Manager, Special Projects

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 - Special Projects - manages all aspects of the planning and execution of fleet technical environmental, safety and energy saving project. Working primarily with the Company's operations departments, shipboard senior management, contractors, shipyards and classification societies, to ensure completion within the approved financial plan and agreed timescales.

This role requires a strong focus on collaboration and liaison with the Technical Operations Electrical and Automation team, for the correct electrical/automation engineering and full integration and alignment of projects with all other ongoing and planned fleet initiatives.

The Manager- Special Projects manages the team of onboard Fleet Project Managers in the execution of activities being carried out onboard ships, both in service and during docking periods. The team size will flex to meet the demands of each project. Personnel will be assigned to Manager, Special projects as defined and requested.

The role also supports the development/electrical engineering of fleet energy reduction, safety, and environmental projects in coordination with Corporate energy conservation and safety group strategies and collaborates with company brands and Carnival Corporate teams to create efficiencies and streamline processes.

The Manager-Special Projects proactively engages and collaborates with shipboard personnel in project development and implementation to ensure early understanding and adoption of key sustainability initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have a background in the maritime industry, with a background in electro-technical engineering and have experience in both a seagoing and shoreside managerial role. Strong communication skills, a proactive and collaborative approach to project management are essential.

Here’s a summary of what Princess is looking for in a Manager, Special Projects. Is this you?

Responsibilities:

• Supports the development and management of projects and project personnel in alignment with company and regulatory requirements. Leads and contributes to the planning, definition, and execution of assigned projects, ensuring all activities comply with company policies, established procedures, maritime legislation, and applicable flag‑state and classification society. Requirements. Provides oversight and guidance to project team members, establishing clear expectations, monitoring performance, and ensuring work is executed safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards.

• Monitors project progress and action plans while providing regular updates to senior management. Tracks schedule, budget, risks, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects by utilizing appropriate project management methodologies and tools. Develops and distributes timely progress reports, dashboards, and variance analyses to senior management, highlighting trends, potential challenges, and recommended corrective actions to maintain project alignment with strategic objectives.

• Supports project implementation and completion through cross‑functional collaboration. Facilitates smooth project execution by coordinating activities among suppliers, contractors, shipyards, and multi‑disciplinary departments both shoreside and onboard. Ensures all stakeholders understand project scope, technical requirements, timelines, and deliverables. Drives issue resolution and fosters a collaborative environment to achieve successful and timely project outcomes.

• Reviews and submits regulatory documentation and plans to Classification Societies

• Prepares, reviews, and compiles all mandatory regulatory documents, engineering drawings, and technical plans required for submission to the relevant Classification Society. Ensures accuracy, completeness, and alignment with statutory and class rules before submission, and follows up to address comments, queries, or required revisions to secure timely plan approval.

• Provides recommendations and facilitates issue resolution across internal and external stakeholders

• Assesses project‑related risks, technical challenges, and stakeholder feedback; develops well‑informed recommendations to support decision‑making. Ensures effective communication among shipboard personnel, Classification Societies, shipyards, and suppliers to resolve issues promptly and maintain project continuity and compliance.

• Conducts ship surveys, site visits, and attends dry‑dock periods as required

• Performs onboard surveys, inspections, and condition assessments to validate project requirements, verify installation quality, and monitor progress. Participates in dry‑dock periods as needed, overseeing work execution, confirming adherence to specifications, and coordinating corrective actions to address deficiencies or emergent issues.

• Collaborates with other Corporate brands to evaluate technology and project initiatives

• Engages with technical and operational counterparts across Corporate brand groups to exchange insights, review emerging technologies, and evaluate potential project concepts. Identifies opportunities to enhance fleet performance, create operational efficiencies, standardize best practices, and deliver cost‑saving or value‑generating solutions across the enterprise.

