Island Recreation Manager - Bahamas

3 Weeks ago • 3 Years + • Facilities Management

About the job

Job Description

The Island Recreation Manager leads the long-term strategy and daily operations of the Island Recreation team in the Bahamas, encompassing lifeguards and animal programs. Responsibilities include managing lifeguarding and rental activities, overseeing budgeting and staff performance, ensuring safety training and compliance, handling guest issues, partnering with vendors, maintaining facilities, and managing recruitment and staff development. The role requires strong leadership, operational expertise, and a commitment to guest safety and satisfaction. This is a Department Head role reporting to the Island Operations Director.
Must have:
  • 3+ years managing guest services (Lifeguard/Recreation focus)
  • Resort operation management experience
  • Water safety instruction & advanced lifesaving skills
  • Maintaining water sports/recreational equipment
  • Passing pre-hire swim test & certifications
  • Excellent communication & leadership skills
Good to have:
  • Animal care experience
  • Scuba/open water diver certification
  • Maintenance experience
  • College degree
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Job Summary:

Every day at Disney Cruise Line we take pride in bringing the magic of Disney to life. We find joy in creating cherished memories and form genuine connections with our guests. We hold each other to the highest degree and always act responsibly while ensuring the safety of fellow crew and guests. United by our Disney values, we work toward excellence in all we do. As a part of our team, you can live and work in a diverse and inclusive environment amidst a professional and supportive community. If you are ready to create unforgettable experiences and grow as a person and as a professional, apply today!

The Recreation Manager, is responsible for leading the long-term strategy and daily operations of the Island Recreation team, including Lifeguards and Animal Programs. This role manages lifeguarding and rental activities, ensuring a seamless and safe Guest experience at all recreational venues. The manager oversees budgeting, staff performance, safety training, and compliance with government and company standards. They also handle guest issues, partner with shore side and third-party vendors, maintain facilities and equipment, and manage recruitment, scheduling, and staff development to ensure a high-performing, motivated team.


This role is based on Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.

Responsibilities:

  • As a Department Head and direct report to the Island Operations Director, responsible for contributing to and leading the long-term strategy planning and overall business execution of Island Recreation team, inclusive of Lifeguards and Animal Programs
  • Manage day-to-day Island Recreation operation, including all lifeguarding and rental activities
  • Actively performance manage Island Recreation/Lifeguard team and Animal Programs staff
  • Oversee day-to-day operation of Island Recreation and Animal Programs areas and ensure the safe delivery of a seamless Guest experience at all aquatic facilities, all island recreation activities, and at all recreation venues such as boats, marinas, recreation rental facilities, third party Operating Participants, and others
  • Responsible for the annual operating plan, planned work and labor budgeting for Island Recreation and Animal Programs departments
  • Oversee and ensure compliance for self and for leadership team to all safety-related training, in-service rescue/first-aid training, understudy development and individual development plans including the learning and development strategy, to ensure desired outcomes are met
  • Partner with island and shore side line of business leaders such as Island Services, Maintenance, operations and landscape to understand their needs and provide them with excellent service
  • Oversee the maintenance and repair of island beach / recreation facilities and equipment to ensure Guest safety and show quality standards are maintained
  • Ensure the operation meets or exceeds government and company standards and codes for the recreation and animal programs operations
  • Oversee all operations related to scuba diving, including the safety dive program, maintenance and repair projects, dredging and other projects/tasks that require use of a scuba diver
  • Establish effective processes to ensure delivery of objectives for safety goals and recreation experience
  • Ability to participate in lifeguard and other recreation specific training; ability to direct responses to multi-tiered performance safety/regulatory audits
  • Handle Guest issues as they arise
  • Ability to be the first responder or an on-scene commander ensuring safe practices are consistently executed
  • Responsible for maintaining personnel files, performance reviews, and discipline
  • Partner with shore side recruitment and scheduling
  • Oversee and support shipboard mooring operations
  • Build relationship and partnership with unique third-party Operating Participants (vendors) for the island, including Port Adventures
  • Reinforce a safety culture and continually seek to expand safety knowledge through training, mentoring, self-study or other methods of continuous learning
  • Establish and execute a Crew development plan to provide effective motivation, maintain morale, promote diversity, and minimize turnover of staff
  • Oversee use and ordering of all recreation supplies to ensure adequate stock

