The Learning and Development Specialist is a strategic partner in cultivating a dynamic culture of continuous improvement, active listening, and lifelong learning across the organization. This role is integral to enhancing employee engagement, operational excellence, and talent development by delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to both shipboard and shoreside teams. The Specialist will work cross-functionally with Operations, Accounting, Marketing, and Brand teams to ensure training initiatives are aligned with business objectives and support the overall mission of providing exceptional guest experiences and fostering employee growth.

Essential Functions:

• Shipboard Team Support:  Collaborate with Operations, Accounting, and Marketing departments to conduct needs assessments and identify skill gaps and training requirements.  - Design, implement, and facilitate training programs using available learning systems, ensuring accessibility and relevance for shipboard employees.  Partner with Brand teams to evaluate and integrate brand-owned learning systems and materials into shipboard training strategies. Customize and leverage brand resources to enhance the learning experience for the Casino team onboard, ensuring alignment with brand standards and operational goals.  Champion initiatives that promote career development, improve service delivery, and increase employee retention through targeted learning interventions.

• Shoreside Team Support:  Work closely with HRBP and departmental leaders to identify strategic training opportunities that support business goals and workforce development.  Assist with facilitating leadership development programs and succession planning initiatives to build a robust talent pipeline.  Support onboarding and continuous learning efforts for new and existing employees, ensuring a seamless integration into the company culture.

• General Responsibilities:  Maintain a deep understanding of the company’s values, culture, and strategic direction to ensure training programs reinforce desired behaviors and outcomes.  Monitor, assess, and report on the effectiveness of training programs using qualitative and quantitative metrics; implement improvements based on feedback and performance data.  Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in learning and development to continuously enhance training offerings.  Foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that encourages feedback, innovation, and personal growth.  Manage multiple projects and stakeholders effectively, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organizational priorities.

Knowledge & Skills:

• The Learning and Development Specialist plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s culture of continuous learning and operational excellence. This position spans both shipboard and shoreside teams, ensuring training initiatives are globally aligned and impactful across diverse environments. By partnering with multiple departments—Operations, Accounting, Marketing, and the various brands, the role influences talent development strategies that directly support guest experience standards and employee engagement. Its reach extends across the entire Global Gaming function, reinforcing consistency in learning practices and driving organizational growth.

• This role requires navigating complex, dynamic environments where training needs vary by location, function, and operational priorities. The Specialist must: Conduct in-depth needs assessments across shipboard and shoreside teams to identify skill gaps. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to measure training effectiveness and implement improvements. Anticipate challenges such as evolving compliance requirements, technology adoption, and workforce readiness. Integrate brand-specific learning systems while customizing content for operational realities. Problem-solving often involves balancing multiple stakeholder expectations, adapting to changing business objectives, and leveraging innovative learning technologies to deliver scalable solutions.

• The Learning and Development Specialist significantly influences employee performance, retention, and guest satisfaction. By aligning training programs with strategic goals, the role: Sets standards for learning practices within the Global Gaming discipline. Enhances operational efficiency and service delivery across a broad geographic and functional scope. Contributes to succession planning and leadership development, strengthening the talent pipeline. Drives a culture of learning that supports organizational agility and prepares teams for future challenges. Ultimately, this role ensures that learning initiatives are not just functional but transformative, impacting both business outcomes and employee experience.

• While the role may not have direct reports initially, it demands strong leadership and project management capabilities: Leads cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, HR, and Brand teams. Manages resources effectively, including budgets for training programs and technology platforms. Coordinates multiple projects simultaneously, requiring prioritization and strategic decision-making. The Specialist acts as a connector and facilitator, guiding teams through change and fostering collaboration to achieve shared objectives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Development, or a related field; advanced degree or certifications in L&D or instructional design preferred.

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in learning and development, preferably within a corporate, hospitality, or maritime environment.

• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver engaging training programs using various modalities including in-person, virtual, and e-learning platforms.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.

• Proficiency in learning management systems (LMS), instructional design tools, and performance evaluation methodologies.

• Proven project management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Passion for employee development, organizational growth, and creating meaningful learning experiences.

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

Travel:  Less than 25% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.

This position is classified as “in-office.”  As an in-office role, it requires employees to work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida Tuesday through Thursday each week. Employees may work from their homes on Mondays and Fridays.  Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. 

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience.   

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non-sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan. Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including: 

• Health Benefits: 
  • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans 
  • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources 
  • Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage  
• Financial Benefits: 
  • 401(k) plan that includes a company match 
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan 
• Paid Time Off 
  • Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.  
  • Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year.  All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure. 
  • Sick Time – All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.   
• Other Benefits 
  • Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends 
  • Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement  
  • On-site Fitness center at our Miami campus 

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