Product Manager, Voyage
Summary
Oversee the planning, budgeting, and execution of expedition voyages, collaborating with teams to craft itineraries, ensure compliance, and enhance guest experiences while driving revenue.
WHO WE ARE
Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.
JOB SUMMARY
Join us as a Product Manager, Voyage (VPM), where you will play a pivotal role in shaping unforgettable travel experiences rooted in the company’s legacy of responsible exploration. This position is at the heart of Lindblad’s best-in-class expeditions, overseeing the entire voyage experience from embarkation to disembarkation. You'll be responsible for the conceptualization, creation, budgeting, management, and preparation of operational details of the voyage.
In this dynamic role, you will collaborate closely with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that every guest enjoys a seamless and enriching experience while driving revenue growth. Your efforts will not only enhance our operational excellence across all programs but will also elevate our brand, making each journey truly memorable.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
To perform this job successfully, the employee must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily on a proactive and pre-determined timeline. Additional duties may be added or assigned at any time. Duties listed below are in the context of the voyage portion of the expeditions.
VOYAGE DEPLOYMENT
- Collaborate with appropriate field staff, Product Managers – Pre & Post Experience, Marketing Managers, and other internal and external partners to create exemplary programming with compelling experiences to strengthen the company’s commitment to responsible exploration
- Collaborate with Sr. Management on annual ship deployments and deployment changes
- Create and maintain voyage sailing schedules (aka “technicals”) in collaboration with the Marine and Port Ops departments
- Proactively evaluate future vessel deployment operational needs to source and confirm services and deadlines.
- Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to articulate unique voyage selling propositions and review and approve relevant content in order to bring those programs to market based on a launch schedule
- Maintain a deep knowledge of permitting compliance laws and regulations, collaborating with the marine and port operations team to ensure voyages comply with these considerations
- Develop community/industry relationships and partnerships that add value to the guest experience and maintain a positive brand relationship in the areas we operate
- Create and conduct product training presentations for internal stakeholders during the launch of new itineraries
- Seek opportunities to build experiences with LEX-NG Fund supported projects and/or individuals into voyage offerings and communicate environmental and social/community impacts and opportunities tied to voyage activities with internal Conservation, Education, and Sustainability Team
- Collaborate with National Geographic Expeditions staff to bring the NGE name and experience into voyage programming
- Create paid shore excursions as appropriate to augment included experiences and generate additional revenue
VOYAGE EXECUTION
- Create and distribute working itineraries with operational instructions, contact information and other essential information to execute the voyage to the highest standards
- Maintain contact with the shipboard leadership throughout operational seasons and assist with deviations, as appropriate
- Maintain voyage P&L and ensure voyages operate within voyage land cost budget, while optimizing profitability.
ADMINISTRATION
- Negotiate favorable voyage land costs and create voyage land costs budget annually
- Review, process, and reconcile invoices for voyage costs
- Review and ensure the accuracy of final voyage documents
- Create and maintain internal documents and systems to ensure accuracy for cross-departmental users during any contingency or emergency situation.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
- Consistently review and respond to various reports and inquiries in collaboration with Guest Relations team.
- Implement action plans based on guest and shipboard feedback to ensure quality and operational standards.
RESEARCH AND FIELD WORK
- Seek continual improvement of geographical knowledge, representing your assigned regions and programs as a subject matter expert
- Visit and liaise with ship personnel, field staff, local vendors, local guides, conduct site inspections, and gather other appropriate on-site field information as necessary
- Conduct training with field staff, local guides, and other appropriate field personnel
- Have deep knowledge of the competitive market to collaborate with Marketing to ensure voyages are competitive in terms of experience, and other relevant aspects.
- Represent the organization in regional associations, such as IAATO and AECO, as necessary
- At all external trainings and events, be equipped with current knowledge and examples of the company’s environmental and social/community impact programs, and prepared to share this knowledge with others in the industry
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism, or a related field or equivalent industry experience.
- Experience:
- At least 3 years of experience in ship voyage development, travel planning, or a similar role.
- Knowledge:
- In-depth professional knowledge of geographical regions relevant to the company’s voyages.
- Basic understanding of permitting compliance laws and regulations related to maritime operations.
- Familiarity with budgeting and financial management.
- Skills:
- Strong communication and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Strong communication and training abilities to guide field staff and local vendors.
- Technical Proficiency:
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with project management tools.
- Experience with mapping/chart programs to aid in navigation and technical sailing schedules.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Education:
- Master’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism Management, or a related field.
- Experience:
- 5+ years of experience in ship voyage development or similar roles within the small-ship cruise travel or expedition industry.
- Knowledge:
- Comprehensive understanding of competitive market positioning.
- Technical Proficiency:
- Preliminary experience with MXP and database management.
OUR BENEFITS
• Travel benefits for employees and their family
• Voyage of Discovery trips for employees to travel as guests
• Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Long-Term Disability, Life & AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to be used for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit
• 7-8 Paid Holidays
• 1 Floating Holiday Options
• Up to 15 days of vacation (pro-rated per anniversary year)
• Parental Leave
• Sick/personal days per city & state ordinance
• Pet Insurance discount
Communication Skills
Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos. Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee will also be required to write and type. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
COMPENSATION STATEMENT
Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.
Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.