Senior Technical Yacht Manager

Reardon Yacht Consulting (RYC) is seeking an experienced and highly technical yacht management professional to join our growing Yacht Management team. This senior role requires extensive engineering or vessel operations expertise and the confidence to oversee technical operations for an expanding portfolio of private and charter yachts.

RYC provides proactive yacht management, owner advisory, crew support, and project supervision. Our clients expect excellence, transparent communication, and trustworthy guidance. We are looking for someone with technical expertise, project leadership, and polished owner-facing professionalism to grow our current fleet support team.

Role Overview

The Senior Technical Yacht Manager will join our current management team to support clients whose programs require advanced technical expertise and hands-on oversight. In addition to technical supervision, this role is responsible for the safe, compliant, and cost-effective operation of their assigned vessels. This includes maintenance planning, refits and yard periods, contractor supervision, regulatory compliance, and high-level owner and captain support. The position combines hands-on technical involvement with structured reporting, financial management, and relationship building.

Key Responsibilities

Technical and Operational Oversight

• Lead technical management for assigned vessels, including maintenance planning, defect resolution, onboard systems oversight, and long-range asset planning.
• Ensure engineering and technical compliance standards meet or exceed flag, class, insurer, and regulatory requirements.
• Diagnose and advise on mechanical, electrical, AVIT, hydraulic, and HVAC issues with senior-level authority.
• Coordinate surveys, audits, condition assessments, and technical risk evaluations.
• Maintain meticulous technical records and maintenance documentation.

Project and Yard Period Management

• Serve as the technical lead for refits, haul-outs, upgrades, and shipyard work.
• Develop scopes of work, evaluate contractor proposals, compare quotes, and negotiate on behalf of owners.
• Provide on-site or close-proximity oversight during major projects to ensure quality, cost control, and scheduling performance.
• Deliver transparent reporting to owners and internal leadership.

Financial and Budgetary Oversight

Drawing from best practices in corporate yacht management:

• Support annual and quarterly budgeting for technical operations and lifecycle planning.
• Prepare cost forecasts and risk assessments to inform owner decisions.
• Highlight efficiencies and propose technical strategies that reduce long-term operating expense without compromising vessel readiness.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Guide vessels through safety policies, audits, and certification renewals.
• Work closely with RYC’s Safety and Compliance team on SMS, regulatory updates, and documentation control.
• Identify operational risks early and offer practical solutions.

Captain, Crew, and Vendor Relationships

• Build trusted working relationships with captains, chief engineers, and crew.
• Maintain and expand a vetted network of technical vendors, shipyards, surveyors, and specialists.
• Advocate for RYC vessels to secure priority service, accurate diagnostics, and quality workmanship.

Owner and Client Support

• Serve as a professional and approachable point of contact for owners, owner reps, and family offices.
• Support operational planning for itineraries, insurance renewals, and regulatory requirements.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• Significant industry experience as a Captain, Chief Engineer, Technical Superintendent, Senior Project Manager, or comparable role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple vessels with complex operational demands.
• Extensive experience with yard periods and large technical projects.
• Proven understanding of class, flag, and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong operational judgment and the ability to communicate technical issues with precision and confidence.

Professional Skills

• High technical fluency across all major vessel systems.
• Strong project management discipline with the ability to balance detail and big-picture planning.
• Clear and professional communication with owners, captains, and vendors.
• Strong financial awareness, including budgeting, forecasting, and invoice control.
• Proficiency with maintenance management software and digital reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with vessels ranging from 30m to 60m.
• Experience managing both private and charter programs.
• US operational familiarity, especially with Florida and Caribbean cruising patterns.
• Experience liaising with corporate-style ownership structures or family offices.

Soft Skills and Cultural Fit

• Calm and steady under pressure with a solutions mindset.
• Collaborative, team-oriented, and receptive to RYC’s relationship-first values.
• Professional maturity, polish, and discretion when dealing with owners.
• A sense of humor is strongly encouraged.

Why Join RYC

• A growing management firm that prioritises family values, expertise, and integrity.
• The ability to influence technical standards across a diverse and expanding fleet.
• A strong culture of client engagement and team collaboration.
• Competitive salary for senior technical experience plus benefits.
• Opportunities for leadership development, high-impact projects, and long-term career growth.
• A team that takes the work seriously but does not take itself too seriously.