Product Manager, Voyage

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 23 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 execution of every aspect of the voyage, including onboard programming, transportation, accommodations, meals, and immersive tours.   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 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, marketable themes and bring those programs to market based on a launch schedule

Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to articulate unique voyage selling propositions and review and approve relevant content

Lead sales presentations and effectively convey the unique selling points of voyage experience

Create paid shore excursions as appropriate to augment included experiences and generate additional revenue

Collaborate with National Geographic Expeditions staff to bring the NGE name and experience into voyage programming

Seek opportunities to build experiences with LEX-NG Fund supported projects and/or individuals into voyage offerings

Collaborate with Sr. Management on annual deployments and deployment changes

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.

Collaborate with the Marine Department to create and maintain voyage sailing schedules (aka “technicals”)

Develop community/industry relationships and partnerships that add value to the guest experience and maintain a positive brand relationship in the areas we operate

Communicate environmental and social/community impacts and opportunities tied to voyage activities with LEX CES Team at regular intervals to elevate companywide awareness and strengthen the company’s commitment to responsible exploration

Ensure deadlines are met as determined by the Operations Calendar

VOYAGE EXECUTION

Create and provide timely manifests with necessary information for voyage and land providers

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 field and assist as appropriate

Maintain voyage P&L and ensure voyages operate within budget, while optimizing profitability. 

ADMINISTRATION

Negotiate favorable voyage land costs and create voyage land costs budget

Review, process, and reconcile invoices for voyage costs

In cooperation with the Guest Communications Department, create and ensure the accuracy of final voyage documents

Create and maintain internal documents and systems to ensure accuracy for users. Work with a cross-departmental team to support all operational aspects in any contingency or emergency

Review booking and pacing to work with Marketing and Sales to address shortfalls and ensure maximized revenue.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Review and respond to various reports and implement action plans where necessary. Own voyage experience guest scores.

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, price, and other relevant aspects.

Represent the organization in regional associations, such as IAATO and AECO, as necessary 

At all 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 who represent our brand

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in business, Hospitality, Tourism, or a related field or equivalent industry experience.

Experience:

At least 3 years of experience in voyage development, travel planning, or a similar role.

Experience in developing sales presentations and marketing strategies.

Knowledge:

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.

Exceptional analytical skills with experience in financial reporting and analysis.

Strong leadership and training abilities to guide field staff and local vendors.

Technical Proficiency:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with project management tools.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master’s degree in business administration, Tourism Management, or a related field.

Experience:

5+ years of experience in voyage development or similar roles within the travel or expedition industry.

Proven track record of successful project management and execution.

Knowledge:

In-depth knowledge of geographical regions relevant to the company’s voyages.

Comprehensive understanding of competitive market positioning and pricing strategies.

Technical Proficiency:

Advanced proficiency in accounting software and CRM systems.

Familiarity with industry-specific software for itinerary planning and management.