Project Operations & Sales Manager

We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Project Operations & Sales Manager to join our leadership team at our Seattle/Ballard facility. This is a hands-on, management role responsible for leading a team of 4-5 Project Managers while overseeing project workflow, customer experience, operational coordination, and sales performance across the yard.

The ideal candidate combines strong marine industry technical knowledge with proven leadership, operational management, customer communication, and sales development experience. This role serves as a key bridge between customers, project managers, technical teams, yard operations, and company leadership.

This position reports to the Owners and works closely with the Yard Manager and Technical Leads to ensure efficient operations, strong financial performance, and high-quality customer experience.

This is an onsite leadership role requiring in-person presence five days per week at our Ballard facility.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Project Operations

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Project Managers responsible for customer projects from intake through delivery
• Oversee day-to-day project operations to ensure smooth workflow, scheduling, communication, and execution
• Set team priorities and performance expectations to meet operational, revenue, and customer service goals
• Conduct employee coaching, training; lead efforts for annual reviews and performance development planning
• Support hiring and onboarding of project management staff
• Serve as escalation support for customer concerns and complex project issues
• Develop and improve operational procedures, project workflows, and communication standards
• Collaborate with the Owners, Yard Operations Manager, and Technical Leads on operational planning and business initiatives
• Monitor workload distribution, staffing capacity, and project timelines to maximize efficiency and profitability

Sales & Customer Relationship Management

• Drive sales activity and revenue growth through lead generation, customer retention, referrals, and relationship development
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vessel owners, captains, brokers, and marine industry partners
• Oversee project estimating processes and ensure estimates are accurate, timely, and properly scoped
• Support Project Managers with complex estimates, change orders, and customer communications
• Track sales performance, pipeline activity, and project profitability metrics
• Assist ownership and leadership with marketing initiatives, customer outreach, and business development strategies
• Maintain a high standard of customer communication and service throughout all phases of work

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Monitor project financial performance including labor utilization, job costing, margins, and change-order management
• Analyze operational reports and KPI metrics to improve workflow, productivity, and profitability
• Coordinate with technical departments to ensure timely work order execution and resource allocation
• Oversee final quality-control inspections prior to vessel delivery
• Ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, and to company quality standards
• Assist with vendor coordination, subcontractor management, and procurement planning as needed
• Support compliance with OSHA, environmental, and marine safety standards

Qualifications

Required Experience & Skills

• 2 years of leadership or management experience in the marine service, boatyard, yacht service, or related marine industry
• Strong technical knowledge of recreational vessel systems including diesel and gas engines, marine electrical systems, and vessel maintenance practices
• Extensive knowledge of marine coatings systems including Awlgrip and related high-end finishing systems
• Proven experience leading teams, mentoring employees, and managing operational workflow
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, project profitability, labor tracking, and KPI reporting
• Experience with project scheduling, multi-project coordination, and operational prioritization
• Strong customer service, conflict resolution, and relationship management skills
• Experience managing estimates, change orders, and customer communications
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CRM systems and sales pipeline management
• Experience with vendor management and subcontractor coordination
• Familiarity with process improvement and SOP development
• Knowledge of OSHA and marine safety compliance practices
• Experience using Dockmaster or similar marine management software
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Outlook, Word, and SharePoint

Schedule & Work Environment

• Full-time, exempt salaried position
• Standard schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Additional hours may be required during peak marine service seasons and critical project periods
• This is a fully onsite position based at our Ballard facility
• Remote or hybrid work is not available due to the operational and customer-facing nature of the role

Compensation & Benefits

$93,000-105,000 annually, depending on experience, leadership background, technical expertise, and sales/project management capability. Salary review annually.

• Medical and dental insurance available after 30 days
• Company pays 90% of employee insurance premium
• PTO accrual beginning on first day of employment
• Paid holidays
• Simple IRA with 3% employer match
• Opportunity to work with a highly skilled marine operations team in a leadership role with growth potential

Pay: $93,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $93,000 - $105,000