Director, HVAC and Hotel Equipment

Dual-functioning role over HVAC and Hotel Tech Equipment. Create and implement all actions needed for the HVAC team to become a center of excellence in equipment mx, operating profile and energy consumption. Develop structure and processes for hotel tech equipment team to maintain equipment reliability standards.

Lead, develop, and foster growth of the team to further develop skillset for HVAC managers, galley/laundry/open deck amenities managers, and crew. Optimize our SOP to continually improve ship safety, crew and guest safety, environmental footprint and energy consumption.

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic oversight of HVAC and assigned hotel technical assets across the fleet, including asset inventory, configuration management, equipment standards, and lifecycle governance. Serve as the technical authority for the evaluation, approval, and implementation of equipment modifications, upgrades, and replacements, ensuring compliance with corporate standards, regulatory requirements, classification society rules, and operational objectives. Develop, maintain, and approve technical specifications, engineering standards, and equipment design criteria to ensure consistency, reliability, and long-term asset performance across the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.
• Establish and continuously improve asset reliability programs for HVAC and assigned hotel technical equipment through criticality-based maintenance strategies and lifecycle management principles. Develop and maintain equipment maintenance philosophies that align maintenance activities with operational risk, equipment criticality, and business objectives. Oversee periodic reviews of preventive maintenance programs, annual inspection processes, and equipment condition assessments to ensure maintenance effectiveness and regulatory compliance. Monitor fleetwide technical performance metrics, including equipment availability, Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), leveraging data-driven insights to improve asset reliability, reduce downtime, and optimize maintenance investment.
• Lead the development and implementation of fleetwide HVAC operational standards and best practices that optimize system performance, energy consumption, guest comfort, and environmental sustainability. Establish standard operating procedures and operational profiles that maximize efficiency while ensuring safe and reliable equipment operation. Identify opportunities to reduce energy usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support corporate sustainability goals through equipment optimization, technology implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Drive operational accountability through performance monitoring, reporting processes, and oversight of shipboard HVAC leadership teams.
• Direct the development and execution of maintenance, dry dock, capital expenditure, and long-term asset replacement plans for HVAC and assigned hotel technical assets. Manage departmental budgets and approve repair, maintenance, dry dock, and capital expenditures within established authority levels. Oversee procurement strategies, including the development of scopes of work, requests for quotation, bid evaluations, contractor selection, and contract award processes, ensuring compliance with corporate governance standards. Ensure all technical plans, projects, and modifications receive appropriate approvals from regulatory authorities, classification societies, flag administrations, and other governing bodies while delivering projects safely, efficiently, and within budget.
• Provide strategic oversight of galley, laundry, and open deck amenity assets to ensure reliability, operational readiness, and lifecycle performance across the fleet. Partner closely with Culinary, Hotel Operations, Supply Chain, and shipboard leadership teams to ensure critical equipment is properly maintained, supported by effective spare parts programs, and available to meet operational demands. Lead and develop technical managers and support teams responsible for maintenance execution, equipment condition monitoring, inventory management, and operational reporting. Foster strong collaboration between shipboard and shoreside stakeholders to identify operational challenges, prioritize solutions, and improve service delivery.
• Lead fleetwide technical initiatives, innovation programs, and cross-functional projects that enhance equipment performance, operational efficiency, and guest experience. Represent Carnival Cruise Line in industry working groups, technical committees, and collaborative forums to support the advancement of HVAC and hotel asset technologies and industry best practices. Provide subject matter expertise for newbuild specifications, equipment selection, and design reviews by incorporating lessons learned, operational experience, and fleet performance data into future vessel designs. Coordinate resources, stakeholders, and project teams to successfully execute strategic initiatives within established timelines, budgets, and performance objectives.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Scope: The role operates as a fleet‑wide technical authority for HVAC and Hotel Equipment, with impact spanning both shipboard operations and shoreside asset management. Responsible for defining and implementing maintenance, operational, and performance standards across all vessels to ensure safety, reliability, and energy efficiency. Contributes to and influences Dry Dock planning, Capex investments, and long‑term asset strategies (LTAP), ensuring alignment with broader Technical Asset and Marine Operations objectives. Drives consistently across the fleet by integrating processes, reporting cadence, and governance structures between ship and shore organizations. Supports strategic priorities including energy optimization, environmental footprint reduction, and operational excellence, positioning HVAC and hotel systems as critical enablers of business performance.
• Problem solving: Addresses complex, multi‑variable challenges involving equipment reliability, energy consumption, and operational constraints across diverse vessel configurations and operating profiles. Requires data‑driven analysis of performance trends, maintenance outcomes, and failure modes to identify root causes and implement sustainable improvements. Balances operational urgency vs. long‑term asset integrity, making decisions that impact safety, guest experience, and cost efficiency. Anticipates and mitigates risks related to equipment failures, dry dock execution, and system performance, often under time‑critical and resource‑constrained conditions. Develops practical solutions through cross‑functional collaboration (technical, operations, procurement, and finance), aligning stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Impact: Sets and enforces fleet‑wide technical standards for HVAC and hotel equipment, directly influencing asset reliability, operational continuity, and safety outcomes. Drives measurable improvements in energy consumption, environmental compliance, and cost control, contributing to corporate sustainability and financial objectives. Ensures critical hotel and back‑of‑house systems availability, protecting guest experience and operational delivery across all vessels. Impacts both short‑term operational performance (uptime, responsiveness) and long‑term asset lifecycle optimization (maintenance strategy, Capex prioritization). Acts as a key contributor to the transformation toward a more structured, performance‑driven technical asset organization.
• Leadership: Leads a team of HVAC and Hotel Equipment managers and specialists, building technical capability, accountability, and continuous improvement culture. Provides functional oversight to shipboard teams and traveling supervisors, ensuring consistent execution of standards across the fleet. Manages and influences budgets related to R&M, Capex, and Dry Dock activities, ensuring effective prioritization and cost governance. Exercises cross‑functional leadership across Technical, Marine, Hotel Operations, Procurement, and Finance teams, often without direct authority. Drives clarity in roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations through structured governance, reporting, and SOPs.

Essential/Minimal Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Advanced knowledge of HVAC, refrigeration, and hotel technical asset systems, including lifecycle management, reliability engineering, maintenance strategies, and operational performance optimization.
• Demonstrated project and program management expertise, including dry dock, capital investment, equipment modernization, and fleetwide improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of cruise ship regulatory requirements, classification society standards, flag state regulations, and applicable environmental compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of asset management principles, maintenance methodologies, and equipment criticality assessment processes.
• Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital expenditure, and long‑term asset investment plans.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams, influence stakeholders, and drive organizational change across shipboard and shoreside environments.

Essential Experience Required

• 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing HVAC, refrigeration, marine engineering, hotel technical assets, or related systems within the cruise, maritime, hospitality, industrial, or large‑scale facilities industries.

Travel:25-50% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work may require employee to work inside and/or outside with exposure to changing climate and/or operate machinery.

Physical Demands:Requires regular movement throughout company facilities.

This position is classified as “in-office.” As an in‑office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida Monday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Fridays. Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job‑related skills and experience.

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non‑sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan.Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including:

• Health Benefits:
  • Cost‑effective medical, dental and vision plans