Job Location: Basel Switzerland
Reports to: VP HR Celebrity Cruises & Silversea
Direct Reports: No
Summary
As the Director of HR for Celebrity River Cruises' new river cruise initiative based in Basel this position will be responsible for three key pillars: overseeing our shoreside Basel operations liaising with TKO and managing our shipboard crew
This role will play a pivotal leadership role in establishing and overseeing all human resources functions necessary for a successful launch and sustainable operation
This senior management position combines strategic development with operational execution and excellence to build a high-performing compliant and engaged workforce from the ground up
The Director HR will demonstrate exceptional talent building capabilities while leading strategy design and execution initiatives that require organizational agility in a dynamic multi-cultural environment This position will be responsible for managing relationships with our TKO in all crew-related practices
Key Responsibilities
Develop and implement HR strategies and policies aligned with global standards and local regulations fostering a culture of accountability safety diversity- and agility Establish KPIs to measure success in employee engagement compliance
- and operational effectiveness Oversee legal complexities related to itineraries
- particularly as the fleet expands to include additional entities Develop and implement strategic planning to support the growth of the crew complement
- projecting to scale over the next 10 years Oversee talent acquisition onboarding retention
- and leadership development programs for both shipboard and shoreside teams in partnership with brand operations and HR COEs
- Conduct workforce planning and build succession strategies to support growth and operational demands Introduce processes for onboarding offboarding performance management and lifecycle HR activities inclusive of development policies ensuring crew welfare safety
- and legal compliance Ensure adherence to Swiss German and international river cruise labor laws managing crew deployment certifications
- and records in partnership with legal and regulatory bodies Build strong relationships with leadership external partners and regulators
- Act as a strategic HR partner to TKO and operational units (both shipboard and shoreside) and collaborate with global HR teams for tailored programs Foster an inclusive safety-focused culture that reflects brand values Lead initiatives to enhance crew engagement retention
- and diversity while promoting open communication Leverage HRIS analytics and technology to optimize HR operations ensure compliance
- and improve employee experience through data-driven insights Drive recruitment strategies for onboard crew and shoreside staff
- ensuring access to diverse talent pools and effective onboarding processes Will be responsible for managing all employee relations cases shoreside and shipboard including investigations
- ethics and management of AWARE hotline
Qualifications and Education
10+ years in HR leadership with success in complex multi-stakeholder environments Experience in river cruising hospitality or travel sectors ideally with multicultural- international teams In-depth knowledge of Swiss laws EU labor standards and river cruising regulations Track record in strategy development process-building
- and managing vendor relationships across multiple countries Experience in managing talent development strategic planning organizational agility and cross-cultural communication programs
- Strong systems thinking to drive impactful HR initiatives Exceptional communication and negotiation skills; fluency in English required; Swiss German/German/French advantageous Willing to travel (30%+) Demonstrates executive presence strategic influence
- and project management capabilities Bachelor's degree in business administration
- human resources or related field preferred
- Legally authorized to work in Switzerland
Financial / Quantitative Responsibilities
Collaborate with external agencies suppliers- and partners (including TKO) to ensure recruitment and onboarding expenses align with budget objectives
- Support scaling efforts through workforce planning to meet operational needs while controlling costs Manage costs related to legal compliance certifications and records management ensuring adherence to Swiss German
- and international maritime labor regulations while controlling associated expenditures Leverage HR technology and analytics to identify efficiencies reduce operational costs
- and optimize employee-related expenditures
Internal / External Relationships
The Director HR will possess a strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners They will build and maintain strategic relationships with leadership external organizations and regulatory bodies serving as a trusted HR partner to TKO and operational teams both shipboard and shoreside Collaboration with global HR teams to develop tailored programs will also be a key aspect of this role
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those requirements employees must meet to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit stand write review and type reports compile data operate a pc communicate listen and assess information The employee may move about to the office complex may travel to other office locations and may lift push pull or move 10-25 pounds The employee is occasionally required to walk to the dock embark and debark the vessel
Working Conditions
This position involves working primarily in a corporate office setting with occasional visits onboard ships as needed The work environment includes both indoor and outdoor settings reflecting the realities of performing the essential functions of the job
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment based on race color religion sex age national origin disability sexual orientation sexuality gender identity or expression marital status or any other characteristic protected by law RCL and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment
We know there's a lot to consider As you go through the application process our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance and answer any additional questions
Thank you again for your interest in Celebrity River Cruises We'll hope to see you onboard soon
#LI-ST1
