This senior leadership position is suited to a strategic and commercially astute product professional who can shape a complex portfolio while influencing at Executive level.
The Role:
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Operations & Product, the Senior Director – Product Development will own the end-to-end product development lifecycle. You will lead long- and mid-term product strategy, oversee seasonal review and launch activity, and ensure new products are delivered to market on time and to the highest standard.
Working in close partnership with the Executive team, including Commercial and Customer leaders, you will help define the future product roadmap, informed by destination expertise, commercial insight and a strong understanding of market trends, opportunities and risks.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development of long-term product strategy and roadmaps
- Contribute at Executive level to future product direction
- Produce high-quality board-level papers and presentations
- Fleet & Onboard Experience: Review and enhance onboard product and support future fleet strategy
- Itineraries & Destinations: Develop compelling itineraries and destination experiences
- Expedition Experience: Evolve on- and off-ship guest experiences
- Conservation & Community: Develop products aligned to sustainability, including community engagement, education and citizen science
- Pre- & Post-Voyage Extensions: Expand land-based extensions including hotels, excursions and tours
- Establish robust and collaborative product development and launch processes
- Build, lead and develop a high-performing team
- Manage priorities and resources in a fast-moving environment
- Define data and insight requirements to inform decision making
- Apply strong commercial judgement across pricing, margin and cost analysis
- Build strong internal and external partnerships to drive innovation
- Lead on procurement and contracting, ensuring appropriate due diligence and commercial rigour
About You:
You will be a senior product leader with experience in expedition, adventure travel, cruise or complex travel products, comfortable operating at Executive level whilst remaining delivery focused.
Essential
- Significant experience in senior product strategy and development roles
- Strong project management capability
- Proven ability to introduce structure, process and pace in large organisations
- Experience working cross-functionally with multiple stakeholders
- Excellent analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
- Strong commercial and financial planning experience
- Contracting, procurement and negotiation expertise
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
- Ability to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills
- Strategic and solutions-focused with a continuous improvement mindset
- Highly organised, proactive and resilient
- Passionate about the outdoors, tourism and adventure travel
- Flexible and willing to travel internationally
- Experience or knowledge of polar or remote-region operations
- Established industry network within expedition or specialist travel sectors
This is a rare opportunity to shape world-class travel products at the highest level. You will influence long-term strategy, work with exceptional people and play a pivotal role in the future growth of a globally recognised expedition brand.
For a confidential discussion or to apply, please get in touch.