VP of Operations

Vice President of Operations | Yacht Repair and Refit | Southeast U.S.

Our client is looking for a Vice President of Operations to run a busy yacht repair and refit facility. The yard serves yachts up to 200 feet. You would partner directly with the President and be accountable for how the yard runs, how projects are delivered, and how the business grows.

This is a senior leadership role, not a step up from project manager. It suits an operator who has run a yard or a large service operation, knows what a refit schedule looks like when it starts to slip, and can lead managers who lead crews.

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established, full-service yacht repair and refit yard on the Intracoastal Waterway in the Southeast. It has been in business for decades and has built a reputation with owners, captains, and management companies.

The yard does most of its work in-house: paint and coatings, mechanical and engine work, systems, fabrication, carpentry, and haul-outs, in enclosed service bays with a dedicated paint facility. Supporting the yard is an on-site marina. Leadership is investing in the next stage of growth, and this role is central to that plan.

The Role

The VP of Operations reports to the President and is the senior leader responsible for the yard's day-to-day performance. Department managers report to you. You will own operations from the moment a project is quoted until the vessel leaves the yard: safety, quality, schedule, cost, and the customer relationship.

You will also help set where the business goes next. That means working with the President on goals, capacity, and investment, then turning those plans into how the yard works every day.

What You Will Do

Run the yard

• Lead daily operations through department managers across trades, project management, and support functions.
  
• Make sure every project is planned, staffed, and delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the yard's quality standard.
  
• Balance capacity and priorities when multiple refits, haul-outs, and service jobs compete for the same people and space.
  

Own the numbers

• Monitor financial performance, labor utilization, operating costs, and project margins.
  
• Manage staffing levels and resource allocation in line with workload and growth plans.
  
• Find and fix the causes of cost overruns, rework, and schedule slippage.
  

Protect the reputation

• Build lasting relationships with yacht owners, captains, management companies, vendors, and industry partners.
  
• Step in personally on high-value projects and difficult conversations.
  

Keep the yard safe and compliant

• Hold the operation to OSHA, environmental, and maritime regulatory requirements.
  
• Make safety a daily habit, not a binder on a shelf.
  

Build the team and the business

• Develop managers and set clear expectations, accountability, and performance measures.
  
• Build a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
  
• Partner with the President and senior leadership on long-term strategy, growth, and profitability.
  

Requirements

What You Bring

• At least 5 years of progressive leadership experience in yacht repair and refit, a shipyard, a boatyard, or a closely related industrial operation.
  
• A working knowledge of refit operations, marine systems, vessel maintenance, and how a yard actually runs.
  
• A track record of managing budgets, controlling operating costs, and improving profitability.
  
• Experience leading managers, not just crews, and holding them accountable to clear targets.
  
• Knowledge of maritime safety regulations, OSHA requirements, and environmental compliance.
  
• The credibility to work with yacht owners and captains, and the judgment to handle hard conversations about scope, cost, and schedule.
  
• Strong communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills, and the ability to keep competing priorities moving.
  
• Comfort with Microsoft Office and business or project management software.
  
• A bachelor's degree in business, marine management, operations management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
  

Benefits

What Our Client Offers

• A senior seat at an established yard with a strong reputation and room to grow.
  
• Direct partnership with the President and a real voice in the direction of the business.
  
• Competitive executive compensation
  
• Medical, dental, vision
  
• 401K, profit sharing, life insurance
  

A waterfront location in a desirable coastal city in the Southeast.