General Manager - Shipyard

About This Role

General Manager – Operations (Shipyard)

Location: United Arab Emirates

Industry: Shipbuilding / Ship Repair / Marine Engineering

Overview

We are supporting a well-established and fast-growing shipyard in the UAE as it enters a significant phase of expansion.

We are seeking a General Manager – Operations to take full ownership of operational performance and drive the business commercially and operationally , with full accountability for P&L.

We are looking for a leader who is hands-on, commercially driven, and motivated to scale a shipyard business , not just maintain it.

Key Responsibilities

Full P&L Ownership

• We are looking for someone to take full accountability for revenue, cost control, and overall profitability
• We expect you to drive margin improvement across all projects and services
• We need a leader who can make strong commercial decisions aligned with growth targets

Operational Leadership

• We are entrusting you with full oversight of shipyard operations including repair, maintenance, conversion, and new build activities
• We expect delivery of projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards
• We need you to optimize yard capacity, productivity, and operational efficiency

Business Growth & Strategy

• We are looking for someone who can actively contribute to winning new business and expanding client relationships
• We expect you to identify new revenue streams across marine and offshore segments
• We want you to play a key role in scaling the business and strengthening market position

Team Leadership

• We are looking for a leader who can build, structure, and drive a high-performing team
• We expect you to implement clear KPIs, accountability, and performance standards
• We need someone who can lead from the front and develop future leaders within the business

Client & Stakeholder Management

• We expect you to build and maintain strong relationships with shipowners and key clients
• We want you to represent the business at a senior level on major projects
• We need you to work closely with leadership on strategic direction

HSE & Quality

• We are committed to the highest safety and quality standards and expect you to lead this across all operations
• We need you to drive a strong safety culture throughout the yard

Candidate Profile

• We are looking for 15+ years of experience within shipyards or shipyard environments , with progression into senior leadership roles
• We expect proven experience operating at General Manager / Operations Director / Yard Manager level
• We need a strong track record of full P&L ownership and delivery
• We are looking for deep operational expertise across ship repair, conversion, or new build projects
• We expect strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive revenue and improve margins
• We require experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams in complex yard environments
• We value experience working with offshore vessels, commercial fleets, or large-scale marine assets
• We prefer candidates with an Engineering or Marine degree (MBA is advantageous)

If you are interested, share me your CV at lewis@amana-talent.com with the title GM Shipyard.