Manager, Talent and Performances

HollandAmerica Line has been exploring the world since 1873. Our ships offer innovative features and enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel inviting guests to savor the journey.

We are looking for a Manager Talent and Performance. The Manager Talent and Performances plays a critical leadership role in delivering exceptional onboard entertainment experiences across the fleet. This position oversees a team of professionals responsible for coordinating Resident and Guest Entertainers and ensuring their work aligns with artistic standards operational needs and the companys entertainment strategy. The manager builds and maintains strong relationships with casting agencies talent representatives and creative production partners to secure top-tier performers who reflect Holland America Lines brand expectations. They adapt departmental plans to a dynamic fleet deployment environment balancing creativity with budget staffing and operational constraints. Guided by established policies procedures and business plans the manager exercises sound judgment while receiving direction from senior leadership for higherlevel decisions. They provide technical and artistic guidance to internal staff external agencies and shipboard leaders to ensure performance quality and program consistency. The role includes monitoring auditions casting cycles rehearsals and live shipboard performances to verify alignment with performance standards and guestexperience goals. The manager is accountable for the results of a small specialized team setting clear performance objectives evaluating work quality and recommending pay and development actions. Ultimately the Manager Talent and Performances ensures the entertainment product remains operationally sound creatively compelling and reflective of the companys premium guest experience.

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Responsibilities:

• Talent & Partner Management: The Manager Talent and Performances leads collaboration with thirdparty casting agencies and production partners to ensure all entertainers consistently meet the companys artistic and operational expectations. They set clear team standards and ensure internal staff and external partners execute work aligned with performance quality and compliance requirements. The manager reviews entertainer performance trends and uses structured data to recommend improvements to agencies and internal stakeholders. They promptly escalate and resolve concerns related to entertainer readiness professionalism or contract performance. As fleet needs evolve the manager adapts talent sourcing strategies and strengthens partnerships to support longterm program stability and diversity. They provide technical guidance to team members managing casting logistics and agency deliverables ensuring operational accuracy and timeliness. The manager formally evaluates partner performance and drives continuous improvement through documented feedback. They ensure compliance with essential proceduresincluding onboarding credentialing and documentationacross all talentrelated operations. This accountability area reinforces the managers responsibility for both team and partner performance.

• Strategic Planning Financial & Logistics: The Manager Talent and Performances collaborates on highlevel entertainment deployment planning to match talent needs with the fleets complex operational schedule. They direct the team in applying budget assumptions talent mix strategies and resource planning aligned with departmental goals. The manager contributes to forecasting entertainer costs managedservice expenses and travel budgets ensuring projections reflect financial discipline and operational reality. They coordinate with agencies and vendors to secure rehearsal space housing and landbased logistics required for efficient program delivery. As deployment changes arise the manager adjusts plans to maintain operational continuity while adhering to policy budget and scheduling guidelines. They guide team members through logistical conflict resolution cost tracking and data accuracy across scheduling systems and contract tools. Close coordination with Finance and senior leadership ensures budget alignment throughout the year. The manager enforces essential procedures such as invoice review contract compliance and documentation accuracy. This accountability ensures resource stewardship and operational precision across entertainment logistics.

• Performer Experience Oversight: The Manager Talent and Performances provides oversight and direction for the full performer lifecycle including auditions casting processes rehearsals and shipboard onboarding. They ensure each stage is executed in alignment with departmental strategy leadership expectations and brand standards. Through proactive visibility into rehearsal environments and shipboard operations the manager confirms that performer readiness meets artistic safety and operational benchmarks. They identify gaps affecting performer experience and adapt plans to enhance efficiency and support. The manager collaborates with senior leadership to maintain consistent messaging and expectations throughout the performer journey. They ensure compliance with required procedures across documentation communication rehearsal protocols and shipboard onboarding workflows. The manager supports team members in addressing performer concerns and operational obstacles as they arise. They maintain structured documentation to support planning quality improvements and process compliance. This accountability ensures a smooth and highquality experience for entertainers across the fleet.

• Performance Evaluation & Feedback: The Manager Talent and Performances leads the evaluation of entertainment programming to ensure that every onboard performance meets artistic standards and supports the guestexperience vision. They analyze performance reports guest feedback and onboard observations to guide ongoing program improvement. Working closely with senior leadership the manager delivers structured feedback to agencies performers and internal staff to drive consistency and excellence. They ensure evaluation methods follow standardized criteria and align with the entertainment strategic direction. The manager adjusts review priorities and timelines based on deployment changes operational needs or program updates. They coach team members on effective evaluation practices and communication of improvement plans. Documentation of performance trends is maintained accurately to support planning compliance and longterm quality development. The manager identifies systemic issues and recommends operational or artistic refinements. This accountability ensures fleetwide artistic consistency and a reliable highquality entertainment experience.

