Manager, Talent and Performances

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. 

We are looking for a Manager, Talent and Performance.  The Manager, Talent and Performances plays a critical leadership role in delivering exceptional onboard entertainment experiences across the fleet. This position oversees a team of professionals responsible for coordinating Resident and Guest Entertainers and ensuring their work aligns with artistic standards, operational needs, and the company’s entertainment strategy. The manager builds and maintains strong relationships with casting agencies, talent representatives, and creative production partners to secure top-tier performers who reflect Holland America Line’s brand expectations. They adapt departmental plans to a dynamic fleet deployment environment, balancing creativity with budget, staffing, and operational constraints. Guided by established policies, procedures, and business plans, the manager exercises sound judgment while receiving direction from senior leadership for higher‑level decisions. They provide technical and artistic guidance to internal staff, external agencies, and shipboard leaders to ensure performance quality and program consistency. The role includes monitoring auditions, casting cycles, rehearsals, and live shipboard performances to verify alignment with performance standards and guest‑experience goals. The manager is accountable for the results of a small, specialized team, setting clear performance objectives, evaluating work quality, and recommending pay and development actions. Ultimately, the Manager, Talent and Performances ensures the entertainment product remains operationally sound, creatively compelling, and reflective of the company’s premium guest experience.

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

Responsibilities:

• Talent & Partner Management:  The Manager, Talent and Performances leads collaboration with third‑party casting agencies and production partners to ensure all entertainers consistently meet the company’s artistic and operational expectations. They set clear team standards and ensure internal staff and external partners execute work aligned with performance, quality, and compliance requirements. The manager reviews entertainer performance trends and uses structured data to recommend improvements to agencies and internal stakeholders. They promptly escalate and resolve concerns related to entertainer readiness, professionalism, or contract performance. As fleet needs evolve, the manager adapts talent sourcing strategies and strengthens partnerships to support long‑term program stability and diversity. They provide technical guidance to team members managing casting logistics and agency deliverables, ensuring operational accuracy and timeliness. The manager formally evaluates partner performance and drives continuous improvement through documented feedback. They ensure compliance with essential procedures—including onboarding, credentialing, and documentation—across all talent‑related operations. This accountability area reinforces the manager’s responsibility for both team and partner performance.

• Strategic Planning, Financial & Logistics:  The Manager, Talent and Performances collaborates on high‑level entertainment deployment planning to match talent needs with the fleet’s complex operational schedule. They direct the team in applying budget assumptions, talent mix strategies, and resource planning aligned with departmental goals. The manager contributes to forecasting entertainer costs, managed‑service expenses, and travel budgets, ensuring projections reflect financial discipline and operational reality. They coordinate with agencies and vendors to secure rehearsal space, housing, and land‑based logistics required for efficient program delivery. As deployment changes arise, the manager adjusts plans to maintain operational continuity while adhering to policy, budget, and scheduling guidelines. They guide team members through logistical conflict resolution, cost tracking, and data accuracy across scheduling systems and contract tools. Close coordination with Finance and senior