Entertainment & Events Director (Shipboard)

Department: Entertainment

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Reporting To: General Manager

Description

The Entertainment & Events Director is the leader of the Entertainment and Enrichment Team, including the Entertainment, Enrichment, Live Music and Art Programs. In addition, this leader also oversees the Ritz Kids Team and the Aquatics program. Bringing a rich experience of time spent immersed in “The Arts” this is not a Cruise Director position. This multi-talented and versatile leader brings to life the core components of the onboard experience for our guests. Overseeing all entertainment and event scheduling onboard, managing special events and spending time with guests to ensure all onboard programming exceeds guest expectations and brand standards. The Entertainment & Events Director connects all elements of Entertainment, Live Music, Enrichment and Programming to ensure a memorable onboard guest experience. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Lady or Gentleman for this job. Functions, duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with the Company's Safety, Quality and Environmental standards.

Essential Duties

1. Expert knowledge of Entertainment, Live Music and Enrichment program delivery. 
2. Oversees all management of onboard art, entertainment, live music, events, activities, and schedules accordingly to ensure a guest experience that embraces all brand programming pillars. 
3. Works in partnership with the corporate team and Entertainment Partner to agree, schedule and program all live music and local enrichment artists. Takes a lead involvement with all music artist audition reel reviews and evaluation.
4. Ensures all broadcasting, sound and light experiences, maintenance and programming exceed the needs of the onboard yacht program. Takes a proactive approach to scheduling any preventative repair and maintenance needs.
5. Leads the development, planning and scheduling of strategic guest events designed around the core programming pillars. 
6. Seeks meaningful ways to promote all revenue centers onboard in an organic and genuine way that takes into consideration the expectations and awareness of a savvy luxury traveler. 
7. Delivers Enrichment talks each voyage to provide a lens for guests into relevant enrichment content with respect to the specific itinerary and voyage destinations. 
8. Reports out weekly on all entertainment ratings and statistics to the Corporate Cruise Hotel Operations team. 
9. Manages the planning, development and distribution of all voyage event programs, collaborating with all onboard stakeholders to build a program of events that is relevant to the season and current guest demographic. 
10. Manages key events throughout the voyage to ensure that they meet brand standards. High attention to detail to maximize the guests experience ensuring that the atmosphere is just right from sound, lighting, to décor. 
11. Supervises The Ritz Kids team to ensure that the program is delivered safely and in accordance with all Ritz Kids pillars and foundational values. Oversees and provides guidance to the Activities and Aquatics Manager as required.
12. Oversees the Aquatics team and all aquatics programming to ensure a safe, well thought out and meaningful aquatics program for all guests onboard.
13. Leads all onboard planning for all “themed” sailings and coordinates all logistics for designated sailings where each featured guest artist will sail to promote the program and theme of the sailing such as Wellness, Art, Film and Culinary. 
14. Builds relationships with guests through hosting and/or supporting events on and off the yacht. Events include but are not limited to shoreside beach events, onboard revenue, entertainment, loyalty, dining, and scenography program participation. Partners with The Shore Collection Team to escort guests on tours when in port to further drive guest engagement and connectivity. 
15. Ensures the safety of all guests and participates in emergency duties and drills onboard as allocated. 

People Management

1. Model and hold others accountable for promoting the Gold Standards, respect and fair treatment
2. Ensures the Daily execution of Line-up in accordance with company standards and Brand Guidelines
3. Sets the department’s expectations for desired behavior, knowledge and skill levels
4. Coaches others by providing constructive feedback; helps others identify developmental needs and monitors progress; promoting an environment where everyone is valued and included
5. Demonstrates alignment with corporate strategies and initiatives while ensuring alignment throughout the yacht organization
6. Ensures maximum focus on development of all Guest Services Ladies and Gentlemen
7. Ensures the department adheres to, monitors and enforces the grooming standards according to brand standards and expectations

Qualifications

1. Valid Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and flag certification for the duration of the contract and appropriate to position. 
2. Bachelor’s degree in the Entertainment field including, Music Production, Light & Sound, Communications or industry equivalent. 
3. Strong eye for creative detail and deep knowledge of the entertainment, live performance and theater world. 
4. Superior customer service, public speaking and presentation skills. Commanding presence with the ability to “own the room”. 
5. Experience in a management or supervisory role for a minimum of 3 years.
6. Excellent English written and verbal communication skills. 
7. Experience as a performer (e.g. music, theater, dance) considered an asset.
8. Technical knowledge of Sound and Light equipment considered an asset. 
9. Event management experience considered an asset. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The Lady or Gentleman must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• All Yacht Ladies and Gentlemen must be physically able to participate in emergency lifesaving procedures and drills. Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats. Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• All Yacht Ladies and Gentlemen must be able to communicate in the English language in order to understand and interpret written procedures. This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors and co-workers.