Hotel Design and Projects Director

Join us in shaping the future of holiday experiences across our P&O Cruises / Cunard ships in a key senior management role within our Guest Experience department. At Carnival UK, we believe in the power of diversity to drive success, valuing a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. If you're a professional with a strategic mindset towards guest satisfaction, and a track record of overseeing a team, let's talk. We're not just looking for qualifications on paper; we're searching for someone who can bring fresh ideas and new perspectives.

 

Role Overview
As Director of Hotel Design & Projects, you'll play a pivotal role in steering the Guest experience departmental direction of P&O Cruises / Cunard, ensuring we continue to deliver unforgettable holiday happiness. Your strategic direction will not only influence our organisational health but also inspire a team of guest experience professionals to excel in their roles.

Key accountabilities include:

• Lead the end-to-end hotel design process for newbuild and refurbishment projects across P&O Cruises and Cunard fleets
• Manage and coach a team of Senior Interior Architects and Designers, ensuring high engagement and clear objectives
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Brand, Guest Experience, Maritime, Shipbuilding) and external consultants to deliver design solutions aligned with strategic goals
• Oversee project budgets, resource allocation, and ensure design compliance with operational and brand standards

Job Requirements
This role demands a blend of strategic vision & technical expertise. We're looking for someone with:

• Expertise in Interior Design, FF&E specification, space planning, and integration of service functions and equipment across large scale mix-use projects
• Experience in presenting design concepts and updates to executive stakeholders and creative teams
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to review and approve design documentation and workshop drawings, ensuring alignment with budget and vision
• Strong proficiency in interior design software and tools, including Adobe Creative Suite and AutoCAD

About You
Your ability to think strategically, drive results with integrity, and inspire your team is what sets you apart. You're not just a business professional; you're a visionary person who's ready to make a significant impact - with a brief to create inviting, elegant & functional spaces for our Guests to enjoy.

• Empowers – Coaches others and fosters an environment where people do their best work
• Speaks up – Encourages open communication and idea sharing within the team
• Respects & protects – Builds inclusive relationships and promotes sustainable, safe practices
• Listens & Learns – Demonstrates curiosity and openness to feedback and diverse perspectives

 

Why Join Us?
Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK Level 05, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with an offering of hybrid work including up to two days from home.  Travel to our ships will be required.

Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague here
 

We're more than just a holiday company; we're a community that values work-life balance, personal growth, and wellbeing. As part of our team, you'll enjoy:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes

 

Application Note:
Due to the high volume of interest in our roles, we encourage early applications. This is your chance to contribute to a company that's setting the standard for holiday experiences. Apply today to be part of our journey to create joy and memories for our customers—and for you.

Don't let this opportunity sail away. Join us in making holiday dreams come true while advancing your career to new horizons.

Recruitment Journey
For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit our Candidate Journey Map

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#Job Functions: Design; Project Management; Operations

Holidays are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Having the chance to relax, escape and explore is a magical thing. And there is no better holiday than a cruise.

No one knows cruising like Carnival UK, where talented people from across the globe come together to create unforgettable holiday happiness. As part of the world’s largest holiday travel and leisure company, we take enormous pride in bringing to life two of the most iconic brands from Britain’s rich seafaring heritage, P&O Cruises and Cunard. Collectively they have been delivering unbridled joy, boundless adventure and lifelong memories to millions of people for over 350 years. And in a multi-million pound global holiday market, where cruising has barely scratched the surface, we have the opportunity to do that for many, many more people.

Our diverse yet tight knit teams share high standards, heartfelt values and passion for our purpose. Our Culture Essentials describe the expectations we have for ourselves and of each other, in building a culture that supports safe, sustainable, compliant operations and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.

It’s through the successful delivery of these extraordinary travel experiences for our target markets and our distinctive culture, that we hope to become Travel’s Employer of Choice.