• Operational Problem Solving: The manager leads the team in navigating operational challenges such as scheduling disruptions performance modifications and urgent personnel issues. They use established policies and business plans to guide decisionmaking while escalating complex matters to senior leadership as needed. The manager ensures essential procedures are followed when addressing contract concerns compliance issues safety considerations or disciplinary actions. They coordinate across shipboard teams agencies and internal departments to resolve timesensitive problems without compromising guest experience or operational continuity. The manager adapts departmental plans to mitigate risks associated with changes in deployment resource availability or performer readiness. They provide technical and operational guidance to team members responsible for daytoday issue management. The manager maintains accurate documentation of decisions and outcomes to support compliance trend analysis and continuous improvement. They ensure the team understands escalation pathways and adheres to communication standards. This accountability ensures rapid consistent and policyaligned problem solving across entertainment operations.

• Performs other duties as assigned that may include but are not limited to: exploring the in-sourcing of entertainers the occasional direct-booking of Guest Entertainers and supplemental staff monitoring the World Stage evening schedule and providing consultation to the shipboard leadership and departments Programming team etc.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: The Manager Talent and Performances oversees a team of professional employees responsible for delivering consistent highquality entertainment across the fleet. They manage the full lifecycle of Guest and Resident Entertainers ensuring that casting rehearsals onboarding and shipboard execution meet artistic operational and financial expectations. The manager adapts departmental plans and resource priorities in response to performer availability deployment changes and evolving operational demands. Decisions are guided by established policies procedures and the overall entertainment business plan with escalations made to senior leadership as needed. They ensure team standards are welldefined essential procedures are followed and work outputs meet required performance measures. The manager provides technical and artistic guidance to staff partners and shipboard colleagues to maintain program consistency. This role drives continuity readiness and reliability across the entertainment operation.

• Problem solving: The Manager Talent and Performances resolves complex timesensitive issues by applying structured decisionmaking guided by departmental policies and operational constraints. They evaluate challenges such as scheduling disruptions performer readiness concerns and production changes adapting plans to maintain continuity and protect guest experience. The manager works across teams to address logistical compliance and creative obstacles ensuring solutions align with established procedures and business priorities. They provide clear direction to employees navigating operational pressure reinforcing consistent standards and escalation pathways. With strong coordination and analytical skills they balance artistic expectations with resource limitations and safety requirements. Their ability to anticipate potential issues allows them to minimize disruption and support seamless execution. This approach ensures stable entertainment delivery across a dynamic operational environment.

• Impact: The Manager Talent and Performances strengthens entertainment operations by ensuring their team consistently delivers results that meet quality compliance and financial standards. They build effective working relationships with talent agencies performers internal partners and shipboard teams to enhance coordination and reduce friction points. The manager uses technical expertise in casting budgeting and operational systems to streamline workflows and optimize resource utilization. They hold their team accountable for following essential procedures maintaining accurate documentation and adhering to safety and compliance expectations including HESS Golden Rules. Their active participation in required training reinforces operational readiness and risk awareness. Through careful oversight and continuous improvement efforts the manager elevates both performance quality and operational efficiency. Their leadership ensures a dependable and highimpact entertainment experience fleetwide.

• Leadership: The Manager Talent and Performances leads a small professional team by setting clear performance objectives providing ongoing coaching and conducting formal performance evaluations. They model adherence to policies safety standards and operational procedures reinforcing expectations across the team and partner network. The manager encourages open communication incident reporting and proactive identification of risks strengthening the culture of safety and accountability. They provide technical guidance to employees and colleagues supporting consistent execution across casting rehearsal and onboard performance activities. Participation in HESS programssuch as Heroes of Safe & Welldemonstrates their commitment to wellbeing and operational responsibility. They make personnel recommendations contribute to development planning and maintain fairness in pay and performance decisions. Through steady informed leadership they cultivate a collaborative highperforming team environment.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelors degree required (or equivalent experience). Preferred areas include Arts Administration Entertainment Management Performing Arts Business Management or Technical Theatre.

• Certifications: Project or Production Management certifications are an asset.

• Experience: 47 years of relevant experience in entertainment operations talent management or company management.

• Skills: Strong leadership communication and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in casting systems budgeting tools and scheduling software.

• Deep understanding of casting rehearsal and studio operations.

• Experience managing entertainment budgets and resource planning.

• Familiarity with performance evaluation and feedback processes.

• Proven success resolving complex talent and logistical issues across international environments.

Travel: 25-50% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.

This position is classified as in-office. As an in-office role it requires employees to work from a designated Holland office Tuesday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Mondays and Fridays.

Holland provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs including:

What You Can Expect

• Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family
• Health Benefits
• 401(k)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Training & Professional Development
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement
• BaseSalaryRange: $83300to $ range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be salary isdirectly relatedto eachcandidatesqualifications and experience uniquely.

Our CultureStronger Together

Our highest responsibility and top priorityiscompliance environmental protection and the health safety and well-being of our guests the people in the communities we touch and serve and our shipboard and shoreside visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials Corporate VisionStatementand our Core Values at: Americais an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age ancestry color family or medical care leave gender identity or expression genetic information marital status medical condition national origin physical or mental disability political affiliation protected veteran status race religion sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable lawsregulationsand ordinances.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Holland America will provide reasonable accommodations with the application process upon your request asrequiredtocomply withapplicable you have a disability and requireassistancein this application process please contact

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