• Ensures integrated and safe project solutions through cross‑stakeholder coordination

• Works closely with shipboard management, shipyards, contractors, and classification representatives to ensure that proposed solutions are technically sound, operationally feasible, and implemented safely. Promotes seamless integration of new equipment, system modifications, or upgrades into shipboard operations while upholding the highest safety and compliance standards.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: Manage multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams with ongoing or new projects to ensure projects are implemented in the saftest, most efficient and sustainable means possible. Lead the Electrical Engineering processes and project design activities through development and execution of projects through to installation, commissioning and operations onboard. Ensure that projects are engineered and completed in line with the Brands strategies and vision. Support development of procedures to improve working efficiency of the team using new or updated processes and tools. Support development of new emissions reduction, environmental and sustainability initiatives through independent research, collaboration within the company or corporation and collaborating with 3rd party suppliers, contracting companies and consultants, in order to maintain compliance with current and future legislation

• Problem Solving: The Manager-Special Projects will be expected undertake the ownership of an assigned project from the conceptual design phase, plan the execution phase and arrange the appropriation and release of the required funding. The Manager will be responsible for the vetting of and selection of the required vendors and other stakeholders to ensure project success, along with specifying scopes of work, raising sub-contracts, and controlling spend. In addition to managing the engineering, procurement and logistical phases of the project(s) assigned, the Manager-Special Projects will coordinate all aspects of the installation onboard, commissioning, training and handover of projects into service, through a combination of planning, engineering, change management, stakeholder management and clear communications throughout. The Manager-Special Projects will be responsible for defining the level of resource and support they will need in order to successfully complete the project, and to make the necessary request for the allocation of that resource to work on their project team. Additionally, the Manager-Special Projects will contribute to research and development activities carried out by the Team and aimed at achieving future business goals, providing input based on their own experience, knowledge and technical understanding.

• Impact: The Manager-Special Projects role will ensure the safe and continuous technical operations of the fleet, in a compliant manner, whilst also further the Corporation's sustainability goals and reducing business operational costs, increasing profitability.

• Leadership: The Manager-Special Projects will typically be assigned individual projects, or multiples thereof, with capital plan values up to ca. $2.0M each. They will be responsible for the control of the finances for allocated project(s) and the spend. The Manager-Special Projects will identify and request the necessary personnel, skill-sets and resources needed to successfully complete the project objectives. A cross-functional team will be created and all relevant inter-departmental stakeholders and team members clearly identified and secured. The Manager-Special projects will then be responsible for managing that team throughout the project until completion. Additionally, Seagoing/shipboard personnel will be seconded to work under the Manager-Special Projects throughout the execution phase of the assigned project, along with members of other departments in a 'dotted line' arrangement. In order to successfully manage the assigned project(s) through the various phases through to successful completion requires the Manager-Special Projects to continuously exhibit strong leadership skills in terms of communication, empowerment, motivational techniques and perseverance. The management of the required cross-functional teams also necessitates empathy, negotiation skills and understanding due to the potential for conflicting priorities and goals with in the Business.

Essential/Minimum Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications:
• Associates Degree - Engineering
• Batchelor's Degree - Engineering
• Project Management Training / Certification
Preferred Qualifications:
• Marine Electro-Technical Officer Certification - Class 1
• Marine Engineer Certification - Class 1
• PMP Certificate

Minimum Skills:

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

• Understanding of project commercial cost analysis & negotiation

• Strong written and oral communication skills, for presenting, negotiating, and resolving technical, inter-personal and commercial matters

• Self-starter capable of and willing to participate in a mix of remote / home working and office visits for collaboration events

• Capable of multi-tasking and working under pressure to maintain agreed project and logistics deadlines

• Able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, leads through empowerment and demonstrates high relationship building capabilities

Essential experience required:

• 5 years experience in cruise ship, naval or offshore industry technical and commercial leadership, marine operations, and project management

• Leadership with a proven, strong understanding of interpersonal, decision making, communication and empowerment skills to enable interaction with shipboard & shoreside management, employees, shipyards & vendors

Travel: Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.

Physical Demands: Remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time, reasonable adjustments will be offered.

** 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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