Director/Senior Director, Rides & Aquatic Operations

The Director/Senior Director leads the strategic planning, operational excellence and safety management of rides and aquatic operations at Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark. The role ensures all rides and attractions operate at the highest standards of safety, reliability, regulatory compliance, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership:

·       Oversee daily operations of all rides, attractions, pools, water slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and aquatic experiences.

·       Develop and implement operational strategies that improve guest experience, capacity, throughput, and efficiency.

·       Ensure attractions consistently meet safety, operational, and service standards.

·       Oversee opening, closing, seasonal, and special-event operational planning.

·       Establish operating procedures and continuously improve operational effectiveness.

Rides Operations Management:

·       Ensure safe and efficient operation of rides and attractions.

·       Partner with technical services team to maximize ride availability and reliability.

·       Monitor operational readiness and attraction performance.

·       Review ride operating procedures and safety documentation.

·       Lead attraction commissioning and opening of new rides.

Aquatic Operations Management:

·       Oversee lifeguard operations and aquatic safety programs.

·       Ensure compliance with aquatic safety standards and water quality requirements.

·       Oversee water rescue training and certification programs.

Guest Experience:

·       Drive exceptional guest service standards throughout the operation.

·       Monitor guest satisfaction metrics and implement improvement initiatives.

·       Resolve escalated guest concerns and operational issues.

·       Develop crowd management and queue optimization strategies.

·       Enhance accessibility and inclusivity across attractions.

Safety & Risk Management:

·       Instill a safety culture across all rides and aquatic facilities.

·       Ensure compliance with local regulations, industry standards, and company policies.

·       Lead incident investigation, root-cause analysis, and corrective action programs.

·       Oversee emergency response planning, drills, and crisis management protocols.

·       Monitor safety KPIs and implement preventive risk mitigation measures.

Financial & Business Management:

·       Manage annual operating budgets.

·       Control operational and departmental expenses.

·       Forecast staffing and operational requirements.

·       Identify opportunities for revenue enhancement and cost optimization.

Talent & Team Leadership:

·       Lead managers, supervisors, and frontline teams.

·       Develop succession planning and leadership pipelines.

·       Foster employee engagement and high-performance culture.

·       Oversee recruitment, workforce planning, and retention strategies.

·       Implement training, development, and certification programs.

Strategic Planning:

·       Participate in long-term master planning and attraction development.

·       Support capital projects, ride installations, and facility upgrades.

·       Evaluate emerging technologies and industry best practices.

·       Lead operational readiness for new attractions and expansions.

Requirements:

·       Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Operations Management, Leisure and Tourism Management or equivalent field.

·       15-20 years of experience in attractions, theme parks, water parks, resorts, or large-scale entertainment operations, with 5-8 years leading managers and large operational teams.

·       Conversant with rides operations management, aquatics safety management, emergency management, risk assessment and regulatory compliance.

·       Excellent operations planning, communication and interpersonal skills.

·       Strong leadership with the ability to make decisions under pressure.

·       Familiar with budgeting and cost control to optimize resources. 

·       Good knowledge of guest service standards. 

·       Able to handle multiple priorities simultaneously and meet dynamic demands. 

·       Resilient, adaptable and able to work through issues and provide solutions in a challenging and fast-paced environment.