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Holland America Line · 1 day ago

Manager, Photo Operations

Miami, FL

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$90K/yr - $121K/yr

8+ years exp

Holland America Line (HAL) is a cruise company that has been exploring the world since 1873, offering enriching experiences focused on destination exploration. They are seeking an experienced Manager, Photo Operations to lead strategic initiatives that enhance guest experience and drive revenue across photo environments, overseeing various aspects of retail product development, inventory strategy, and team management.

ShippingTourismTravel

No H1B

Responsibilities

The manager, Photo Operations leads the strategic development and execution of HAL’s pre-cruise photo sales initiatives, which represent a significant revenue stream to the organization. This includes ideating new offerings, managing pricing strategies, and aligning with marketing to ensure visibility and conversion through HAL systems. The role owns the full lifecycle of these initiatives—from concept to deployment—and is accountable for continuous enhancement based on guest feedback and performance data and analytics. With an significant financial impact, this area requires an expert level understanding of consumer behavior, seasonal trends, and competitive positioning. The manager collaborates with analytics and commercial teams to forecast demand and refine offerings that elevate guest experience while maximizing profitability. Success in this area depends on balancing innovation with operational feasibility, ensuring that new products are both desirable and executable across the fleet. The role also supports cross-functional alignment to ensure smooth integration with onboard execution and shoreside systems. As the subject matter expert, the manager drives strategic decisions that shape the future of HAL’s photo retail experience. This accountability area is central to the department’s revenue growth and guest engagement strategy

This accountability area focuses on the end-to-end management of photo and related retail products, including seasonal merchandise such as ornaments, albums, and magnets. The manager oversees product ideation, vendor selection, pricing, and forecasting, ensuring alignment with brand standards and guest expectations. This portfolio requires strategic planning and market awareness to maintain freshness and relevance. The role leads vendor negotiations and supply chain coordination, ensuring timely delivery and product availability across the fleet. Lifecycle management includes monitoring product performance, managing distressed inventory, and making data-driven decisions on reorders and retirements. The manager works closely with procurement and logistics teams to navigate global complexities such as tariffs and shipping timelines. Forecasting is done 6–12 months in advance to support strategic and proactive planning and cost control. This area also supports innovation by identifying new product opportunities and collaborating with vendors to develop exclusive lines. The manager ensures that retail offerings contribute meaningfully to both revenue and guest satisfaction

The manager owns Holland America Line’s shoreside inventory strategy for photo operations, managing a portfolio of consumables, photo paper, chemistry, and retail stock. This includes forecasting, purchasing, and depletion planning to maintain optimal stock levels and avoid overages or shortages. The role is hands-on with procurement logistics, working closely with vendors and internal partners to ensure timely delivery and emergency fulfillment. Inventory decisions are based on historical data, seasonal trends, and operational needs, with a focus on cost efficiency and business continuity. The manager will manage and monitor aging stock and implements strategies to manage distressed inventory, including discounting and sell-through campaigns. This area also includes leadership and decision making for vessel visits and urgent logistics, ensuring uninterrupted operations across the fleet. Strategic alignment with organizational priorities is key, as inventory management directly impacts cost savings and operational readiness. The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to manage complexity across multiple touchpoints. By owning this process, the manager ensures that HAL’s photo operations remain agile, efficient, and financially sound

This area centers on leveraging data to drive strategic decisions across photo operations. The manager partners with analytics teams to develop reporting tools that measure performance, forecast demand, and identify opportunities for improvement. Key metrics include total captures vs. images sold, event productivity, and seasonal trends, which inform product development and team deployment. The role supports the creation of new reporting frameworks and ensures data accuracy and usability for stakeholders. Insights from analytics are used to optimize staffing, refine offerings, and improve guest experience. The manager also collaborates on performance tracking for shipboard photographers, helping identify top performers and areas for development. This data-driven approach supports long-term planning and continuous improvement across the department and organization. The role requires advanced proficiency in Excel and a strong understanding of business intelligence tools. By integrating analytics into daily operations, the manager enhances decision-making and drives strategic outcomes

The manager supports crew planning and training for approximately 60 seasonal photo team members, including photo managers, lab technicians, and photographers. Staffing varies by season and region, with Alaska representing 70% of HAL’s photo business. The role works closely with HR and crew planning to ensure that top performers are placed on high-performing ships, leveraging analytics to guide deployment. Responsibilities include onboarding, visa coordination, with rank rotations in mind. The manager also drives training initiatives, ensuring that team members are equipped to deliver premium services such as HAL’s Signature Studio. Operational oversight includes managing urgent logistics, refining Standard Operating Procedures, and ensuring consistency across shipboard and shoreside environments. This area is critical to maintaining service quality and operational efficiency. The role fosters collaboration across teams and ensures that staffing aligns with business needs and guest expectations. By owning this function, the manager is a leader and driver of both team performance and overall departmental and organizational success

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualification

Retail operations experienceInventory strategy managementData analytics proficiencyCross-functional team leadershipMicrosoft Excel proficiencyProduct lifecycle managementProcurement logistics experienceTeam planningTrainingCommunication skillsProblem-solving skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality, retail management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

Minimum of 8 years of experience in retail operations within the hospitality or cruise industry, with demonstrated success in revenue generation and guest-facing program development

7+ years' experience in Cruise Line Management roles with emphasis on Photo or Onboard Revenue

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with strong working knowledge of PowerPoint and Word

Excellent written and verbal communication skills suitable for cross-functional collaboration and leadership reporting

Ability to travel domestically and internationally to support shipboard operations and vendor coordination

Proven track record of managing revenue generating businesses

Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects independently across both shoreside and shipboard environments

Hands-on experience managing inventory strategy and procurement logistics, including vendor relationships and global supply chain coordination

Background in developing and executing product lifecycle strategies, including forecasting, pricing, merchandising, and distressed inventory management

Experience in operational planning and developing Standard Operating Procedures to support consistency and efficiency across distributed teams

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of using data to inform decisions and drive performance improvements

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining attention to detail

Skilled in stakeholder engagement and team leadership, with experience managing seasonal or rotational staff and aligning talent with business performance

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Holland America is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time (e.g., H-1B status)