Program Manager, Product Planning

About the role

This role is responsible for facilitating the planning and execution of cross-functional projects, programs and initiatives. This will include ad hoc research, benchmarking and analysis as well as creating and maintaining tools to support planning, decision making, and resource allocation.

Essential Functions

• Facilitate planning and execution of cross-functional projects, programs, and initiatives. Drive alignment between teams of diverse stakeholders while ensuring clear understanding of accountability, responsibility and deadlines for all workstreams. Follow up with stakeholders as needed to identify and alleviate bottlenecks. Manage timelines and deliverable schedules.
• Ad hoc research, benchmarking, and analysis as required for any project or initiative. Synthesize various information and data to develop strategic recommendations.
• Create and maintain tools independently in a digital platform for the purposes of managing large, complex processes in a fast-paced environment encompassing, planning, responsibility assignment, timelines, budgets, approvals, commitment and milestone tracking.
• Provide weekly / monthly status reports and dashboards. Develop from scratch and regularly update as needed. Provide regular updates to stakeholders and senior levels of executive leadership on Brand Experience and Product Development workstreams
• Partner with Shipboard Operations Analytics to analyze qualitative and quantitative data from Carnival databases and other sources to generate useful metrics as needed
• Create and maintain a system and process for identifying, prioritizing, tracking and evaluating innovative concepts from various sources including shipboard and shoreside team members, market research and consumer insights.
• Build and maintain shared workspaces and team sites to foster efficient collaboration

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Scope: This role oversees cross‑functional projects and initiatives, guiding planning, execution, and stakeholder alignment. It manages tools, timelines, budgets, and systems that support decision‑making and collaboration across multiple workstreams.
• Problem solving: The role conducts research, benchmarking, and data analysis to generate insights and strategic recommendations. It proactively identifies issues such as bottlenecks and creates custom tools and processes to manage complex, fast‑paced project environments.
• Impact: By driving clarity, coordination, and timely execution, this role improves project efficiency and decision-making across stakeholders and leadership. Its reporting, analysis, and innovation‑tracking systems directly inform executive strategy and enhance the organization’s ability to deliver high‑quality initiatives.
• Leadership: This role leads alignment across diverse teams, ensuring accountability, communication, and timely delivery of workstreams. It establishes collaborative systems, provides structured updates to leadership, and builds scalable processes that strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree/ Master’s Degree a Plus
• Discipline/Major: Business Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Finance, IT, Consulting, or related fields
• Experience: 5 + years of experience program management, project management, product development or operations having to manage multiple large projects through a digital platform
• Technical/Computer Skills: MS Project or equivalent
• Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, advanced in Excel, Project, Visio and PowerPoint.
• Skills: Strong analytical, verbal, written and presentation skills. Ability to interpret data, formulate business questions and make recommendations.
• Other: Understanding of the complete ecosystem that makes up a guest experience including the operational requirements needed to support it
• Relationship Building: Ability to build strong relationships and solicit cooperation from individuals in a variety of roles making up a cross-functional team needed to take a project from vision to reality.
• Technical Skills: General understanding of how to read architectural drawings, material specifications and/or take measurements on drawings using programs on AutoCAD or PDF based programs such as BlueBeam Revu
• Personal Attributes: Must take initiative, demonstrate ownership, work with minimum supervision, multi-task and balance numerous evolving priorities; strong organizational skills and agility are critical

Work Conditions

Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

Physical Demands

Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.

About Us

At Carnival Cruise Line, our mission is to consistently deliver safe, fun, and memorable vacations at a great value. As the world’s most popular cruise line, we offer a variety of unique experiences across our fleet, ensuring that every voyage is filled with excitement and discovery. From world-class entertainment and dining to exploring stunning destinations, we create lasting memories for our guests while maintaining a dedication to the places we visit and the lives we touch.

Benefits

• Health Benefits: - Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans
• Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources
• Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage
• Financial Benefits: - 401(k) plan that includes a company match
• Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Paid Time Off - Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.
• Vacation Time - All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year. Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year. All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure.
• Sick Time - All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year. Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.
• Other Benefits - Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends
• Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement
• On-site Fitness center at our Miami campus