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum three years’ experience managing, planning for, directing and maintaining the operation of a guest services business or operation with emphasis on Lifeguard and/or Recreation operations management
  • Proven management experience in a resort operation
  • Proven experience with water safety instruction and/or advanced lifesaving skills
  • Demonstrated experience maintaining water sports and/or recreational equipment (sailboats/bicycles etc.)
  • Ability to pass a pre-hire swim test and successfully complete lifeguard certification training, as well as Aquatic Rescue Professional certification (conducted upon arrival on island), including swimming 200 yards with the first 100 yards in one minute and 50 seconds or less; tread water for two minutes without the use of hands, retrieve a ten-pound brick from eight feet of water, certification requirements must also be maintained throughout contract
  • Must be able to complete and maintain Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Instructor certification throughout each contract; First Aid certification
  • Ability to pass a vision screening with at least 20/25 vision, corrected or uncorrected
  • Ability to lift 40-50 pounds
  • Ability to exercise good judgment, serve as a role model for others, demonstrate and proactively carry out Disney’s Leadership Guiding Principles, work independently, adapt to change and be solution-oriented
  • Demonstrated strong organizational, time management and follow-through skills, with strong attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise strong business partnering, coaching, negotiation, influencing, problem solving, and continuous process improvement skills
  • Demonstrated communication skills, both written and verbal, and ability to work and communicate effectively with multiple levels of leaders and crew
  • High School degree or equivalent
  • Computer fluency with Microsoft Word and Excel

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Animal care experience
  • Scuba / open water diver / rescue diver certification
  • Previous maintenance experience
  • College degree or equivalent

Additional Information:

This role is based on Disney's private island in the Bahamas,

Applicants must be:

  • Must be legally authorized to work in The Bahamas
  • Willing to be a member of the Ride-Out Crew, which will remain on the island during a hurricane in order to make pre-storm preparations and perform post storm assessment, recovery and cleanup duties, as directed by DCL (this role will be part of the hurricane ride-out plan)
  • Willing to be appreciative of working and living in a multi-cultural environment
  • Comfortable living in a confined space with strict rules and regulations
  • Adhere to a structured lifestyle, personally and professionally

Your Responsibilities:

  • Obtain a criminal background check
  • Bring approved work shoes

**Disney Cruise Line is a drug-free workplace. All new hires are required to undergo drug/alcohol testing within the first week onboard and throughout their contracts. Failure to pass the drug/alcohol testing will result in immediate termination.

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About The Company

From classic animated features and exhilarating theme park attractions to cutting edge sports coverage, and the hottest shows on television, The Walt Disney Company has been making magic since 1923, creating unforgettable stories that connect with audiences around the world. And we’re just getting started!

The key to our success…. The Cast, Crew, Imagineers and Employees who honor Disney’s rich legacy by stretching the bounds of imagination to create the never-before-seen, bringing unparalleled entertainment experiences to people of all ages. Begin a career that delivers unparalleled creative content and experiences to audiences around the world and just imagine the stories you could be part of…

What is #LifeAtDisney like? It’s a series of magical moments with cast members and employees developing and telling our stories in the most innovative ways. Whether it’s a day spent as a Disney VoluntEAR, or celebrating the release of a new interactive experience, retail product or movie, our days are filled with the knowledge that we are creating entertainment experiences the whole family can enjoy. Follow @DisneyCareers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a peek behind-the-curtain, and discover how you could connect to a world of stories with Disney!

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