Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our incredible team of employees at Royal Caribbean Group We are proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package and excellent career development opportunities each offering unique ways to explore the world
We are proud to be the vacation-industry leader with global brands — including Royal Caribbean International Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — the most innovative fleet and private destinations and the best people Together we are dedicated to turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests
Royal Caribbean Group’s Global Marine Operations Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full-time Director HVAC-R to the SVP Global Marine Technology
This position will work onsite in Miami Florida
This position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship
Position Summary:
The Director of HVAC-R is responsible for the strategic leadership operational oversight and continuous improvement of all Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) systems across the global Royal Caribbean Group cruise fleet This role ensures safe efficient reliable and regulatory-compliant climate control systems that support guest comfort crew welfare energy efficiency and environmental sustainability The Director of HVAC-R together with their team serves as the company’s subject matter expert setting technical standards managing lifecycle planning and leading cross-functional teams to support new builds dry docks refurbishments and ongoing vessel operations
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute the long-term HVAC-R strategy for the fleet aligning with corporate goals for safety sustainability guest experience
- and operational excellence
Establish fleet-wide HVAC-R standards specifications
- Serve as the primary technical authority for HVAC-R systems across global marine operations
Fleet Operations and Reliability
Oversee performance maintenance
- and reliability of HVAC-R systems on all vessels
- Provide technical support and guidance to shipboard engineering teams and shoreside technical ship managers
- Lead root-cause analysis for HVAC-R failures and implement corrective and preventive actions
Ensure HVAC-R systems support public health standards including air quality filtration
New Builds Dry Docks and Refurbishments
Lead technical operational input to HVAC-R design reviews specification development
- and system selection for new build vessels
Oversee HVAC-R scope for dry docks major upgrades
- and refurbishment projects
Collaborate with shipyards designers and vendors to ensure systems meet performance redundancy
- and regulatory requirements
Manage commissioning testing
- and acceptance of HVAC-R systems
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Drive energy optimization initiatives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions related to HVAC-R systems together with newbuilding and Decarbonization team
Implement advanced control systems automation
- and data-driven performance monitoring
- Support corporate environmental and decarbonization initiatives
Compliance and Safety
Ensure compliance with all applicable maritime regulations and standards (eg SOLAS Class Society rules Flag State IMO
- CDC/VSP where applicable)
- Maintain alignment with company safety management systems (QMS)
Support audits inspections
- and regulatory reviews related to HVAC-R systems
Project and Vendor Management
Manage relationships with OEMs shipyards
Support the negotiation of service agreements warranties
- and long-term support contracts together with colleagues from Marine Procurement
People Leadership and Development
Lead and develop a global team of HVAC-R engineers specialists
- Works with Human Resources in recruiting and screening candidates for the recruitment of shipboard HVAC-R personnel
Provide mentoring training
- and succession planning for HVAC-R technical talent
Promote a culture of safety accountability
- and continuous improvement
Financial Responsibilities
- Develop and manage HVAC-R related capital budgets and provide guidance on operational budgets
- Oversee spare parts strategies and lifecycle cost management together with colleagues from Marine Asset Management
Manages HVAC-R CAR projects
- including those valued at several million dollars
- Accountable for budgets on assigned CAPEX projects
Qualifications Knowledge and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master’s degree preferred)
- Professional Engineering (PE) license or equivalent is a plus
Minimum 12–15 years of progressive HVAC-R engineering experience preferably in marine cruise offshore
- or large hospitality environments
- At least 5–7 years in a senior leadership or director-level role
Strong experience with large-scale marine HVAC-R systems including chillers AHUs ducting automation
Proven involvement in new builds dry docks
- or major retrofit projects
- Experience managing large budgets and cross-functional technical teams
Marine HVAC-R design operation
- Chilled water systems and energy management
Automation controls
- Indoor air quality and public health standards
- Regulatory compliance and class requirements
- Lifecycle cost analysis and asset management
- Strategic thinker with strong business acumen
- Decisive leader with excellent problem-solving skills
- Effective communicator across technical and non-technical audiences
Comfortable working in a global
- multi-cultural environment
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally and visit vessels as required
Physical Demands:
Must be able to sit stand write review/type reports compile data operate a computer communicate
- Office-based with frequent international travel
Shipboard visits dry dock attendance and shipyard oversight required which requires one to board ships be in confined spaces work with higher levels of noise and work in various types of weather
- Availability for operational support during critical incidents
- Work environment includes both office and non-office settings
We know there's a lot to consider As you go through the application process our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance and more relevant details to answer any additional questions Thank you again for your interest in Royal Caribbean Group We'll hope to see you onboard soon!
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race color religion sex age national origin disability sexual orientation sexuality gender identity or expression marital status or any other characteristic protected by law Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment
