Carnival Corporation · 13 hours ago
Vice President, Commercial Systems Strategy and AI Innovation
Seattle, WA, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$230K/yr - $280K/yr
15+ years expHolland America Line is a well-established cruise company that has been exploring the world since 1873. They are seeking an experienced Vice President of Commercial Systems Strategy and AI Innovation to shape the future of commercial operations across multiple cruise brands, focusing on technology innovation and operational excellence to deliver measurable business impact.
LeisureTourismTravel
Responsibilities
Oversight of the POLAR system remains top priority across all five brands
Direct a team of super users providing system support to commercial and operations departments, travel agency partners, and vendors impacting all brands
Craft and execute data science strategies that leverage AI/ML capabilities
Lead strategic, transformational projects including creating and leading RFPs, securing resources, creating and maintaining budgets (+$20M annually), ensuring project objectives are met through solid internal and external communication, and delivering projects on time within budget
Ensure all User Acceptance Testing (UAT) results are documented and support multiple revenue and finance controls to ensure compliance
Drive yield uplift through POLAR optimization and AI-enhanced pricing strategies
Oversee technical development and maintenance of POLAR and integrated systems
Provide the technology, tools, and data to enable the delivery of $8B in annual net ticket revenue
Build and maintain the Strategic Operations financial forecast
Lead cross-brand alignment to optimize the POLAR reservation system
Drive the enterprise-wide POLAR reservation system strategy by facilitating collaboration across all five brands' commercial teams
Lead the cross-brand prioritization process to ensure alignment on system enhancements and resource allocation
Monitor system performance and make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and effectiveness
Lead the Product Strategy team responsible for gathering, prioritizing, and translating business requirements from all five brands into actionable system enhancements
Direct a team of 2 Product Managers who serve as the voice of the brands, ensuring POLAR meets diverse commercial needs
Establish and manage the product roadmap governance process, balancing competing brand priorities with enterprise-wide strategic objectives
Create and maintain a multi-year product vision for the POLAR ecosystem that supports differentiated brand experiences while maximizing platform efficiency
Develop business cases for major product initiatives, quantifying ROI and strategic value
Lead quarterly product planning sessions with brand leadership to align on priorities and resource allocation
Ensure product requirements are comprehensive, clearly documented, and include success metrics
Bridge the gap between brand commercial strategies and technical implementation capabilities
Champion user-centered design principles to enhance system usability and adoption
Oversee the product backlog management process, ensuring transparency and data-driven prioritization
Build and lead a new AI Innovation team (6 FTEs) focused on deploying agentic AI solutions across Princess, Holland America, and Seabourn
Develop and execute a comprehensive AI strategy that drives revenue growth and operational efficiency across multiple business functions
Deploy AI agents to handle routine customer inquiries, reducing handle time and improving customer satisfaction
Implement intelligent routing and real-time agent assistance tools
Create predictive models for contact volume forecasting and optimal staffing
Develop agentic AI systems that proactively identify revenue opportunities and market trends
Automate report generation and insight delivery to commercial leadership
Create self-service analytics capabilities powered by natural language processing
Implement AI-driven crew scheduling optimization to reduce costs while improving service quality
Develop predictive models for crew demand across ships and itineraries
Automate crew assignment processes based on skills, preferences, and operational needs
Partner with Data Science, Technology, and brand leadership to ensure AI initiatives deliver measurable business impact
Establish AI governance frameworks, including ethical AI principles, data privacy compliance, and model monitoring
Build the business cases for AI investments, tracking ROI and continuous improvement
Stay abreast of emerging AI technologies and evaluate their potential application to cruise operations
Manage relationships with AI vendors, consultants, and technology partners
Identify opportunities for process automation to streamline operations and reduce manual workload across all brands
Implement agile methodologies to increase responsiveness and adaptability in commercial operations
Collaborate with enterprise technology teams to integrate advanced tools and technologies into the reservation and commercial systems
Lead and develop VPs, AVPs, and Directors across three functional teams (POLAR Operations, Product Strategy, AI Innovation), including conducting staff meetings, building team continuity, providing coaching and feedback, monitoring performance, and writing annual evaluations
Establish short and long-term departmental goals and objectives for middle management to execute against while maintaining high standards of performance
Champion performance metrics, setting clear KPIs to measure team success and drive continuous improvement
Foster a culture of experimentation and calculated risk-taking to accelerate innovation
Create forums for cross-brand knowledge sharing and best practice dissemination
Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite leadership and brand presidents, advocating for growth while acknowledging current constraints
Provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership on reservation system improvements, product strategy, and AI innovations
Balance the need for growth with the practical constraints of existing systems and resources
