Manager, Dry Dock Planning

Job Description

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess is the world’s leading international premium cruise line and tour company, carrying millions of guests each year to hundreds of destinations around the globe. We give our guests the Medallion Class experience others simply can’t. The Love Boat promises something for everyone.

The Manager Dry Dock planning & support is responsible for independently leading and executing the Dry Dock Planning process for assigned vessels through cross-functional coordination, planning, communication, and execution readiness activities. The role serves as the primary point of accountability for dry dock planning and is expected to proactively drive timelines, identify risks, resolve conflicts, and ensure deliverables are completed within established milestones. The position requires facilitating and leading large, multidisciplinary planning meetings involving 30+ attendees from shipboard and shoreside departments, external partners, contractors, and leadership teams. Success in this role depends on the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with audiences of varying technical and operational backgrounds, maintain alignment among stakeholders, and drive decisions and accountability. The Manager, Dry Dock Planning must be capable of working independently with limited supervision, managing multiple dry dock projects simultaneously, and communicate effectively with all stakeholders to ensure all planning activities, documentation, risks, and stakeholder requirements are captured and executed according to approved timelines and company procedures.

Here’s a summary of what Princess is looking for in a Manager, Dry Dock Planning & Support. Is this you?

Responsibilities:

• Dry Dock Planning & Coordination: Lead the planning process for assigned dry docks, ensuring milestones, deliverables, budgets, and schedules are tracked and completed on time; following up with Superintendents, Project Managers, and stakeholders to ensure project scope information, technical specifications, budgets, schedules, and supporting documentation are entered into the dry dock management system within the required timelines.

• Coordinate planning activities associated with dry dock operations, including: loading and logistics operations, berthing arrangements, turnaround day activities and operational readiness planning.

• Ensures planning deliverables are complete, accurate, and aligned with established planning procedures.

• Support the Senior Manager, Dry Dock Planning with administration, development, and continuous improvement of dry dock planning systems and processes. Provide recommendations to improve reporting, planning efficiency, stakeholder visibility, and data quality.

• Work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, shipboard teams, and stakeholders to develop: interference plans, outage management plans, resource conflict mitigation plans, operational readiness plans, prepare and maintain project schedules and Gantt charts to identify conflicts, critical path activities and develop mitigation strategies. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders in the development and maintenance of the Dry Dock General Risk Assessment. Support identification of risks and mitigation strategies throughout the planning lifecycle.

• Coordinate post-drydock reviews and retrospective meetings. Identify and collects from stakeholders all best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities for process improvement and ensure implementation into future planning activities.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: The Manager, Dry Dock Planning & Support is responsible for planning and coordinating assigned dry dock projects to ensure project milestones, schedules, risks, and stakeholder requirements are managed effectively. The role serves as a key link between shipboard operations, technical departments, project management teams, supply chain, finance, and senior leadership to ensure dry dock projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget.

• Problem solving: The role routinely addresses complex operational, technical, financial, and scheduling challenges where solutions are not always clearly defined. The Manager must analyze large volumes of project data, competing priorities, resource constraints, and operational requirements to develop practical and effective solutions. The position requires anticipating risks that may impact project delivery, identifying gaps in planning, and implementing mitigation strategies before they affect schedule, cost, quality, or regulatory compliance. The role frequently evaluates alternative execution strategies, resolves conflicts between stakeholders, and balances business objectives against budget, operational, and schedule constraints.

• Impact: The role directly impacts the successful planning and execution of assigned dry dock projects through effective coordination, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Through the development and enforcement of planning standards, governance processes, and best practices, the position helps drive consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement within the dry dock discipline. Effective performance in this role contributes to minimizing operational disruptions, reducing project risks, improving financial performance, and ensuring vessels are returned to service safely and on time. Recommendations and decisions made within the role are regularly relied upon by senior leadership and project stakeholders.

• Leadership: The Manager, Dry Dock Planning & Support provides leadership through expertise, influence, and coordination rather than through direct supervisory responsibility. The role provides project leadership and coordination across cross-functional teams to support successful dry dock planning and execution. Facilitates communication, follows up on deliverables, and assists stakeholders in maintaining alignment with project objectives among stakeholders that often include peers, senior leaders, project managers, superintendents, shipboard personnel, supply chain, finance, and external partners. The success depends on the ability to influence individuals at the same organizational level and above, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and drive accountability without direct authority.

Essential/Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Proficient in the use of computer business applications and project planning/management tools.

• Experience in Cruise Industry or shipyard operations and project management

• Experience in multiple drydocks in the cruise industry.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP Certified.

• AMOS experience

• Autodesk CAD experience preferred.

Essential experience required:

• Demonstrated ability to confidently facilitate meetings and presentations with large, diverse audiences.

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of classification society and flag rules and regulations

• Experience with significant cultural, organizational, and change management

Travel: 25-50% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work may require employee to work inside and/or outside with exposure to changing climate and/or operate machinery.

Physical Demands: Regular movement throughout company facilities.

** This position is classified as “in-office.” As an in-office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Princess office Monday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Fridays.

Princess provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including:

What You Can Expect

• Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family
• Health Benefits
• 401(k)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Training & Professional Development
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement
• Rewards & Incentives

Our Culture… Stronger Together

Our highest responsibility and top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside employees. Please visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials, Corporate Vision Statement and our Core Values at:

Princess is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Princess will provide reasonable accommodation with the application process, upon your request, as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact [email protected].

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