Construction Manager (m/f/d) - 4 years fixed-term

About the Role & Team

The Construction Manager will oversee the end-to-end delivery of Disney Cruise Line newbuild projects at the shipyard in Germany, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, safety standards, and quality expectations. This role requires strategic leadership, budget and schedule oversight, and coordination with shipyards, contractors, and internal stakeholders. 

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs, and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science, and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.

Nearly every project at Walt Disney Imagineering includes a first-of-its-kind. Innovation is in our DNA,

This role will be based in our Papenburg, Germany shipyard site office. This role is a project based fixed-term contract until December 2030.

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

• Drive overall construction according to the strategy for multiple newbuild cruise ships, ensuring compliance with SOLAS, USPH, and Disney standards 

• Leads communication, coordinates and collaborates project specific priorities with shipyard, outfitters, vendors, consultants, project planner and project team members

• Drives critical path, schedule, KSM and milestone compliance, elevating to leadership as needed

• Participates in Factory Acceptance Testing at contractor/vendor sites

• Prepares weekly log of contractor work activities and uses this report to close out shipyard and contractor issues

• Provides constructability analysis and value engineering recommendations

• Critically reviews outfitter procurement log and compares with outfitter and shipyard schedules

• Assures shipyard compliance with contract drawings and specifications

• Oversee shipyard activities, contractor performance, and outfitting operations to meet milestones 

• Attend inspections with team members from Project Management, Marine & Technical, Creative/Design and Entertainment/Show onboard to ensure design compliance with cabling, AC, wall and ceiling closures, deck penetrations, etc. 

• Attend daily meetings with shipyard to answer questions from builder, inform shipyard of issues from the Project Manager, communicate to builder upcoming owner activities, and support to coordinate schedules accordingly. 

• Attend weekly outfitter, Project Management, and yard meetings about owner issues 

• Develop and implement QA/QC programs and ensure adherence to safety regulations in close coordination with the shipyard, Walt Disney Imagineering / Disney Experiences / Worldwide Safety 

• Collaborate with design, engineering, and operations teams to resolve complex technical challenges 

• Provide support to negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships for major construction packages. 

• Represent Disney Cruise Line in meetings with shipyard and regulatory authorities 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and innovation in construction processes 

• Arbitrates on-site conflicts between contractors and prepares information to support potential claims

• Communicates/collaborates with the design team daily to review submittals and site delivered material for compliance with contract documents

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field or experience

• Solid work experience in large-scale construction project management, preferably in shipbuilding or maritime sectors 

• Technical experience and expertise in all areas of construction field activities

• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications

• Strong knowledge of international maritime regulations and safety standards 

• Proven leadership in managing complex schedules 

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, global environment 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities as well as conflicts  

• Justification For Change/Directive writing 

• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications 

• Competence in MS Office and project-related software for given intended project: BIM 360 Field/Glue/Documents, Bluebeam, BOX, etc. 

• Experience using project management (document control) platforms for Submittal management: Enovia, SAP, Smartsheet, etc. 

• Familiarity with Disney standards and brand requirements (beneficial)

• Fluency in English 

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.