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the commercial organization
Serve as the trusted advisor to brand POLAR owners and Revenue Management leadership, balancing growth initiatives with operational constraints
Ensure business cases for POLAR and AI investments deliver measurable ROI for the Corporation
Translate business needs into clear requirements for Technology teams, serving as the bridge between commercial and technical stakeholders
Represent the division in enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and technology governance forums
Build and maintain relationships with external consultants, vendors, and industry thought leaders
Lead cross-functional projects from initial concept through delivery, spanning multiple brands and functions
Oversee project teams comprising members from various departments and brands, including matrixed resources from Technology, Finance, and Operations
Develop project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope
Conduct regular project reviews and provide updates to executive stakeholders
Identify and implement process improvements across product build, promotions, and change management workflows
Drive automation initiatives to increase the commercial organization's speed and agility
Lead continuous improvement efforts within Revenue Management Operations across all brands
Develop metrics and KPIs to measure operational efficiency gains and business impact
Identify opportunities to leverage data science and advanced analytics to enable growth
Utilize analytics, key performance indicators, and financial metrics to drive quantifiable change
Analyze data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement in the reservation system and AI applications
Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of system enhancements and AI initiatives
Use financial metrics to assess the impact of changes on revenue and costs
Ensure adherence to all applicable laws and standard operating procedures as they pertain to the SOX Audit process and Ethics and Compliance
Responsible for the quality and integrity of over $20M in POLAR reservation system process and budget, plus AI initiative investments
Drive the company's profitability assessment by making recommendations and implementing initiatives to improve performance
Create executive dashboards that provide visibility into system performance, product delivery, and AI ROI
Adheres to Corporate Policies and Procedures, including Code of Business Conduct & Ethics, Audit Procedures, and any control-related responsibility for financial data entered, stored, or reported via business systems within employee's control
Ensure AI governance, data privacy, and ethical AI practices across all initiatives
Maintain SOX compliance for all systems and processes under purview
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
POLAR and POLAR system experience strongly preferred
Deep understanding of revenue management strategies and pricing optimization
Strong understanding of travel industry reservation and booking system applications
Experience with commercial systems and enterprise technology architecture
Knowledge of AI/ML technologies, including agentic AI, natural language processing, and predictive analytics
Understanding of data governance, AI ethics, and privacy regulations
Exceptional leadership skills with experience managing diverse teams across multiple disciplines
Proven ability to build high-performing teams and develop talent
Experience leading through influence in matrixed organizations
Strong change management capabilities, particularly for technology adoption
Outstanding strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into actionable insights
Experience building business cases and demonstrating ROI
Ability to structure ambiguous problems and develop innovative solutions
Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence C-suite executives
Proven track record of effectively working with external consultants and vendors
Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences
Strong stakeholder management skills across multiple brands and functions
Ability to manage multiple concurrent strategic initiatives
Strong project and program management capabilities
Track record of delivering results on time and within budget
Experience with agile methodologies and modern product development practices
Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Operations, Data Science, Computer Science, or related field required
MBA, MSBA, MS in Data Science, or other relevant Master's Degree strongly preferred
15+ years of progressive experience in strategy, revenue management, commercial systems, product management, or other analytical and strategic roles
8+ years of experience leading large, cross-functional teams and complex programs
5+ years of experience with AI/ML technologies, including recent exposure to generative AI and agentic AI systems
Proven experience implementing enterprise-wide systems across multi-brand organizations
Experience in cruise, travel, hospitality, or other complex consumer-facing industries preferred
Track record of delivering measurable ROI through technology and process innovation
Benefits
Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family
Health Benefits
401(k)
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Training & Professional Development
Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement
Company
Carnival Corporation
Carnival Corporation is a cruise company providing travelers with vacation experiences.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Carnival Corporation has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (60)
2024 (38)
2023 (32)
2022 (40)
2021 (33)
2020 (56)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$19.49BKey Investors
Public Investment Fund
2025-09-30Post Ipo Debt· $1.25B
2025-07-01Post Ipo Debt· $3.54B
2025-06-13Post Ipo Debt· $4.5B
Leadership Team
Josh Weinstein
President & CEO
Recent News
2025-12-22
Investor's Business Daily
2025-12-21
Company data provided by crunchbase