Job Description

Holland America 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. 

The Senior Manager, Restaurant and Bar Operations is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of food and beverage strategies, programs, and standards across Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn (SBN). This role drives strategic initiatives that elevate the guest experience, strengthen brand differentiation, and support revenue growth throughout the fleet. The Senior Manager oversees Restaurant and Beverage Fleet Managers and provides leadership, direction, and coaching to ensure alignment with operational objectives and service standards. Responsibilities include evaluating industry trends, identifying opportunities for new concepts and offerings, and guiding the successful execution of food and beverage initiatives from development through fleet-wide adoption. The position collaborates closely with shipboard teams and shoreside partners to ensure new programs are practical, scalable, and aligned with each brand’s unique guest experience. The Senior Manager works in partnership with product development, Culinary, Beverage, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, People, and Hospitality leadership teams to achieve business goals, drive operating efficiencies, and enhance commercial performance. This role also monitors performance metrics, assesses program effectiveness, and recommends improvements that support guest satisfaction, profitability, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership, strategic thinking, financial acumen, project management expertise, and extensive food and beverage experience within hospitality, travel, or cruise industry environments.

Here’s a summary of what Holland America Line is looking for.  Is this you? 

Responsibilities:

Food and Beverage Strategy and Brand Advancement

• Leads the strategic vision, development, and continuous evolution of food and beverage innovation initiatives across HAL & SBN. Establishes long-term strategic roadmaps that align with brand positioning, guest expectations, market trends, and organizational objectives. Evaluates emerging industry developments, consumer preferences, competitive offerings, and technology advancements to identify opportunities that strengthen the guest experience and support business growth. Oversees the development of new dining, beverage, and experiential concepts that enhance brand differentiation while maintaining operational viability. Directs concept evaluation, pilot programs, and business assessments to determine scalability and fleet-wide applicability. Partners with senior leadership to establish strategic priorities and investment recommendations that advance food and beverage objectives. Balances innovation, guest experience, commercial performance, and operational requirements when evaluating opportunities and making recommendations. Serves as a key advisor on food and beverage strategy, ensuring initiatives support long-term brand growth, market relevance, and competitive positioning.

Fleet Leadership, Organizational Effectiveness, and Talent Development

• Provides strategic leadership and direction to Restaurant and Bar Fleet Managers supporting both HAL and SBN. Develops departmental objectives, performance expectations, and operational priorities that align with broader food and beverage and organizational goals. Builds leadership capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and ongoing professional development initiatives. Establishes frameworks that promote accountability, consistency, and high levels of performance across fleet support functions. Leads organizational planning efforts to ensure resources, talent, and operational support models effectively meet evolving business needs. Guides teams through organizational change, business transformation initiatives, and operational enhancements while maintaining engagement and performance. Fosters a culture that encourages innovation, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement. Ensures leadership practices support employee development, operational excellence, and the successful execution of strategic priorities across both brands.

Commercial Strategy, Revenue Optimization, and Financial Performance

• Works closely with Director, Food & Beverage Revenue and Innovation in the development and execution of strategies designed to maximize food and beverage revenue, profitability, and overall business performance across both fleets. Evaluates financial results, operational data, guest purchasing behaviors, and market trends to identify opportunities for growth and enhanced commercial outcomes. Partners with Finance, Revenue Management, and senior business leaders to establish performance targets and measure return on investment for key initiatives. Directs the assessment of menu strategies, beverage programs, pricing structures, and promotional opportunities to optimize revenue generation while preserving brand integrity. Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen financial controls, and enhance cost effectiveness without compromising the guest experience. Provides strategic recommendations regarding resource allocation, capital investments, and business priorities. Utilizes data-driven decision-making to support sustainable growth and improve financial performance. Ensures departmental strategies and initiatives contribute meaningfully to enterprise objectives and long-term business success.

