New Build Project Manager, Disney Cruise Line

About the Role & Team

A new opportunity to join our growing Cruise team in London, the Project Manager will be the principal coordinator for the Disney Newbuild team, seamlessly merging Disney Cruise Line Operations, Walt Disney Imagineering projects, and shipyard teams to ensure successful project completion.

This role entails offering strategic and essential support in analysis, decision-making, and communication to steer and synchronise project scope and execution for Disney across the entire project lifecycle.

This will encompass initial program development and boxology, progressing through design development, and extending into construction, implementation, total operational readiness, and finalisation.

The role is located at the Disney Cruise Line Offices in London, with four days on-site per week, plus one day working from home. Monthly travel to the shipyards in Germany is expected, ranging from one to two weeks.

What You Will Do

• Initiate and manage the entire ship program throughout the lifecycle of the project from high level space boxology to detailed operational requirements, culminating in the production of a final program book for Operations, Marketing, Sales, Commercial, Travel Services, HR, and Digital and Technology teams’ reference. The program book includes functional and creative design and operational details of all public, crew and stateroom spaces as well as typical ‘day in the life onboard’ scenarios.

• Ensures the program requirements are implemented into the General Arrangement planning and design development of each project, acting as the key liaison between Disney partners during each stage of the design process.

• Provide project and design managers with detailed analysis, practical evaluations of the design, and effective facilitation of decisions from operations teams as well as resolution management.

• Facilitate industrial engineering analysis and processes tool development throughout the project lifecycle.

• Responsible for managing project objectives and that the approved scope of work, including scope changes, remain within the established financial parameters and deviations are appropriately communicated and approved. Review and confirm data accuracy of the integrated project and venue completion tracking tool, working with project management on venue tracking for various states of construction and outfitting.

• Responsible for coordinating operational readiness efforts. Responsible for providing planning and communication support for the following pre-launch activities; OFE loading, vessel commissioning team set up, crew training and costuming, logistics arrangements for crew and business traveller embarkation, and operational completion of crew and guest spaces.

• Coordinates the repositioning strategy and develops the detailed repositioning plan on behalf of operations. Identify, manage and communicate pre-repositioning space allocation needs onboard for room utilisation, storage planning, and broadcast support.

• Coordinate the logistical planning of shipyard and inaugural events (e.g. steel cutting, media cruise, cast preview sailings, etc.).

• Lead project reviews and manage documentation to be shared with Senior Executives

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Extensive Project management experience in Construction planning essential

• Cruise industry experience an advantage but not essential

• Strong collaboration, communication and presentation skills for working in a complex, international, matrixed environment with Stakeholders of all levels

• Leadership experience in managing large projects.

• Must be able to travel as required, ability to be flexible with work schedule, including weekends and holidays

• Highly motivated self-starter able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment.

• Demonstrated problem solving and continuous improvement process skills.

• Proven ability to initiate, organise, prioritise, take, and provide direction, and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave

• Private medical insurance & dental care

• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free

• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing

• Excellent parental and guardian leave

• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.