Position Summary:

The Assistant, Program Manager is responsible for tactically managing strategic programs for Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. He/she is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day activities and operations of a particular program. Consults with global, external, and internal partners in various departments to gather, analyze, and report data for recommended courses of action. Proactively leads, plans, and drives activities of the strategic program to ensure completion within prescribed time frame and budget. Functions as an in-house process driver and enabler of a matrixed operating department representatives. Programs assigned are typically high priority, high profile, and multi-departmental initiatives for the organization and thus require continuous communication and interaction in a dynamic, fast paced environment with the Sr. Program Manager and department executives. Manage all aspects of program planning, tracking, and status reporting. The Assistant, Program Manager, must have the ability to follow an existing structured process framework yet have the skills to innovate. He/she Independently maintains relationships with key customers and oversees, in collaboration with the Sr. Program Manager, the following essential tasks through matrixed resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and provide overall direction to a small team of one to two resources, consisting of either a Project Analyst and/or Coordinator that are responsible for the day-to-day administrative and reporting details of assigned projects.
• Utilize project management tools and industrial engineering techniques to lead and oversee the maintenance of program scope; customer and executive expectations as well as overall program focus.
• Ability to develop a clear and detailed plan in order to ensure that a program is feasible and doesn’t veer off course.
• The Assistant, Program Manager will need to have the skills to develop a step-by-step plan with well-defined tasks and to make sure the team stays on a timeline.
• Lead, coach, and advise the recommended course of action to the project team, direct reports and clients in outlining milestones, establishing work plans, responsibilities, scope and tracking routines.
• Participate in the study of operational needs and current operational performance to identify areas for improvement and efficiency on assigned project.
• Acts as the liaison between the client and the various project team members, external companies and internal departments.
• Reviews status reports prepared by project personnel, modifies schedules or plans as required.
• Organizes the communication of the project plan status on a regular basis to project stakeholders and core team.
• Follow-up with team members to meet project deadlines and provide input on team member activities for schedule review process.
• Coordinates activities to ensure project progresses on schedule and accurately reflects current project status through regular updates of tasks and statuses.
• Tracks progress of owner supply specification, requisition and procurement.
• Works with Financial Department to track the owner supply budget, cost control and reporting.
• Leads and organizes team in development of monthly presentations for senior executives.
• Oversees preparation of project reports related to revite/ land projects for management, client, or others.
• This position may require travel to and from ships, shipyards, and/or vendor facilities located in Europe, Asia and North America (<= 25%).
• Remains current with industry trends, especially as related to contemporary project management techniques as they impact project objectives.
• Performs other duties as required.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Business Management, Industrial Engineering, Program Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience, with at least 2 years leading a team.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong leadership skills and proven experience in leading a small team of professionals.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills a must.
• Clear and precise communication at all levels of the organization essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strength in communicating in a multicultural environment with all levels of employees and management.
• Strong ability to manage clients and partners.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid understanding of accounting rules for expense and capital activities.
• Detail oriented with excellent analytical, financial and spreadsheet modeling skills.
• Must be familiar with the working drawing process inclusive of drawing, dimensioning and detailing deck plans, elevations, sections and details.
• Ability to understand and interpret architectural plans, sections, elevations, and details.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Software: Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project required. Familiarity with AutoCAD system essential.

Internal Candidates:

• Knowledge of CAR process: budget, approval, reconciliation, and reporting, AMOS, Niku, Lotus Notes Database, JDE, and Essbase.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, business periodicals, financial reports, legal documents, and government regulations.
• Ability to clearly and effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

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