Cross-Functional Strategy, Stakeholder Management, and Business Integration

• Leads collaboration across Culinary, Beverage, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Information Technology, People, and Hospitality functions to ensure alignment on strategic initiatives and business priorities. Serves as a key stakeholder in enterprise projects that impact food and beverage operations, guest experiences, and commercial performance. Influences decision-making through the development of business cases, strategic recommendations, and executive-level presentations. Aligns diverse stakeholder groups around common objectives while balancing competing priorities and operational considerations. Establishes strong partnerships with external vendors, suppliers, consultants, and industry organizations to support innovation, service enhancement, and business objectives. Represents food and beverage interests in leadership discussions, planning sessions, and strategic reviews. Facilitates effective communication that drives alignment, accountability, and successful execution across functions and brands. Strengthens organizational effectiveness by fostering collaborative relationships that support enterprise-wide goals and long-term success.

Guest Experience Excellence, Brand Performance, and Continuous Improvement

• Champions a guest-centric approach that drives exceptional dining and beverage experiences across HAL & SBN. Establishes strategies that enhance guest satisfaction, support loyalty, and strengthen each brand's reputation for quality and service excellence. Reviews guest feedback, operational insights, market intelligence, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Directs initiatives that elevate service delivery, enhance product offerings, and improve the overall value proposition for guests. Ensures food and beverage experiences remain aligned with evolving guest expectations and brand standards while supporting long-term business objectives. Promotes the adoption of innovative technologies, processes, and best practices that improve service effectiveness and operational performance. Measures and evaluates program outcomes to drive informed decision-making and sustainable enhancement efforts. Leads a culture of continuous improvement focused on innovation, quality, operational discipline, and exceptional guest experiences.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: The Senior Manager, Restaurant and Bar Operations has enterprise-wide responsibility for shaping and advancing food and beverage strategies across Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn (SBN). The role operates across both shoreside and shipboard environments, ensuring strategic initiatives are designed to support the unique brand positioning, guest expectations, and commercial objectives of each fleet. Working closely with senior leadership, the position influences the direction of restaurant, bar, and beverage experiences that impact guests across multiple vessels and itineraries. The role serves as a key link between strategy development and fleet adoption, ensuring strategic priorities are aligned with broader organizational goals. Responsibilities span concept development, commercial performance, operational readiness, and stakeholder alignment across numerous business functions. The position has significant influence over guest-facing programs that contribute to brand perception, revenue generation, and competitive differentiation. Success requires balancing long-term strategic objectives with the practical realities of operating within a complex, multi-brand cruise environment. The role regularly engages with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities that enhance business performance and strengthen the overall guest experience. Through its broad organizational reach, the position helps shape the future direction of food and beverage offerings across both brands. Supports deployment and itinerary planning decisions, and ensures alignment between pricing strategies and broader business objectives for assigned products and sailings.

• Problem solving: This role is responsible for addressing complex business challenges that require the integration of commercial, operational, guest experience, and market considerations. The Senior Manager analyzes multiple sources of information, including financial performance, guest feedback, competitive intelligence, industry trends, and operational data, to identify opportunities and risks. Decisions often involve evaluating competing priorities and determining solutions that support both brand objectives and enterprise goals. The role is expected to anticipate emerging challenges and proactively develop strategies that mitigate risk while maximizing business value. Many initiatives require navigating ambiguity, limited precedents, and varying stakeholder perspectives across multiple departments. The position regularly assesses the feasibility and scalability of new concepts, balancing creativity with resource requirements and operational constraints. Problem solving frequently extends beyond immediate issues and focuses on long-term improvements that drive sustainable growth and organizational effectiveness. The role must exercise sound judgment when recommending investments, priorities, and strategic changes that impact multiple stakeholders. Success depends on the ability to translate complex information into actionable recommendations that support informed decision-making and measurable business outcomes.

