matters Develop and articulate long-term priorities for marine, training and marine resources operations providing day-to-day leadership and operational direction.

Marine Training & Systems Development

• Maintain current knowledge of up-to-date marine and training research and relevant projects, evaluate new technology and procedures for use onboard the ships and island(s), and run test programs on such equipment and procedures together with ships and islands personnel.
• Research, recommend, and approve marine equipment for use onboard the ships and islands as well as creating designs and recommendations for future ships enhancements and new build. In conjunction with the new build team, assist with equipment suppliers and system design decisions.
• Study the efficiency of the ships’ marine, nautical and training procedures in cooperation with the ships' leadership and propose long-term plans for improvement and consistency of the operation as well as the implementation of corrective and preventive actions on relevant issues in the marine and training field aligned with industry trends and standards.
• Verify the implementation of solutions in the Marine, Training and Marine Resources area of responsibility. Control further processing, delivery, or installation of nonconforming products and procedures until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected in the Marine and Training Operations area.
• Partner with Ship’s Steering Committee, DPA, private Island management and DPA regarding marine and training matters covered by the SMS and LOGs
• Sail on board vessels and islands providing support, consistency, and continuous review of marine and training operations on board including right execution of the voyage planning and BRM procedures and the review of the officers’ performances and development goals.
• Oversee and manage the on-board Bridge Resource Management program, including navigational procedures and policies, the development and management of the continuous development improvement program for Bridge Resource Management. Develop strategies liaising with the shipboard senior leaderships for the improvement and sustainability of the consistency of the Bridge Resource Management across the fleet. Liaise with the technical team for consistency between the Bridge and ECR procedures including BRM and EDRM.
• Leverage relationships within Disney Cruise Line, industry organizations, internal peer organizations, and key external stakeholders to maximize effective outreach and to continuously explore best practices for Marine and Training Operations
• Lead and develop processes to ensure a competent and qualified seagoing work force and ensure that all assigned personnel possess the proper licenses, training, and certificates prior to joining vessels in accordance with the regulatory and company rules and regulations.
• Oversee the on board STCW/SOLAS training programs and ensure compliance with the Flag State certified program. Leads the development of the shipboard training program and strategies. Responsible to ensure that the quality assurance visits for trainings and Nautical operations on board of each ship and private islands are properly conducted by the marine team.
• Oversee, manage, and develop short and long training and drill requirements, policies and strategy for Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay
• Oversee the development, maintaining and upgrading the Marine Learning System including the training quality assurance program for deck and technical department.
• Oversee and leads the ships’ stability program and emergency damage control/stability, monitoring systems including the study and implementation of new procedures related to the ships stability and damage control safety.
• Oversee the quality assurance program of the shore training facilities to verify that each facility continues to provide quality training.

Marine Operations Leadership

• Shore support for the on-board Staff Captains. Captains for areas of responsibility.
• Act as coach, mentor, and adviser to deck and senior officers.

Marine Operations Management

• Initiate action to prevent the occurrence of any non-conformities relating to marine procedures, training process, and quality system in the marine and training area of responsibility.
• Lead the Nautical Team and oversee the company voyage plan process from a regulatory, policy creation and technology support standpoint.
• Verify that the fleet’s vessels and office comply with International and Flag State rules, regulations, and guidelines in respect to standards of marine safety operations and internal, national and international trainings requirements.
• Manage, organize, and lead the Deck department succession planning partnering with the ship’s captains, the Executive Director Marine Operations and the Senior Vice President of the Global Marine and Technical Operations.
• Manage the development and execution of the promotion and hiring assessment program for first officers and senior officers. Study the efficiency of the deck officers hiring process and develop new strategies and processes.
• Provide input on the management of the short-, medium-, and long-term strategy the manning rotation of the deck department officers and crew including rank and ship assignment including developing the strategy for the new build vessel commissioning teams.
• Manage and lead the Hiring, Planning, and promotion of Officers within Deck department, Staff Captains and Captains promotions are reviewed, discussed, and approved with the approval of the Executive Director Marine Operations, and Senior Vice President, Marine and Technical Operations.
• Responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of budgets for the department budgets for areas of responsibility, including Capital projects related to marine, on board trainings and professional trainings.
• Develop and maintain procedures for Officer and Crew Certification Requirements Management
• Oversee the Mooring operations program and equipment, maintenance, and training for deck department.
• Oversee and lead the on-board Confined Space program policy and procedures including training program and maintenance and the enhancement of the necessary equipment.
• Partner with the Environmental Operations teams, to evaluate and identify any environmental challenges with the ballast water management plan and navigational procedures and sustainability programs.
• Partner with Ship’s Steering Committee, DPA, private Island management and DPA regarding marine and training matters covered by the SMS and LOGs
• Ensure measures are in place to correct defects reported by the company monitorships and to see the correction is reported to appropriate authorities, CIRs are completed, audits are conducted, and follow-up action is taken.
• See that measures are in place to correct defects reported by the company monitors ships and to see the correction is reported to appropriate authorities, CIRs are completed, audits are conducted, and follow-up action is taken.
• When required conduct port assessments for new ports and verify through regular inspections of existing ports, compliance with operational standards and local and Disney Cruise Line marine, safety and security standards are maintained in all ports of call (including Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay)
• Organize periodic Flag State inspections.
• Function as a senior leader representing marine and training operations in the Disney Cruise Line Safety Committee as well as the Emergency Operations Center.
• Responsible for the management of internal and external audit findings within their departments and to meet the requirements of SMS.
• Responsible for incident management and CIRs within the DCLIMS system, inclusive of response, follow up, extension or timely closure within the requirements of SMS.
• Member of:
  • Disney Cruise Line® Safety Committee
  • Emergency Operations Center Alternate
  • Member of the CLIA Cruise Ship Safety Forum and Nautical Procedures
  • Company Representative of PAWSA
• Provides shore-based assistance for Marine and Technical Operations to maintain safe ship operations.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years or more as Deck or Senior Deck officer within Cruise industry
• Strong command of international maritime regulations, including those from USCG (U.S. Coast Guard), Lloyd’s Register, USPH (U.S. Public Health), as well as classification society requirements and industry standards.
• Proven leadership in large-scale, complex multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and executive presence.
• Strong situational analysis, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience influencing senior leadership and building strong business partnerships with internal, external and regulatory teams.
• Define strategies, expectations, and priorities to empower teams to pursue innovative solutions.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operational budgets and ensuring adherence to financial plans.
• Demonstrated experience with Safety Management System policies and procedures as they relate to shipboard operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6 years of experience or more in Marine Shoreside Management
• Master's license with extensive knowledge of shipboard and shoreside operations.

Education

• Bachelors degree in Marine Operations (or related field)

Preferred Education

• Masters degree in related field