Senior Specialist, Casting | Specialty Artists

This position is onsite in our Royal Caribbean Production Studios North Miami Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our exciting team of employees. Royal Caribbean Group is pleased to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and excellent career development opportunities, each offering unique ways to explore the world. The Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Entertainment team has an exciting career opportunity for a full‑time Senior Specialist, Casting | Specialty Artists reporting to our Manager, Casting & Operations. Position Summary The Senior Specialist, Casting | Specialty Artists is responsible for identifying, casting, negotiating, and hiring high-level specialty artist talent to support fleetwide Entertainment production shows and programming needs. This role oversees the development, coordination and distribution of materials for specialty acts across rehearsals, pop‑up performances, venue entertainment, and shoreside events. This position also plays a key role in managing and executing Celebrity Entertainment auditions. This role directly impacts the guest experience, ratings, and overall quality of Entertainment and Theatre offerings on board. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Source, vet, hire and schedule all specialty artists for Celebrity Cruises Inc. Assist with hiring and scheduling of all Aerial Directors. Support the Senior Specialist, Casting (Dance) in analyzing and evaluating dancer aerialists. Monitor and evaluate talent under contract to ensure performance quality meets brand standards, including reviewing show reports and guest rating trends. Attend rehearsals to identify performance or production issues; generate progress reports for each specialty artist in collaboration with the assigned Aerial Director. Guide and support specialty artists through performance expectations during rehearsals, providing clear coaching and structured feedback, and overseeing formal corrective actions when needed. Conduct all aerial captain interviews and ensure selected Captains are aligned with responsibilities, guidelines, and documented job description addendums. Organize and prepare Aerial Director rehearsal materials and archive production show materials. Assist with entertainment budgets, ensuring all programs, productions, and operational expenses are planned, tracked, and executed within established financial guidelines. 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. Auditions & Talent Acquisition Operations Collaborate with casting specialists to support year‑round auditions and cast high‑level specialty talent. Assist with forecasting and managing audition tour budgets, ensuring all expenditure aligns with financial targets and operational needs. Promote audition and casting opportunities across major industry publications and global social media channels. Hire, contract, and manage travel for all audition personnel (monitors, accompanists, choreographers, etc.). Oversee booking, sourcing, and coordination of all audition venues. Support marketing, social media promotion, audition postings, and updates to the audition website. Support casting breakdowns on casting platforms and social media; maintain up‑to‑date descriptions with Celebrity Casting Directors. Assist in evolving audition processes, including updating audition materials, to ensure relevance, efficiency, and artistic alignment. Support creation of audition posters and advertising materials to build interest and elevate brand visibility. Post emergency casting notices and facilitate fast‑track vetting processes, as needed. Manage all audition supplies, SharePoint documents, and digital video archives. Name, sort, and upload all audition videos for archival and reference purposes. Prescreen all submitted specialty artist talent prior to further review. Support creation of analytics for internal presentations such as PowerPoints, trend reports and casting summaries. Outreach, Partnerships & Representation Build and maintain professional relationships with talent agents to support casting needs and promote brand awareness. Cultivate relationships with studios, programs, and colleges to drive audition participation and support emerging talent. Represent the brand at programs, workshops, conventions, and industry events to promote Celebrity Cruises opportunities. Maintain communication with talent and agents post audition. Advise on audition operational standards and industry developments to ensure Celebrity Cruises’ casting processes remain inclusive, relevant, and competitive. Represent the brand externally as needed, presenting Celebrity Cruises’ Entertainment offerings and opportunities. Creative & Production Collaboration Partner closely with the Director, Creative & Theatrical Productions on new show concepts, content development, choreography, blocking and direction for both existing productions and New Build projects. Conduct ship visits as required to ensure performance quality, artistic integrity, and alignment with brand standards. Qualifications And Education Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts, Theater, Entertainment Management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience. Previous shipboard entertainment experience is strongly preferred. 3+ years of casting, talent management, or entertainment production experience, preferably with specialty acts and/or aerial performance. Extensive knowledge of dance and acrobatic disciplines, including: Dance technique Gymnastics/acrobatics Floor work Aerial work (one‑point‑point harness, bungee, silks, lyra, straps) Hand balance, adagio, contortion, atmospheric performance skills Aerial strength skills and training Past performance experience is required. Experience with audition operations and contract negotiation required. Strong familiarity with creative production processes and performance evaluation. Flexibility and endurance, including the ability to: Work extended hours Work weekends when required Travel domestically or internationally based on business needs. Skills & Abilities Strong artistic eye with ability to identify world‑class specialty talent. Strong familiarity with technical entertainment elements, including automation, aerial rigging and apparatus, lighting, and other production technologies essential to live entertainment installations. Excellent communication and relationship building skills with performers, agents, and creative teams. High level of organization, time management, and attention to detail. Ability to thrive in fast‑paced paced‑paced and deadline‑driven environments. Proficient with digital file management systems (e.g., SharePoint) and general office software. Ability to collaborate across multiple departments and external partners. Key Competencies Creative Evaluation and Judgment – Keen ability to recognize top tier talent aligned with brand standards. Operational Excellence – Efficiently manages complex casting and audition workflows. Communication & Relationship Building – Effectively liaises across industry partners and internal stakeholders. Adaptability – Navigates changing production needs and dynamic performance environments. Brand Stewardship – Upholds Celebrity Cruises’ entertainment identity and delivers exceptional talent experiences. Financial / Quantitative Responsibilities Supports project budget management, as assigned. Supports expense submissions, as assigned. Working Conditions The work environment for this position can be loud at times due to the high level of music required for running rehearsals or shows. A high noise level is possible for visiting shipboard or offsite locations. The position includes work inside/outside the office, travel to other locations, as well as domestic, international, and shipboard travel. Able to work long hours and weekends when required. Able to travel. Travel Requirements: Position travels approximately 40% of the time on ships. This individual will work a minimum of 60% of time in the North Miami Production Studio and Port of Miami, as needed. While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a PC, communicate, listen, and assess information. The employee may move about to the office complex, may travel to other office locations and may lift, push, pull or move 10‑15 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to walk to the dock, ascend, and descend on the vessel. This position may regularly travel domestically or internationally. Visual requirements include distant, close and color vision, and ability to adjust focus. 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr