Manager, Entertainment Technical Operations, Disney Cruise Line

Wherever you are in the amazing world of Disney, you are contributing to the stories of our iconic brands, recognised by audiences everywhere for entertainment, information and inspiration. Innovation, imagination and inclusion are at the core of Disney, defining the experience that we deliver as well as providing the foundation of our success. The scope of our business, combined with global growth and collaboration result in an inclusive employee experience characterised by continuous learning, development and achievement.

About Disney Cruise Line

Since launching in 1998, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has established itself as a leader in the cruise industry, providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and children can experience all Disney has to offer. Today, the award-winning Disney Cruise Line continues to expand its blueprint for family cruising with a fleet of six ships — the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, and Disney Treasure — and seven more ships on the way, including the expanded relationship with Oriental Land Company Ltd. to bring Disney cruise vacations to Japan, by 2031. The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to destinations in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand. The Disney Adventure, setting sail in 2025, will be the first to home port in Singapore.

About the Role

The Manager, Entertainment Technical Operations role is responsible for leading the Entertainment Technical Operations Team Shoreside and ensuring strategic development of the future operational tactics shipboard.

This position will support the shipboard entertainment technical team, which is comprised of managerial, supervisory, and professional‑level Crew onboard the DCL fleet while ensuring all entertainment technical fleet expansion deliverables are executed.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the leadership, mentorship, and administration of the Entertainment Technical Operations Team.
• Fleetwide operational budget advisory and oversight.
• Forecast needs of fleetwide operations team and propose budget guidelines.
• Oversee fleetwide spending in accordance with established operational budget.
• Responsible for music and media contracts.
• Advising on departmental Capital Planning.
• Implementing new processes that reinforce efficiencies.
• Developing and implementing change management strategies to support critical evolution of operational needs and achieve desired results that are sustainable over time.
• Oversight of all entertainment technical Crew scheduling in partnership with the Entertainment Technical Resource Manager and Labor Management team.
• Reviewer of all entertainment technical Crew compensation rate quotes and makes final decisions on promotions.
• Oversee of all entertainment technical Crew OTJ training in partnership with the Entertainment Technical Training Manager.
• Oversee all technical safety and regulatory trainings, which include scheduling, tracking and assigning all technical training needs to all crew, officers and senior officers
• Ensure all training schedules, audit tracking and logistics for all onboard entertainment technical Crew is managed in a timely manner.
• Conduct entertainment technical Crew interviews to determine right-fit talent for all positions within the onboard Entertainment Technical department.
• Develop and manage the technician succession planning in partnership with the onboard Managers of Entertainment Technical and Cruise Directors.
• Drive talent development and growth in order to ensure successful retention for shipboard teams.
• Attend weekly staffing planning calls with recruiting, labor management and Shipboard technical leaders.
• Facilitate recruiting presentations designed to identify and attract new talent to DCL.
• Plan and attend recruiting Trade Shows/Job Fairs.
• Identify and maintain international and domestic educational industry partnerships.
• Oversee large-scale special projects simultaneously and assign resources to project manage as needed.
• Create and issue vendor Scope of Works for the bidding and quoting of Entertainment Technical Operations projects.
• Support Technical Directors and/or Designers during the creation and implementation of entertainment events/projects and participate in the DAHA process to ensure compliance with MRs and preventative maintenance requirements.
• Work closely with Creative, Production and Operating teams during event development, installation, commissioning, and test & adjust phases to ensure successful opening and smooth transition to technical operating teams.
• Conduct research needed to influence design of entertainment technical operation and ensure technical compliance with all internal and external regulatory policies, standards, and safety regulations.
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with relevant government licensing bodies, vendors, clients and internal partners.
• Work closely with shoreside and shipboard partners to ensure all entertainment technical areas are operational and show ready.
• Oversee pyrotechnic logistics to ensure safety and international delivery compliance, in accordance with maritime and local laws.
• Partners with shipboard Mgr Entertainment Technical, Entertainment Operations, and Marine & Technical Operations for ongoing entertainment technical support.
• As a leader, the Entertainment Technical Operations Manager provides leadership and functions as a mentor/developer, promotes company-wide standards and efficiencies, and provide professional and social guidance to direct reports through exemplary personal behavior.
• Leadership responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Managing personnel files
  • Conducting performance reviews, including discipline as needed
  • Onboard training/local knowledge
  • New hire onboarding
  • Succession planning
• Executing, updating and auditing the Safety Management System for all entertainment technical operating guidelines in partnership with the Documentation Readiness Team.
• Creating new and managing updates of Entertainment Technical Local Operating Guidelines in partnership with the Documentation Readiness Team.
• Manage Entertainment Technical Risk Assessments, working with DCL Safety and Compliance team.
• Fleetwide department representative for TWDC Tier III Internal Audits.
• Fleetwide department representative for TWDC Corporate Management Audits.
• Part of the Hazard Analysis Core Team advising on historical, current and future shipboard fleetwide operations
• Partners with Disney Cruise Line Safety team to ensure compliance with set policies and procedures as well as all maritime and ship safety standards and Flag compliance.
• Partners with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Entertainment Standards team to ensure company standards compliance.
• Partners with Worldwide Safety team to ensure company safety standards are met.
• Partners with shoreside Entertainment Technical Leadership, Disney Cruise Line Safety partners and the Standards and Sustainment team to ensure Safety Management Systems and Operating Guideline documentation is up to date and in accordance with current safety and regulatory practices.
• SMS - Responsible for upholding the general safety management responsibilities in the Safety Management System within Technical and Entertainment operations.

Work Arrangement Required:

• Available and willing to work weekends, holidays and third shift, as needed.
• Willingness to travel extensively on various domestic and international assignments as needed for Disney Cruise Line and related projects.

Requirements - Experiences:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in strong, diversified team leadership in entertainment project management, live event production and technical disciplines.
• Minimum 10 years progressive leadership experience in one or more of the following industries:  live theatricals, cruise line, theme park and/or large-scale special events/spectaculars.
• Core knowledge and/or subject matter expertise with theatrical technologies, i.e., Technical Direction, Lighting, Special Effects, Pyrotechnics, Audio, Projection, Show Systems, Costuming, Set Design and Construction.

Requirements - Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, organize, provide direction, and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of programs, spreadsheet and presentation software, Microsoft outlook, including collaboration tools and file sharing programs with demonstrated willingness/ability to learn new software applications.
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills and ability to lead conflict resolution with proven successful experience in team building and cross-functional collaboration.
• Champion continuous process improvement.
• Effective problem-solving skills, enhancing the success of each project.
• Proven strong presentation skills.
• Demonstrated exceptional communication skills, including ability to communicate knowledgeably with multiple partners at multiple levels, including site, domestic, and global executives.
• Demonstrated strong leadership, delegation and partnering skills.
• Strong business knowledge of budgets and schedules.

Requirements - Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

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. We are committed to building a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.