Project Manager - Yacht Construction

HSB Technical; France; On-site; EUR 77,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

HSB Technical Ltd is recruiting a Project Manager - Yacht Construction for a two-year fixed-term contract based at a partner shipyard in France. You will oversee luxury yacht build projects from design through to handover, coordinating with UK teams, shipyards, and suppliers to ensure on-time delivery and controlled costs.

The role requires strong commercial judgement, fluent French and English, and the ability to work on site in Gujan-Mestras for the duration of the contract.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering complex, high-value projects from design to handover.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, cost control and contract management skills.
• Experience managing relationships with external manufacturers, shipyards, suppliers or partners.
• Solid understanding of scheduling, risk management, change control and progress reporting.
• Ability to coordinate design, manufacturing and commissioning activities.
• Clear communication and stakeholder management; able to challenge constructively.
• Organised, methodical with attention to detail and accountability for results.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Marine industry or large-yacht construction experience desirable.
• Degree-level education; PM qualification advantageous.
• Fluency in French and English; on-site work in Gujan-Mestras, France.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of delivery from initial planning and design coordination through to manufacture, commissioning and final acceptance.
• Develop and maintain project programmes, milestones and reporting in accordance with the client's project management framework.
• Control budgets, monitor expenditure and maintain accurate financial forecasts throughout the build.
• Act as the main day-to-day representative at the partner shipyard, coordinating between French build team and UK business.
• Coordinate input from Design, Production, Supply Chain, Quality and Finance to resolve issues and maintain progress.
• Support the transition from design into manufacture, ensuring production readiness and identifying efficiency gains.
• Review supplier quotations, invoices and proposed variations, managing changes within commercial/contractual arrangements.
• Identify project risks, monitor issues and escalate matters requiring decisions.
• Track construction and commissioning progress against specifications, schedules and quality requirements.
• Maintain productive relationships with shipyard and suppliers, protecting client interests.
• Support continuous improvement across project planning, communication and delivery.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Quality assurance

Risk management

Schedule coordination

Multinational coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

PM qualification (preferred)

Job description

Position: Project Manager - Yacht Construction

Job ID: (phone number removed)

Location: Gujan-Mestras, France

Rate/Salary: €90,000

Type: Full-time, two-year fixed-term contract

HSB Technical Ltd is a specialist recruiter within the Power & Propulsion, Shipbuilding, Maritime Shipping, Energy and Subsea sectors - visit: (url removed) for a list of our vacancies. We have a number of permanent and contract vacancies for multiple businesses across the UK and overseas.

The below job description will outline this position of: Project Manager - Yacht Construction

Typically, this person will take responsibility for delivering luxury yacht build projects, overseeing each stage from design development and production preparation through to construction, commissioning and handover. Based at a partner shipyard in France, you will represent the client on site, coordinating delivery with UK teams, shipyard personnel and external suppliers.

This position requires a project manager who can combine technical understanding with strong commercial judgement, keeping build programmes on track while maintaining control of costs, contractual commitments and quality.

HSB Technical's client is an established and well-regarded business within the luxury yacht building sector.

Duties and responsibilities of the Project Manager - Yacht Construction:

• Take ownership of project delivery from initial planning and design coordination through to manufacture, commissioning and final acceptance.
• Develop and maintain project programmes, milestones and reporting in accordance with the client's project management framework.
• Control budgets, monitor expenditure and maintain accurate financial forecasts throughout the build.
• Act as the main day-to-day representative at the partner shipyard, maintaining clear communication between the French build team and UK business.
• Coordinate input from Design, Production, Supply Chain, Quality and Finance to resolve issues and maintain progress.
• Support the transition from design into manufacture, ensuring production readiness and identifying opportunities to improve build efficiency.
• Review supplier quotations, invoices and proposed variations, managing changes within agreed commercial and contractual arrangements.
• Identify project risks, monitor outstanding issues and escalating matters requiring decisions or corrective action.
• Track construction and commissioning progress against agreed specifications, schedules and quality requirements.
• Maintain productive relationships with the shipyard and suppliers while protecting the client's commercial interests.
• Support continuous improvement across project planning, communication and delivery.

Qualifications and requirements for the Project Manager - Yacht Construction:

• Proven experience delivering complex, high-value projects from design and development through to manufacture and handover.
• Strong financial and commercial skills, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control and contract management.
• Experience managing relationships with external manufacturers, shipyards, suppliers or strategic build partners.
• A sound understanding of project scheduling, risk management, change control and progress reporting.
• The technical understanding needed to coordinate design, manufacturing and commissioning activities.
• Clear communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and resolve problems.
• An organised, methodical approach with strong attention to detail and accountability for results.
• The ability to remain effective under pressure, adapt to changing priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
• A commitment to quality, customer expectations and continuous improvement.
• Marine industry or large-yacht construction experience is highly desirable.
• Degree-level education or equivalent experience; a recognised project management qualification would be advantageous.
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English is essential.
• Ability to work on site in Gujan-Mestras, France, for the duration of the two-year fixed-term contract.

This vacancy is being advertised by HSB Technical Ltd who have been appointed to act as a recruitment partner for this role.