Director of Maritime Refits & Strategic Projects

Job Description

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for maritime excellence and large-scale project delivery? Carnival UK is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Refits & Strategic Projects to lead our fleetwide Asset Management programme across the P&O Cruises and Cunard brands.

In this pivotal role, you will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of our rolling refit programme and strategic dry dock projects. Youll collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure our vessels remain fit-for-purpose, compliant, and aligned with our corporate goals—delivering exceptional guest satisfaction through world-class ship condition.

Key Objectives:

Lead the end-to-end delivery of refit and strategic projects, ensuring alignment with timelines, budgets, and specifications. Manage a cross-functional team including Senior Managers, Superintendents, and external contractors. Act as the primary contact for major dry dockings and strategic initiatives, including emergency interventions. Develop and maintain strategic project plans, capital budgets, and vessel condition roadmaps. Ensure compliance with SOLAS, IMO, Class, and Flag regulations. Drive continuous improvement through effective stakeholder engagement, governance, and reporting. Create and implement Executive summary reports for future strategic changes needed within the fleet  Identify and recommend costed resource requirements to support development and planning 

Our role categories range from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President) so you can clearly see internal development opportunities. This role is a CUK05 and is offered on a full time, permanent basis, with at least three days based in our Southampton office. 

About You 

Fresh ideas and different perspectives are what excite us most and help us to succeed. Alongside bringing these to the role, youll also need: 

A Certificate of Competency or a marine-related degree/HND/HNC. Extensive experience in dry dock and maritime operations, with project budgets up to £100M. Strong understanding of maritime regulations and commercial project management. Proven leadership in managing diverse teams and complex logistics. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. Project Management qualifications and sea-time experience (desirable). 

Being part of our team has its advantages… 

This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll shape the future of our fleets operational excellence. You'll work in a collaborative, values driven environment that champions innovation, safety and sustainability. 

Were a holiday company so we know theres more to life than work. Our comprehensive range of benefits are designed to help your personal and financial health and wellbeing. 

Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers  Annual bonus   Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme  Employee-led networks  Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes  Recognition scheme with prizes and awards  Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme  Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment  In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP  Life Assurance  Parental and adoption leave  Employee Shares Plan   Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes  Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals  Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal 

We work flexibly and will help you to find a healthy balance of remote working and time in our fantastic Southampton office, collaborating, taking part in events and getting to know people that makes working with us so rewarding. We welcome the opportunity to discuss reduced hours and job share arrangements. 

#LI-Hybrid 

#LI-VN1

#Job Functions: Engineering; Project Management; Quality Assurance; 

About Us

Holidays are one of lifes greatest pleasures. Having the chance to relax, escape and explore is a magical thing. And there is no better holiday than a cruise.No one knows cruising like Carnival UK, where talented people from across the globe come together to create unforgettable holiday happiness. As part of the worlds largest holiday travel and leisure company, we take enormous pride in bringing to life two of the most iconic brands from Britains rich seafaring heritage, P&O Cruises and Cunard. Collectively they have been delivering unbridled joy, boundless adventure and lifelong memories to millions of people for over 350 years. And in a multi-million pound global holiday market, where cruising has barely scratched the surface, we have the opportunity to do that for many, many more people.Our diverse yet tight knit teams share high standards, heartfelt values and passion for our purpose. Our Culture Essentials describe the expectations we have for ourselves and of each other, in building a culture that supports safe, sustainable, compliant operations and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.Its through the successful delivery of these extraordinary travel experiences for our target markets and our distinctive culture, that we hope to become Travels Employer of Choice.