Director, Entertainment Experience and Programming

Job Description

Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873. Our ships offer innovative features and enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel, inviting guests to savor the journey.

We are looking for a Director of Entertainment Product & Programming. The Director of Entertainment Product & Programming leads Holland America Line and Seabourn's Entertainment Experience Team, overseeing the strategic development, integration, and continuous evolution of all guest-facing entertainment products. This role supervises and guides the Experience Owners for Shows & Live Music, Activities & Destination Information, Speakers & Cultural Enrichment, and Media & Events - ensuring their work aligns with brand identity, guest demographics, the Entertainment Experience Lifecycle, and the three strategic pillars : Fit & Appeal, Breadth & Frequency, and Trade Adaptation. The Director ensures that every entertainment experience - from world-class mainstage productions to enrichment talks, activities, and onboard media - is designed with clarity, authenticity, cultural intelligence, and operational feasibility. They serve as the principal architect of cross-category entertainment strategy and work closely with Process & System Owners to ensure scalability, quality, and cost discipline across 16 ships. This is a senior strategic role requiring creative judgment, systems thinking, organizational leadership, strong emotional intelligence, and the ability to maintain the taste standard for both HAL and Seabourn brands.

Here's a summary of what Holland America Line is looking for. Is this you?

Responsibilities :

• Leadership and Execution : Directly lead, coach, and develop the Experience Owners (EOs), each reasonable for the overall effectiveness of their assigned area of the entertainment experience : Shows & Live Music, Activities & Destination Information, Speakers & Cultural Enrichment, Media & Events. Ensure cross-category cohesion, shared standards, and unified strategic direction. Drive a culture of clarity, taste, emotional intelligence, and accountability within the Experience Team.
• Entertainment Product Development & Road mapping : Lead the multi-year entertainment product development strategy for both brands, in partnership with the VP, Entertainment. Oversee portfolio planning across daily entertainment, signature experiences, long and complex itineraries, and new product initiatives. Ensure all experience roadmaps consider the strategic pillars and brand vision as defined based on guest insights and company goals. Decide what goes into the fleet, why, and when with oversight of end-to-end product development.
• Lifecycle Governance - Oversight of Design & Development : Own the Design & Develop stage at the leadership level; ensure each EO executes it with effectiveness and clarity. Coach EOs in experience design, creative direction, and product management, and overall calibration within each brand's distinctive identity and brand standards. Ensure experiences are simple to operate, scalable, and cost efficient for desired impact. Partner with Process & System Owners to ensure each product meets requirements for Casting, Tech / Safety, Procurement, and Delivery / Sustained Quality.
• Brand Integrity & Differentiation : Serve as a steward of both HAL and Seabourn entertainment identities. Partner closely with the Marketing and Guest Experience leaders for each brand, to ensure standards are protected and onboard experiences developed and executed in collaboration with other hotel departments for optimal impact. Collaborate with the VP, Entertainment to ensure that all pre and post cruise guest communications are directly correlated with the actual onboard experience, including monitoring each brand's website and sales materials. Uphold brand taste level across all entertainment experiences; eliminate clichés, disingenuity, or off-brand characteristics to confirm all creative and product decisions and executions are data-driven and in service to each brand's primary and emerging audiences.
• Strategic Partnerships & Visibility : Collaborate with VP Entertainment, Marketing, and executive leadership on high-profile talent opportunities, brand partnerships, and storytelling that aligns with each brand's direction and goals. Represent the department in cross-functional strategy discussions, providing thought leadership and product vision. Help source, develop, and maintain important business partnerships with casting, talent, and creative agencies for overall cost management, industry competition, and the ongoing continuity and success of the guest experience.

Knowledge & Skills :

Requirements

Travel : 25-50% 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 : Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and / or computer for extended periods of time.

This position is classified as "in-office." As an in-office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Holland office Tuesday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Mondays and Fridays.

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

What You Can Expect

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 : https : / / www.hollandamerica.com / en_US / our-company / mission-values.html

Holland America 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)

Holland America will provide reasonable accommodations 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 recruiting@hollandamericagroup.com

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