Job Title: Lead, Product Development - Shore Excursions and Port of Call Experiences
The Lead, Product Development for Shore Excursions and Port of Call Experiences is entrusted with crafting enriching tour experiences, pre- and post-cruise packages, and independent endeavors that enhance the cruise experience for guests of Celebrity River Cruises. This role involves forward-thinking product recommendations and briefs, projected 12 to 18 months in advance of each season or ship itinerary.
This position evaluates existing tours and experiences available at various ports of call or homeports, identifying strengths and areas for enhancement. Through insightful recommendations for product differentiation, the Lead aims to fulfill the brand's long-term objectives for guest satisfaction and revenue generation. A solid understanding of both the competitive cruise and land landscapes, along with an eye for emerging trends, is pivotal to this role.
In addition, the Lead will pinpoint short- and long-term opportunities, including pre- and post-cruise travel and land vacation experiences, by enhancing our tour options as well as hotel and transfer services. These opportunities may also involve shopping experiences in port and related onboard activities.
Responsibilities & Ownership
- Develop and set goals based on assessments, research, and site visits to introduce innovative and differentiating experiences for the brand.
- Define the scope for specific regions, selecting ports of call, potential partnerships, and target customer segments to recommend both short- and long-term product opportunities.
- Collaborate closely with product owners and the management team for execution and delivery in relation to shore excursions, cruise and land packages, and pre/post-cruise travel.
- Work with internal stakeholders to conduct research, identify new opportunities, engage external partners, and perform a competitive assessment to establish a long-term strategic product offering.
- Implement a roadmap that includes identifying, prioritizing, structuring, and managing product goals and priorities for the relevant itinerary and region.
- Develop long-term product recommendations and secure support from departmental leadership for these offerings.
- Create presentations and memos that detail market research and competitive intelligence, integrating them into strategic product recommendations.
- Draft, document, and present product briefs, guest experience briefs, and success criteria for tours, excursions, and packages.
- Partner with the brand’s Destination Development, Revenue Management, and Deployment Strategy teams to drive decisions that support long-term growth of destination experiences.
- Engage with new tour operators and partners in key regions and destinations.
- Conduct thorough research audits, scouting trips, and analyses to define scope and opportunities.
- Draft product briefs that comprise go-to-market strategies and pricing for tours, excursions, and packages, ensuring timely implementation by various stakeholders within the brand.
- Assess how the destination experience can be integrated onboard during specific itineraries or aboard select cruise ships.
- Include a risk assessment of products to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the recommended product strategy.
- Act as a brand representative in cross-functional discussions, events, and projects.
- Work independently within a complex and often ambiguous environment, delivering fact-based recommendations to executives and regional management.
- Liaise with internal partners in Deployment, Destination Development, Sales, Marketing, Revenue, Hotel Operations, Onboard Revenue, Port Operations, IT, Guest Travel Services, and International Offices.
- Support partnerships, product development, and negotiations with external partners including tour operators, airlines, hotels, transfer providers, and travel agencies.
- Perform other duties as required, understanding that this job description is not comprehensive and may include additional tasks assigned by management.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in tourism or a related field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
- 3-5 years of experience in the river cruise industry or in destination product development; longer experience is an advantage.
- Fluent in English; proficiency in additional languages is beneficial.
- Proven success in a fast-paced environment with demanding timelines.
- Experience in high-performing and multicultural teams.
- Prior experience in project management, consumer insights, or strategy-focused roles is highly preferred.
- Experience in formulating and advocating strategy and executive-level recommendations.
- Willingness to travel up to 45-55% of the time.
Knowledge and Skills
- Collaborative with exemplary communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Highly analytical, with the ability to transform raw data into actionable strategies.
- Proactive problem-solver, thriving in group settings.
- Inspirational leader, able to motivate team and stakeholder performance.
- Organized and methodical in research, prioritization, and implementation processes.
- Strong attention to detail and adept in process management.
- Exceptional project management abilities, fostering consensus in cross-functional teams.
- Strategic thinker capable of framing new and complex issues effectively.
- Effective storyteller, bridging the gap between technical and business matters, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.
- Disciplined and adaptable in the face of ambiguity, with the maturity to engage with multiple stakeholders across a global organization.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.