Job Summary

The Senior Director, Mobile Applications is responsible for enterprise-wide execution and operational excellence of all branded mobile applications across the full guest journey. This role leads Research, Design, Experimentation, Product Management, and Front-End Technology for mobile platforms supporting acquisition, pre-cruise, onboard, post-cruise, and offline experiences. The Senior Director is accountable for translating stakeholder-defined product priorities into high-quality, scalable, and reliable mobile solutions through disciplined execution of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). The Senior Director oversees budgets, planning, stakeholder alignment, and delivery of projects, enhancements, and maintenance initiatives while managing a hybrid model of internal teams and managed service provider (MSP) partners. This role ensures innovation, scalability, and measurable business value while driving AI adoption and future AI product integration within the mobile ecosystem. This role consults to and understands, but does not own, mobile product strategy, prioritization, or business performance metrics, but is accountable for delivery excellence, technical integrity, release predictability, and operational performance of mobile platforms.

Position Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders to translate mobile product strategies and priorities into executable delivery roadmaps.
• Provide input to inform feasibility, sequencing, capacity planning, and dependency management.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning Product Management, UX/UI Design, Research, Front-End Engineering, Release Management, and Experimentation functions.
• Oversee delivery of all mobile initiatives including large-scale projects, feature enhancements, experimentation programs, and production maintenance.
• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end mobile SDLC, including intake, estimation, sprint execution, release management, and post-release support.
• Ensure predictable, transparent, and measurable delivery performance across internal and MSP teams.
• Partner with key stakeholders to inform the full mobile guest journey strategy, ensuring seamless experiences from acquisition through post-cruise engagement, including offline functionality.
• Partner closely with Core Services/Back-End teams and upstream systems (e.g., Reservation Systems, Shipboard Property Management Systems (SPMS), and enterprise platforms) to ensure integration alignment and data continuity.
• Manage operating and capital budgets, resource and capacity planning, and financial forecasting for the mobile portfolio.
• Collaborate with Tech Strategy Team on vendor contracts, including SaaS providers.
• Direct mixed delivery model of internal FTE pods and MSP/vendor pods to ensure scalable and efficient execution.
• Report on delivery performance metrics, including release predictability, cycle time, defect rates, system stability, platform performance, and technical health indicators.
• Provide transparent executive reporting on roadmap execution, risks, dependencies, and capacity trade-offs.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to establish KPIs and performance metrics related to adoption, revenue impact, engagement, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction that can then be tracked and reported against.
• Lead experimentation and A/B/x testing strategies to optimize conversion, usability, and engagement and ensure that scalable mobile experimentation frameworks are built, maintained, and reliably executed.
• Own AI strategy within mobile teams, leveraging AI tools to improve team productivity, automate workflows, and drive operational efficiency.
• Enable the incorporation of AI-driven products and capabilities into mobile guest experiences.
• Ensure governance, security, compliance, and performance standards are consistently met across all mobile applications.
• Serve as liaison to relevant brand, operations, marketing, revenue management, and technology stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, collaboration, transparency, and passion across mobile and cross-functional teams.
• Build and develop a high-performing mobile organization, including succession planning, leadership development, and operating model clarity across internal and MSP resources
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• This role owns “how” mobile solutions are delivered — not “what” is prioritized or the commercial performance of those solutions.

Degree Type: Bachelor's Degree

Fields of Study: Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Administration, Digital Media or Related Field. Master’s Degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in digital product management, mobile application development, AI/LLM, and/or technology leadership.
• Minimum of 6+ years of senior leadership experience managing managers and cross-functional digital teams.
• Experience leading enterprise-scale applications supporting large user bases across multiple brands or business units.
• Experience managing hybrid delivery models (internal teams and external vendors/MSPs).
• Experience overseeing budgets, financial forecasting, and vendor contracts.
• Experience integrating applications with complex enterprise systems and APIs.
• Experience leading experimentation frameworks and digital optimization initiatives.
• Experience implementing or scaling AI-driven capabilities within digital products preferred.

Preferred:

• Experience in hospitality, travel, cruise, gaming, or consumer-facing digital ecosystems.
• Experience supporting distributed or shipboard-connected technology environments.

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Strong enterprise leadership and executive presence.
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence across complex mobile application portfolios.
• Deep understanding of Agile delivery models, SDLC governance, and mobile release management.
• Strong financial acumen including budget oversight, forecasting, and portfolio investment management.
• Experience leading hybrid internal and MSP/vendor delivery models.
• Solid technical fluency across native mobile platforms, APIs, enterprise integrations, and performance standards.
• Understanding of distributed and offline-capable mobile environments.
• Data-driven mindset with familiarity in experimentation and optimization frameworks.
• Understanding of AI/LLM capabilities and their application within mobile platforms.
• Strong organizational leadership, talent development, and succession planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder alignment skills.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES

Add certifications/licenses (if any) here.

Relevant certifications in product management, Agile methodologies, digital strategy, AI/ML, or cloud technologies preferred but not required