Senior Director, Yacht, Design & Innovation - Global

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a global, luxury hotel management company. We manage over 120 hotels and resorts and 50 private residences in 47 countries around the world and growing.

Central to Four Seasons employee experience and social impact programming is the company’s commitment to supporting cancer research, and the advancement of diversity, inclusion, equality and belonging at Four Seasons corporate offices and properties worldwide. At Four Seasons, we are powered by people and our culture enables everything we do.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of Yacht Design & Innovation (D&I) to oversee all interior-related matters, including interior design, tabletop, collateral, specific UPIs, wayfinding, and employee fashion in coordination with the relevant departments within Four Seasons. The successful candidate will have a background in high-end yachts as well as cruise liners, having been part of the design team and overseeing the construction of yachts, dealing with FF&E specifications, as well as quality control.

This role is based in Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Miami, reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP) Design & Innovation. This role involves interactions with primarily internal stakeholders at various levels.

What You’ll Be Doing

Project Coordination:

• Maintain all design-related project communication and records and motivate the team to drive key milestone achievements; and other Design and Construction related developments.
• Undertake peer review of Yacht project visions, plans, design and innovation packages, etc., monitoring outputs to ensure they are high quality and meet deliverables.
• Support Owners with project review, analysis, programming, and provide advice pursuant to securing new Yacht projects.
• Maintain and develop strong client relationships to manage all company assets and capabilities from signing of deals to the onset of specific Yacht operational staff.
• Participate in project meetings as required.
• Responsible to obtain internal stakeholders' sign-offs on major design submittals.
• Manages upwards to keep the SVP D&I closely informed of all Yacht developments.

Department Strategic Development:

• Strives towards a future oriented and innovative approach by setting clear and well-defined, quality objectives, and executes such in close coordination with the various stakeholders.
• Participate and contribute to the development and maintenance of various brand standard documents while providing sound advice to Project teams and Owners.
• Implements and maintains Four Seasons’ innovative design and construction strategy in line with the company’s vision and values using all relevant resources and respecting sustainable design criteria to achieve the company’s short-, mid-, and long-term objectives.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Supervise and manage all interior-related matters for yachts, including design, tabletop, collateral, specific UPIs, wayfinding, and employee fashion in coordination with the relevant departments within Four Seasons
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and standards
• Manage and work closely with the design team to ensure successful project delivery and execution of design concepts
• Remain updated on the latest trends in yacht design and implement them accordingly
• Maintain a high level of design standards and implement new design concepts to improve guest experience
• Ensure FF&E specifications and quality control are implemented throughout the design and construction process
• Collaborate with other departments, such as F&B and operations, to ensure successful integration of design concepts and implementation
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts for design and construction services
• Work with the SVP, D&I to develop and manage the budget for yacht design and innovation

Travel:

• Travel as required, expected 30% of time, may increase depending on project stages.

Who You Are

• Productive self-starter, with excellent critical thinking ability and capable of working with limited supervision.
• Technical understanding of Yacht industry processes, standards, regulations, etc.
• Extensive knowledge of construction and design processes within the luxury segment of the hospitality and cruise industry.
• Possess problem-solving and technical skills including a strong grasp of scientific principles.
• Fluent with architectural, engineering, design, and cruise/marine industry terminology and practices.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and handle several projects/deadlines.
• Excellent documentation skills.
• Creative innovative mentality.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to effectively communicate in English, in both oral and written forms. Ability to communicate well in different group sizes and forums.
• Disciplined adherence to schedules and consistent performance on deliverables.
• Ability to coordinate and cross-reference design drawings from multiple disciplines.
• Experience with AutoCAD/other drafting software, creative software, Microsoft Office skills, Bluebeam, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Effective team player, but able to work independently with some degree of ambiguity.
• Experienced understanding of hotel planning principles.
• Ability to manage various stakeholders to protect and develop Four Seasons interest throughout the design and build process, with experience in conflict management.

What You Bring

• Proven ability to manage and lead a team of designers and oversee the design and construction process
• Licensed/Regulated Professional status required (i.e., Licensed Architect, P. Eng., etc).
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design or a related field
• LEED certification beneficial
• Strong knowledge of FF&E specifications and quality control processes
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain high design standards
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with other departments
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent vendor management and contract negotiation skills
• Extensive experience in high-end yacht design and construction, as well as cruise liner design
• Ability to stay up-to-date on the latest design trends and implement them accordingly

All internal applications must be submitted and approved in Workday by May 19, 2023.

Four Seasons is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.