Production Manager- Shipbuilding/Marine

ACCEL HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANTS; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

ACCEL HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANTS in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Yard Manager to lead a full-time, on-site operation responsible for vessel and docking activities, yard capacity, and critical assets.

You will coordinate with Projects, Production, HSE, Quality, Engineering and Maintenance, chair reviews, manage costs, and drive safety, performance and continuous improvement across the facility.

Qualifications

• 15 years of experience in shipyard, drydock, marine construction or heavy industrial operations.
• Experience with multi-vessel operations and large workforces.
• Senior operational leadership experience.
• Strong docking operations and ship repair production knowledge.
• Ability to work extended hours and lead emergency operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and performance of the facility.
• Plan vessels, docks, berths, workshops, manpower, and yard capacity.
• Coordinate with Production, Projects, HSE, Quality, Engineering and Maintenance.
• Ensure docking and vessel movements are well planned and controlled.
• Lead daily and weekly operational reviews.
• Allocate manpower, cranes, transit and yard space per priorities.
• Ensure readiness of docks, pumps, cranes, workshops and critical infrastructure.
• Monitor costs, resource use, asset downtime and KPIs.
• Lead emergency response and business continuity until relieved.
• Develop operational managers and promote accountability.
• Report risks and decisions to executive management.
• Sponsor lean, digital and process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Operational planning

HSE compliance

Crew management

Cost control

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture

Master's degree advantageous

Job description

Role Description

The Yard Manager is a full-time, on-site leadership role based at Abu Dhabi, with overall responsibility for the safe, efficient and commercially disciplined operation of the entire facility.

The role has end-to-end operational accountability for vessel and docking operations, production activities, yard capacity, berths, workshops, manpower, critical assets, infrastructure and operational support services.

The role will lead day-to-day operational performance and work closely with Projects, Production, HSE, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance and other support functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations and performance of the facility.
• Lead integrated planning of vessels, docks, berths, workshops, manpower, equipment, utilities and yard capacity.
• Coordinate Production, Projects, HSE, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance and support functions to achieve operational priorities.
• Ensure docking, undocking, vessel movements and other high-risk operations are properly planned, coordinated and controlled.
• Chair daily and weekly operational reviews covering vessel movements, work fronts, constraints, safety, quality and schedules.
• Allocate shared manpower, cranes, transportation, utilities, access and yard space according to authorized priorities.
• Ensure readiness and reliability of docks, pumps, cranes, workshops, utilities, firefighting systems and other critical infrastructure.
• Monitor project and production delivery, productivity, overtime, subcontractor performance and recovery actions.
• Maintain operational governance and ensure HSE, environmental, permit, security and housekeeping requirements are consistently enforced.
• Manage congestion, simultaneous operations, unplanned work and cross-project resource conflicts.
• Monitor operational costs, resource utilization, asset downtime and key performance indicators and implement improvement actions.
• Ensure client, classification society and authority requirements are integrated into operations and concerns are resolved promptly.
• Lead emergency response and business-continuity actions until relieved by the designated command structure.
• Develop operational managers and supervisors and promote a strong culture of accountability, cooperation and performance.
• Report significant operational risks, incidents, capacity constraints and key decisions to executive management.
• Sponsor lean, digital and process improvements across the facility.
• Remain accountable for overall facility safety, delivery, utilization, asset readiness, operational cost and cross-functional performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marine, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Operations or a related discipline; a master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in shipyard, drydock, marine construction or heavy industrial operations, including senior operational leadership experience.
• Demonstrated responsibility for multi-vessel operations, large workforces, high-risk activities and critical operational assets.
• Strong understanding of docking operations, ship repair production, HSE, quality, project delivery, cost control and productivity management.
• Strong ability to manage operational priorities, resource constraints, simultaneous activities and complex yard interfaces.
• Ability to work extended hours and lead emergency operations when required.