Business Development Director

Job Description Cunard is a distinguished name in the world of luxury travel, renowned for delivering unparalleled elegance and world-class service on board its iconic fleet of four Queens.

Recently named British Luxury Brand of the Year by Walpole, Cunard continues to set new standards in luxury ocean travel and welcomes discerning travellers from all over the world.

As we continue to write the next chapter in Cunard's almost 185-year story, we are seeking a Director for the Cunard Grill Suite business—an elevated end-to-end experience offering an exceptional level of luxury and service, with a collection of elite accommodations at its heart.
This role is pivotal in shaping the future of Cunard Grill Suites and aligning it with Cunard's 10-year strategy.

Role Overview The Director, Cunard Grill Suites will lead the overall Grill Suite business, responsible for driving change and setting direction across all areas of the organisation to optimise commercial performance.

You will develop a forward-looking business plan, own the go-to-market strategy, and drive a proposition change agenda that continues the evolution of this luxury product to meet and exceed the expectations of Cunard's most discerning clientele.
Your leadership will be key to establishing the Grills experience as the next pinnacle of luxury within the travel sector.

As a Director, you'll play a pivotal role in steering the direction of Cunard, ensuring we continue to set the benchmark of luxury travel.
Your direction will not only influence our business health but also inspire a team of professionals across the organisation to excel in their roles.

Key accountabilities include: Strategic Leadership & Business Performance :
Develop and implement a detailed and actionable business plan for the future evolution of the Grills Suite business, ensuring it aligns with Cunard's 10-year strategic vision and brand objectives.
Identify and implement innovative go-to-market strategies to optimise the commercial performance of the Grill Suite business, defining targets and designing sales, marketing, and product strategies to drive revenue performance at appropriate cost while ensuring feasibility and consistency of proposition delivery.
Product Development & Innovation :
Work closely with brand, product development, and operations teams to enhance and evolve the Grills offering, ensuring it delivers the highest standards of luxury.
Identify and establish hotel, travel, and experience partnerships that enhance the Cunard Grills end-to-end service experience.
Brand Alignment & Luxury Leadership :
Ensure the Grill Suite proposition is fully aligned with Cunard's reputation as a leading British luxury brand, and continues to evolve in response to the latest trends in travel, hospitality, and bespoke services.
Work with marketing and brand teams to position the Grills experience as a defining element of the Cunard brand, promoting its exclusivity.
Operational Leadership & Team Management :
Provide direction and set service and proposition targets in collaboration with the Operations team to ensure Grills services are delivered consistently to the highest standard on land and across Cunard's fleet.
Manage budgets, timelines, and resources associated with the Grill Suite proposition, ensuring cost-effective solutions while maintaining luxury standards.
This leader will have a deep understanding of the commercial, distribution model, and competitive landscape of the luxury travel sector across each of Cunard's priority international markets and will become an inspiring ambassador for the Grills Suites business across all markets.

Job Requirements This role demands a blend of strategic vision and technical expertise.
We're looking for someone with:
Strong leadership and management experience.
Previous experience of senior leader and executive board influence.
Management of third-party suppliers.
Experience of large-scale change management.
Strong commercial experience and evidence of influencing business performance.
Experience in the luxury sector hospitality.
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 commercially astute professional; you're a visionary person who's ready to make a significant impact.

Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and manage a cross-functional team.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to assess market trends and customer behavior to inform decision-making.
A strong passion for delivering world-class service and luxury experiences.
Why Join Us?
Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK05, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with an offering of hybrid work including up to two days from home.

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.
A friendly welcome with help settling in.
Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events, and charity partner fundraisers.
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.
Onsite restaurant offering a range of healthy cooked and grab-and-go meals.
Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal.
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.

#Job Functions: Business Development; Customer Service; Product Management; Strategy / Planning
About Us 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.

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