We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of People (HR) to lead the department looking after our office team, and align our human resources strategy with our core business objectives. As the Head of People, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our organizational culture, enhancing employee engagement, and developing leadership capabilities across the company. This position requires a leader who is able to tune into the vision, adept at translating business goals into HR strategies that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace. You will be responsible for all HR functions, including talent acquisition, performance management, training and development, benefits administration, and employee relations. With a strong focus on maximizing the potential of our workforce, you will work closely with your peers on the executive leadership team to drive organizational change and implement best practices for workforce management. You will also stay abreast of HR trends and emerging technologies to ensure our HR practices remain relevant and competitive. As a member of the executive team, you will provide strategic insights and lead by example by providing data-driven recommendations to enhance overall business performance while ensuring employee wellbeing and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

• Develop and implement HR strategies aligned with the company's business goals.

• Lead talent acquisition processes to attract and retain top talent.

• Design and promote employee development programs that enhance skills, leadership capability and career growth.

• Manage employee relations initiatives to foster a positive workplace culture.

• Ensure compliance with labor laws and employment regulations, including appropriate record keeping

• Analyze HR metrics to provide insights and drive data-informed decisions.

• Collaborate with executives to design HR initiatives that support business objectives.

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Team members, as well as to other line managers, within the company.

• Ensure payroll process runs flawlessly and accountable for all compensation and benefits systems and decision making process (merit increase cycles, salary adjustments, bonus systems design and implementation, etc).

• 6+ years of proven experience as a HR Generalist or in a comparable HR leadership role. (bare minimum 4 years if you can demonstrate you have fast tracked roles with increasing scope, incl managerial).

• Strong knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, and regulations.

• Demonstrated ability of staying up-to-speed with the ever changing HR space, where tectonic changes have occurred over the last five years around how work is organized.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful HR strategies in L&D as well as in Compensation and Benefits within tight budget requirements.

• Experience with change management and organizational development as well as with coaching leaders.

• Your experience and/or preferences makes it easy for you to work with numbers and you strive to make your decision making as fact based as possible. Ideally, you have experience with setting up and leveraging HR analytics for strategic business decisions.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred.

• Excellent command of the English and Greek languages (written and verbal).

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation package

• Friendly and positive working environment with a youthful energy within a third generation family owned company.

• Learning and professional development opportunities (e.g. coaching)

• Free participation on an annual cruise for you and your +1 (including an extra week of paid leave)

• Medical insurance plan

Variety Cruises is a family-owned small ship cruise company founded in 1949. With a fleet of 8 fully owned ships, we are a 360° vertically integrated organisation building ships and creating, operating, distributing, and delivering our small ship cruises in over 13 destinations across 5 continents. Our Family at Sea is passionate about our mantra focused on providing authentic, sustainable, life-enriching small ship adventures delivering on our vision to create A Better World At Sea.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a self-driven and target-oriented Business Development Manager to join our Commercial team. This role is responsible for generating new B2B business and growing existing accounts in key international markets. It is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes full ownership of their pipeline, and consistently delivers results.

This is a hands-on sales role: you will be expected to prospect, pitch, follow up, and close deals. You will own your performance, working independently and with discipline, while being supported by the commercial team.

· Hunt, pitch, close: new B2B partnerships with travel agents, tour operators, universities, museums, special interest groups, and more.

· Manage and grow existing key accounts.

· Execute weekly sales outreach (calls, emails, meetings) and report activity and results regularly.

· Organize and attend sales trips in assigned markets.

· Represent Variety Cruises at international trade fairs.

· Host FAM trips and turn them into sales.

· Maintain and grow a high-quality database of B2B partners and prospects.

· Ensure all contracts are negotiated and signed in line with company procedures.

· Suggest and act on sales improvement initiatives based on performance insights.

· Develop and execute a Strategic Business Development plan for the assigned region of responsibility.

• Bachelor's degree in Tourism / Shipping / Business Studies or related.

• 5-7 years of experience in travel industry. Cruise line experience preferred.

• Comfortable with CRM systems (Salesforce or Zoho preferred) and usual digital tools.

• Demonstrated track record of b2b sales success. Preferably within the travel industry. Extensive Knowledge of trade sales and the hospitality industry

• Strong command of English, written and spoken.

• Results-oriented mindset with a proactive approach.

• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and close sales effectively.

• Organized, self-motivated, and accountable.

• Ability to travel internationally every 1-2 months for approximately 30% of the time

WILL BE CONSIDERED A PLUS IF YOU ALSO HAVE...

• Existing travel industry sales relationships in assigned territory/region.

• Additional languages (Greek, German, French, Italian, or Spanish) are an asset.

WHAT WE OFFER:

· Competitive compensation package including sales bonus.

· Private medical insurance

· A free Variety cruise every year, plus generous discounts for families, and close friends

· 5 extra days of leave a year for going on your free cruise with Variety Cruises.

If you’re passionate about travel, confident in your sales ability, and ready to drive results, we’d love to hear from you. Join us at Variety Cruises and be part of a team shaping the future of small ship cruising!

Reporting to: Business Development Director

Variety Cruises is seeking an enthusiastic and driven Junior Business Development Manager to support the company’s growth in the USA. This role will focus on maximizing sales within assigned territories, building relationships with travel agencies and consortia, and supporting initiatives in the tour operator, non-profit, and incentive markets. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter who thrives in a dynamic sales environment and has a passion for small-ship cruising.

Sales Growth and Relationship Management

• Drive sales efforts in assigned territories (East Coast or West Coast), ensuring revenue growth through travel agencies and consortia.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with travel agents, providing them with training, support, and updates on Variety Cruises’ offerings.

Business Development Support

• Collaborate with the Business Development Director to identify and capitalize on opportunities in the tour operator, non-profit, and incentive markets.
• Represent Variety Cruises at trade shows, conferences, and on sales trips to enhance the company’s visibility and reputation.

Strategic Initiatives and Reporting

• Support the implementation of regional strategic initiatives to achieve sales targets.
• Prepare regular sales reports, providing insights and recommendations based on market feedback and trends.

Strategic Initiatives and Reporting

• Support the implementation of regional strategic initiatives to achieve sales targets.

• Prepare regular sales reports, providing insights and recommendations based on market feedback and trends.

   

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales, preferably in the travel, cruise, or hospitality industry.
• Familiarity with travel agency and consortia networks in the USA.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build lasting relationships.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively for sales calls, trade shows, and industry events.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation package.

• Friendly and positive working environment with a youthful energy within a third generation family owned company.

• Learning and professional development opportunities.

• Free participation on an annual cruise for you and your +1 (including an extra week of paid leave).

• Medical insurance plan.