Head of Shipyard Operations & Development

About The Company

A maritime and marine engineering organization focused on ship repair and shipbuilding, currently expanding its shipyard infrastructure and operations to enhance capacity and service delivery in the sector.

Position Overview

The Head – Shipyard Setup & Operations will lead the end-to-end planning, infrastructure commissioning, and operational management of the ship repair and shipbuilding facility. This role is critical for driving profitable ship construction, dry-docking, and marine maintenance operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead master planning, layout design, and civil/marine engineering setup for dry docks, slipways, syncrolifts, workshops, and heavy lifting infrastructure.
• Spearhead the selection, installation, and commissioning of shipyard machinery, gantry cranes, CNC cutting systems, and fabrication shops.
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for vessel construction, dry-docking, afloat repairs, steel fabrication, and engineering overhaul.
• Secure necessary port, environmental, maritime, and classification society approvals including IMO, ISO, SOLAS, and class standards.
• Oversee project scheduling, cost control, subcontractor management, and client liaison for commercial and government ship repair contracts.
• Build and lead multi-disciplinary teams comprising naval architects, marine engineers, and safety officers.
• Embed a culture of Zero Harm and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) excellence across operations.
  
  

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience: 15+ years in ship repair and shipbuilding, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing yard setup or major expansion.
• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of shipyard layout design, dry-docking mechanics, steel processing, piping, propulsion, and electrical systems.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong P&L management, contract negotiation, and shipyard budgeting experience.
  
  

Why Consider this Opportunity

• Lead the strategic development and operational launch of a major shipyard facility from concept to commissioning.
• Drive profitable growth in ship construction, dry-docking, and marine maintenance within a dynamic maritime engineering environment.
• Exercise broad cross-functional leadership over engineering, procurement, operations, and safety teams.
• Engage directly with commercial and government stakeholders on high-value ship repair contracts.
• Shape a culture of operational excellence and safety in a critical maritime infrastructure setting.