Bachelor's degree in HR, Hospitality, Business, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of progressive talent acquisition, onboarding, or workforce mobilization experience, with 5+ years leading teams.
Experience in a regulated, multinational, high-volume hiring environment (cruise, maritime, aviation, luxury hospitality, or similar).
Working knowledge of MLC 2006, STCW, and flag state regulatory requirements for seafarer recruitment and placement.
Proven accountability for operating budgets, vendor management, and multi-stakeholder program delivery; strong analytical orientation.
Excellent written and verbal communication in English; ability to travel internationally 25-50%.
Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end recruiting strategy and execution for shipboard hiring based on operational forecasts.
Steward employer branding and candidate experience, designing frameworks to ensure performance and cultural alignment.
Serve as primary liaison to hospitality and maritime schools globally, fostering talent pipelines.
Launch and manage a fleet-wide Referral Program to engage current staff as brand ambassadors.
Own the onboarding process from offer acceptance through embarkation for all new hires.
Ensure compliance with Training Matrix and seafarer employment documentation requirements.
Lead logistical planning for travel and mobilization processes, managing 24/7 escalations for disruptions.
Benefits
Opportunity to work in a prestigious maritime environment with The Ritz-Carlton brand.
Potential for international travel and diverse cultural experiences.
Flexibility with primarily remote working conditions.
Engagement with top industry talents and partners globally.
Full Job Description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
TALENT SELECTION AND SELECTION
Lead end-to-end recruiting strategy, systems, and execution for all shipboard hiring, translating yacht itineraries, dry/wet-docks, attrition forecasts, and potential new-builds into actionable hiring plans with Shipboard HR and Ops.
Steward an employer brand and candidate experience worthy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection; design selection frameworks that predict performance and cultural alignment with our Gold Standards.
Serve as primary liaison to hospitality and maritime schools, culinary institutes, and specialty training programs worldwide, building durable talent pipelines.
Launch and manage a fleet-wide Referral Program that activates current Ladies and Gentlemen as brand ambassadors.
ONBOARDING AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Own the full onboarding journey - from offer acceptance through embarkation - for every new and returning Lady and Gentleman.
Ensure 100% compliance with the Training Matrix and Competency and Wellness requirements, including seafarer employment documentation, medical fitness exams, STCW training, and function-specific certification, licensing, and visas.
Maintain compliance with MLC 2006 (Regulation 1.4 on Recruitment and Placement), STCW, SOLAS, and Malta Flag Administration instruments; administer the fleet credentialing process so every Lady and Gentleman boards with current, valid documentation.
Manage Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) licensure across all sourcing jurisdictions, and steward audits, reporting, and relationships with each RPS partner.
MOBILIZATION AND TRAVEL
Lead travel logistics to deliver efficient, comfortable, cost-disciplined travel to and from assignments, training, and fleet meetings; establish global travel partnerships and manage TMC relationships.
Own the mobilization process end-to-end: visa/training/fitness exam coordination, pre-departure communications/systems, ground transfers, and first-impression experience on arrival.
Serve as primary 24/7 escalation point for employee-movement disruptions - port closures, flight cancellations, visa denials, and medical disembarkations - to protect operational readiness.
LEADERSHIP, VENDORS, AND PERFORMANCE
Lead and develop a team of ten: one Mobilization, Travel, & Onboarding Experience Manager; one Talent Discovery & Selection Manager; three Talent Discovery & Selection Coordinators; three Mobilization Specialists; and two Travel Coordinators.
Own the operating budget for talent selection, onboarding, travel, medical, and training spend; manage third-party relationships across RPS partners, TMCs, medical providers, training schools, and visa agents.
Serve as business owner for the ATS, onboarding/credentialing platforms, and travel systems, and their integrations with the HRIS, LMS, and Training Matrix.
Hold direct accountability for Cost Per Hire (CPH) and employee NPS; report a broader scorecard including time-to-hire, 90-day retention, Training Matrix compliance %, travel cost per embarkation, and visa/medical rejection rates.
Model the Gold Standards in every team strategy, decision, and external interaction.
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED
Bachelor's degree in HR, Hospitality, Business, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of progressive talent acquisition, onboarding, or workforce mobilization experience, with 5+ years leading teams.
Experience in a regulated, multinational, high-volume hiring environment (cruise, maritime, aviation, luxury hospitality, or similar).
Working knowledge of MLC 2006, STCW, and flag state regulatory requirements applicable to seafarer recruitment and placement.
Proven accountability for operating budgets, vendor management, and multi-stakeholder program delivery; strong analytical orientation.
Excellent written and verbal communication in English consistent with the RCYC voice; ability to travel internationally 25-50%.
PREFERRED
Director-level experience in cruise, yachting, or luxury hospitality.
Prior ownership of an RPS license relationship or equivalent regulatory placement framework.
Exposure to The Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards or Marriott talent operating standards; proficiency in a second source-market language.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Primarily remote; periodic presence at the Fort Lauderdale, Malta, Monaco, and Sydney shoreside offices as well as direct-report visits in India, Philippines, and Indonesia.
Global travel 25-50%, including to Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara in various ports, recruiting fairs, maritime/hospitality schools, and vendor sites.
Availability across global time zones; on-call for operational continuity events; ability to embark and disembark yachts via gangway and move about shipboard environments safely.
Valid passport and ability to obtain visas for countries in which we operate.