• Impact: The Senior Manager, Restaurant and Bar Operations has a significant impact on guest satisfaction, commercial performance, and brand differentiation across HAL and SBN. The role directly influences the development of experiences that contribute to onboard revenue growth and strengthen guest loyalty. Through strategic planning and innovation leadership, the position helps ensure both brands remain competitive and responsive to evolving market demands. Decisions made within this role affect the effectiveness of food and beverage programs across the fleet, influencing both operational performance and financial results. The position contributes to the establishment of standards, priorities, and best practices that guide food and beverage initiatives across multiple business areas. By identifying opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement, the role supports long-term organizational growth and enhances the overall value proposition offered to guests. The Senior Manager also plays an important role in aligning business investments with strategic objectives, ensuring resources are directed toward initiatives that deliver meaningful results. Through collaboration with senior leaders and key stakeholders, the position influences decisions with broad organizational implications. The cumulative impact of this role extends across guest experience, revenue performance, operational effectiveness, and brand equity.         

• Leadership: The Senior Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to Restaurant and Bar Fleet Managers supporting HAL and SBN, establishing priorities and performance expectations that align with departmental and organizational goals. The role is accountable for developing leadership capability within the team through coaching, mentorship, succession planning, and career development initiatives. As a senior leader within the food and beverage organization, the position guides decision-making, resource planning, and the execution of strategic priorities across multiple areas of responsibility. The role fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with company values and business objectives. In addition to direct leadership responsibilities, the Senior Manager frequently influences cross-functional teams and stakeholders who do not have a direct reporting relationship to the position. The role requires strong relationship-building skills to gain alignment, drive outcomes, and manage competing priorities across a complex organizational structure. Leadership responsibilities include managing departmental resources and supporting investment decisions that contribute to operational and commercial success. The position serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing expertise and recommendations that shape strategic direction. Through effective leadership and influence, the Senior Manager drives organizational effectiveness, strengthens team performance, and supports the successful execution of enterprise priorities.

Essential/Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Administration, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, Food and Beverage Management, or a related field.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including travel to ships and global operational locations, as required.

• Demonstrated knowledge of food safety, sanitation, public health, and regulatory compliance requirements applicable to hospitality and cruise operations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and business reporting tools.

Essential Experience Required:

• 5+ years of progressive food and beverage leadership experience within the cruise, hospitality, hotel, resort, or multi-unit restaurant industry.

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing managers, fleet leaders, regional leaders, district managers, or equivalent leadership-level positions with responsibility for multiple locations, business units, or operational functions.

• Experience developing and executing food and beverage strategies that support revenue growth, guest satisfaction, brand differentiation, and operational performance.

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from concept development through implementation and performance evaluation.

• Experience analyzing financial performance, operational metrics, guest insights, and market trends to develop strategic recommendations and drive business results.

• Proven experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and influencing decision-making across multiple departments, functions, and leadership levels.

• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or business transformation initiatives within dynamic and service-focused environments.

• Demonstrated success developing high-performing teams through coaching, mentorship, performance management, succession planning, and talent development.

• Experience overseeing food and beverage operations across multiple locations or vessels, including responsibility for service standards, product quality, operational consistency, and commercial performance.

• Strong knowledge of food and beverage industry trends, guest experience strategies, menu and beverage program development, and hospitality best practices.

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 is a hybrid position, based in our Seattle office. Candidates must be comfortable coming into the office 4 days/week (currently Monday-Thursday)

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 
• Base Salary Range: $100,000 to $135,000 The range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. Final base salary is directly related to each candidate’s qualifications and experience uniquely. 

Our Culture…Stronger Together

Our highest responsibility and top priority is compliance, 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 employees.  Please visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials, Corporate Vision Statement and our Core Values at:https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/our-company/mission-values.html

Holland America is 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 laws, regulations and ordinances. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Holland America will provide reasonable accommodations with the application process, upon your request, as required to comply with applicable laws.  If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact recruiting@hollandamericagroup.com

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