Lead, Music Experience

About the position The Lead, Music Experience at Carnival oversees live music offerings, including Rock band, CenterStage Band, Latin Quartet, String Trio, Duos, Piano Bar, Soloists, and Pro DJs. This role ensures musical experiences align with Carnival Values and brand strategy, while maintaining best practices for a safe and fun rehearsal and installation process. Key responsibilities include managing the artistic integrity of the fleet-wide music program, scheduling and training the Fleet Music Manager team, and providing feedback during ship visits. The Lead coordinates with the Music Rehearsals team to ensure smooth rehearsal processes and oversees fleet piano tuning and dry dock conversions. Additional duties involve building rehearsal schedules, supporting technical needs, and assisting with talent scheduling. The Lead trains and guides shipboard Fleet Music Managers and Music Managers fostering a positive team environment and promoting mutual respect. The role embodies Carnival’s values, encourages team insights, and proactively resolves conflicts to enhance collaboration and operational success. Responsibilities • Oversee shipboard live music offerings including Rock band, CenterStage Band, Latin Quartet, String Trio, Duos, Piano Bar, Soloists, and Pro DJs. • Execute background music program and ensure musical experiences are aligned with Carnival Values and brand strategy. • Establish and maintain best practices for a safe and fun rehearsal and install process by inspiring and motivating team members. • Maintain artistic integrity of fleet-wide shipboard music program: music acts and Pro DJ’s, background music, music programming standards, demographic targeted music performances, musician style guide. • Manage, develop, and schedule traveling Fleet Music Manager team to maximize positive impact on fleetwide music operation. • Provide feedback and direction during ship visits focused on music programming, BGM, inventory, leadership training, and relationship building. • Coordinate with the Lead, Music Rehearsals to ensure the agile rehearsal process runs smoothly by facilitating pre-arrival communication, orientations, Music Manager training, and Studio-to-Ship handover process. • Oversee fleet piano tuning and dry dock conversions: coordinating fleet piano tuning monthly schedule. • Work with the Carnival Studios team to build rehearsal schedules, confirm staffing, and support technical needs. • Provide feedback to the Casting and Booking team to ensure the recruitment and scheduling of highly skilled musicians. • Work with other disciplines on strategic planning and development to enhance overall performance and efficiency. • Directly responsible for managing, training, and scheduling shipboard Music Managers: provide feedback and direction during ship visits, music programming, musical equipment R&M, relationship building, conflict resolution, etc. • Deliver leadership training to shipboard Music Managers and offer guidance and support for their continued development. • Participate in team meetings, projects, and brainstorming sessions to encourage collaboration and idea sharing. • Foster a positive team environment by recognizing individual contributions and promoting mutual respect and support. • Live Carnival’s expected behaviors, such as speaking up, respecting, protecting, improving, communicating, listening, learning, and empowering. • Encourage team members to share insights, challenges, and suggestions to enhance collaboration and operational success while proactively resolving conflicts. • Review and refine safety practices, create and enforce training programs, ensuring the highest level of team safety while maintaining operational integrity. • Ensure teams are prepared for safe operations. • Assist in emergency planning for natural disasters and executing emergency plans. • Ensure full compliance with company policies and procedures, emphasizing safety protocols and operational standards as outlined by Global HESS (Health, Environment, Safety, and Security) and ADA guidelines. • Protect the personal information of shipboard entertainment team members by maintaining robust data security measures. • Maintain music program through strategic fleet audits and ship visits and fleet supervisors to support shipboard and studio operations. • Monitor monthly TGEM scores, and guest comments to evaluate performance of the onboard musical offerings. • Gather and analyze feedback from guests and shipboard personnel to identify areas for improvement for the Music team. • Regularly review customer feedback and data to identify trends and areas needing improvement. • Closely monitor and reassess rehearsal days per show. • Continuously evaluate the planning and execution of the contractor schedule to ensure fiscal responsibility. • Track monthly budgets and carefully review invoices for accuracy. • Track and manage expenses including auditing the coding, categorization, and amounts of purchases to ensure alignment with entertainment account strings and maintaining communication with the Accounts Payable department. • Manage personal and direct reports’ travel arrangements and expenses in line with Carnival Cruise Line’s policies. Requirements • Thorough knowledge of commercial music repertoire, Carnival’s performance techniques, theatrical music involvement, people management, and music programming. • A quick study who can deliver material in a clear, concise, and inspiring way. • Intimate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, Clarabridge, and computer networking infrastructure. • Intimate understanding of Music/Cruise operations. • Excellent verbal and written communication. • Project management with strategic thinking applied to complex problems. • Competent multi-tasking, balancing short and long-term objectives. • Motivated and independent worker. • Bachelor's degree in Music, Operations, Business, People Management, Leadership • 5+ years in music performance, business, cruise entertainment or comparable industry, preferably in a teaching or supervisorial role. • Thorough knowledge of musical repertoire. • Expertise in one or more areas such as cruise ships, hosted music events, special events, show production, operation, music, and events. • Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications, with advanced skills in Excel, Word Power Point. • Proven track record in scheduling and planning and able to ensure accuracy to avoid scheduling conflicts and errors. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with team members, vendors, stakeholders, and colleagues. • Effectively resolving conflicts and finding common ground to maintain a positive work environment. • Identifying issues and developing creative and effective solutions. • The ability to guide, motivate, and support team to achieve their best performance. • Self-directed individual with initiative, analytical and problem-solving skills • Providing guidance and support to help team members grow and develop their skills with honest feedback. • Making informed and timely decisions that benefit the team and organization. • Being flexible and able to adjust to changing circumstances and challenges. • Building strong relationships and fostering a collaborative team environment. • Maintaining a positive attitude to inspire and motivate the team. • Strong ability to manage time efficiently to meet deadlines and keep projects on track. • Diplomacy, maturity and ability to keep confidences • Skilled in setting priorities and maintaining well-organized tasks and projects. • Proficient in project management principles and capable of managing multiple projects at one time. • Collaborative and willing to work with others to achieve common goals. • Capable of handling multiple tasks and projects independently. Nice-to-haves • Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely Benefits • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources • Company paid term life insurance and disability coverage • 401(k) plan that includes a company match • Employee Stock Purchase plan • 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. • 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 • Annual cash bonus program