The Gig:
Owner of all Entertainment Technical systems and equipment and leader of all entertainment technicians and leaders fleet-wide
What You'll Be Up To:
Essential Responsibilities
Management and Recruitment of Technical Staff
Manage and mentor all onboard entertainment technical leaders, providing guidance, professional development, and performance support
Develop and maintain training plans for all entertainment technical positions, ensuring consistent skill development across the fleet
Recruit, interview, and plan rotations for all onboard entertainment technical staff positions
Create all pre-contract and ongoing entertainment technical training to ensure staff readiness prior to and throughout deployment
Serve as the shoreside leader for all entertainment technical staff, setting standards and providing ongoing direction
Develop and maintain SOPs and policies to standardize entertainment technical operations fleetwide
Conduct or participate in performance evaluations for all Entertainment Technical and Digital Systems leaders
Lead the shoreside technical team, ensuring alignment between shipboard execution and shoreside strategy
Entertainment Technical Systems & Equipment
Own the overall health and lifecycle of all onboard technical systems & equipment
Research and evaluate emerging technical systems and equipment to inform innovation, upgrades, and future fleet standards
Administer inventory management for all technical equipment and tools, ensuring accurate tracking and availability across the fleet
Partner with ships and buyers to guide item/equipment selection and approve technical purchases
Oversee ongoing maintenance, repairs, replacements, and audits of all onboard technical systems & equipment
Provide systems support and troubleshooting guidance to onboard technical crew, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to perform effectively
Technical Vendors
Maintain excellent relationships with existing vendors
Manage onboard technical ordering and consummable replenishment
Coordinate with technical programmers to support onboard operations, new show installs, cast changeovers, and other projects as needed
Solicit, engage, and build relationships with new technical vendors to expand and strengthen the vendor network
New Builds/Dry Docks/Special Projects
Review and approve ship build drawings throughout the design and construction process
Maintain and update venue drawings to reflect all post-delivery modifications
Organize projects, schedule, and vendor bookings
Serve as the on-site Entertainment Technical Leader during build, delivery, and installation phases
Technical Production for New Programming, Experiences, & Charters/Groups
Support all technical needs of new programming and experiences, partnering closely with creative, music, and experience leaders throughout development
Participate in the creative technical development process as an engaged stakeholder, providing technical expertise and feasibility input from concept through execution
Work directly with the VV Charters & Group team and charter operators to manage technical requirements and associated costs
Travel Requirements
Be on-site at the shipyard for significant periods during new builds and dry docks
Attend industry conferences (e.g., USITT, LDI) to support recruiting of onboard staff
Regularly visit and sail on each vessel to assess and support technical operations
Travel to the Orlando rehearsal studio and workshops to support new show technical development and cast changeovers
Other duties as assigned
SuperPowers Required:
Minimum 10 years' experience in various entertainment technical positions (TD, lighting, sound, video, automation)
Minimum 5 years' technical leadership experience in the cruise industry
Strong leader who develops talent on their team
Strong technical equipment knowledge across all entertainment technical areas (lighting, sound, video, broadcast, automation, etc.)
Understands how to take creative concepts and operationalize them with repeatable execution
Rock-solid coordination, organization, and prioritization skills — knows how to stay organized and determine which tasks are most important in a given list
Knowledge and experience using key business tools (Google Apps, AutoCAD, Airtable, etc.)
Able to work independently and as an excellent team player
Resilience for changing priorities and urgent requests
Proactive and unafraid to seek out tasks and offer a helping hand
Works well under tight deadlines and with crew members from all over the world
Great energy and attitude of optimism
Desire and ability to travel for multiple weeks at a time (up to 30% travel)
Desire and ability to work in an office environment, occasionally outside normal business hours and on weekends
What Matters to Us:
At Virgin, your personality matters as much as how good you are at what you do. We want you to bring it to our hangout spot and help make the place even better. So, we won’t be surprised to hear that when people talk about you they say you are clever, on top of it, able to think ahead, intuitive, passionate and someone people respect and enjoy working with because you make things happen.
Virgin Voyages is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified, eligible applicants regardless of their sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity. Our greatest strength comes from our ability to come together as unique individuals -- we seek to always embrace and celebrate our differences, providing an inclusive workplace environment that allows you to be your best self.
Virgin Voyages is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Virgin Voyages via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from Virgin Voyages HR/Recruitment will be deemed the sole property of Virgin Voyages. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Virgin Voyages as a result of the referral or through other means.
Skills Required
- Minimum 10 years' experience in various entertainment technical positions (TD, lighting, sound, video, automation)
- Minimum 5 years' technical leadership experience in the cruise industry
- Strong technical equipment knowledge across lighting, sound, video, broadcast, and automation
- Experience developing training programs, SOPs, and conducting performance evaluations
- Experience with AutoCAD for venue/technical drawings
- Knowledge and experience using business tools (Google Apps, Airtable, etc.)
- Ability and desire to travel multiple weeks at a time (up to 30%) and visit ships/shipyards
- Works fully in-person at Orlando rehearsal facility and able to visit vessels regularly
- Ability to work outside normal business hours and on weekends as needed
- Strong leadership, talent development, coordination, organization, and resilience under tight deadlines
What We Do
I'm often asked what it is that makes Virgin different. The simple answer is — our people” Sir Richard Branson At Virgin Voyages, we love the wide ocean waves, the sting of salt spray and the anticipation for places and experiences unknown. It’s exhilarating! That’s how travel should always feel. Our people are the heart and soul of our business. We are a passionate lot, united in our desire to create something really special for our future sailors. These sailors have challenged us to create something more audacious than the word “cruise” can capture. We've accepted the challenge. From our custom-designed ships, to our commitment to charting a greener course through the ocean’s blue, to delivering you a holiday where irresistible style has finally found its sea legs, we can’t wait to welcome you onboard. Virgin Voyages, the ship of things to come
