All roles/Shoreside/Marina Manager
Shoreside
Marina Manager
A marina manager runs the berths, pontoons, staff and services that superyachts rely on in port, so captains can arrive, moor and leave safely and their owners get the shoreside experience they pay for.
- Department
- Shoreside
- Reports to
- Marina General Manager or Managing Director
- Yacht size
- Shore based
- Contract
- Permanent, shore based
- Starting pay
- €55,000 a year
What the job is
You run a marina that berths superyachts, from 30m charter boats to 100m+ private yachts on long stays. That means allocating berths by length, beam and draught, setting and collecting berth fees, and keeping the pontoons, power pedestals, fuel dock and water supply working. When a 70m yacht asks for a berth in August with two days' notice, you are the person who finds the space or says no.
Much of the job is people. You lead a team of dock masters, marinas staff, reception and maintenance crew, and you deal with captains, yacht managers, agents and contractors every day. You handle complaints about noise, shore power trips and late arrivals. You also work with the port authority, customs, police and fire services, and you keep the marina compliant with environmental rules, waste and bilge water disposal, and health and safety law.
The commercial side matters as much as the operational one. You set the pricing for seasonal, annual and transient berths, manage the budget, plan dredging and pontoon upgrades, and bring in revenue from fuel, services, events and commercial leases. Most marina managers in the superyacht sector have a background as a captain, officer or harbour master, because they understand what crews need on arrival and can talk to them on equal terms.
What makes a good one
- Berth planning and allocation
- Leading dock and office teams
- Budgeting and commercial pricing
- Dealing calmly with captains and owners
- Port, environmental and safety compliance
A day in the life
- 07:30Walk the pontoons with the dock master. Check overnight arrivals, mooring lines on the larger yachts and a reported fault on a 400A shore power pedestal.
- 08:30Morning briefing with dock, reception and maintenance staff. Go through today's eight arrivals and five departures, including a 65m yacht needing the end berth.
- 09:30Call with a yacht manager about a winter berth contract for a 55m motor yacht. Agree the rate, the services included and the deposit.
- 11:00Meet the fuel contractor and the port authority's environmental officer about the annual inspection of the fuel dock and black water pump out station.
- 12:30On the VHF and on the pontoon to oversee the 65m arrival. Marineros take lines and you confirm the passerelle position and power supply with the captain.
- 14:00Budget review with finance. Look at berth occupancy against last year and the cost of replacing two pontoon fingers before next season.
- 15:30Handle a complaint from a captain about a neighbouring yacht running its generator in the berth. Speak to both crews and remind them of marina rules.
- 17:00Plan the weekend with reception: two boat show arrivals, a tender race and a private event on the quay that needs security and extra staff.
- 18:30Final walk round the docks, check the evening dock master is briefed on a late arrival, and sign off the day's incident log.
Pay by country
Annual gross salary for a full time, shore based marina manager at a marina berthing superyachts. Larger marinas and managers with a captain or harbour master background earn at the top of the range. Bonuses tied to occupancy and revenue are common. No charter tips.
- France and Monaco
- €55,000 – 90,000
- Spain
- €45,000 – 75,000
- Italy
- €45,000 – 75,000
- United Kingdom
- £45,000 – 75,000
- USA (Florida)
- US$80,000 – 130,000
- Caribbean
- US$60,000 – 100,000
- UAE
- AED 300,000 – 480,000
- Australia
- A$110,000 – 160,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$95,000 – 140,000
Required
- Right to work in the marina's country
- Marina, harbour or senior yacht experience
- VHF SRC radio licence
- First Aid at Work
- Full driving licence
Recommended
- Certified Marina Manager (CMM)
- Intermediate Marina Manager (IMM)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- IOSH Managing Safely
- NEBOSH General Certificate
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Visas
- Right to work in the EU country of the marina (EU citizenship or work permit)
- UK right to work
- US work authorisation (citizenship, green card or employer sponsored visa)
- UAE employment visa
- Australian or New Zealand work visa or residency
Where it leads
Marina Manager jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need to have worked on yachts to become a marina manager?
It is not strictly required, but most superyacht marinas prefer someone who has been a captain, officer or harbour master. You need to understand berthing, shore power and what crews expect, and experience on board gives you credibility on the pontoon.
Is there a recognised qualification for marina managers?
Yes. The Global Marina Institute runs the Intermediate Marina Manager (IMM) and Certified Marina Manager (CMM) programmes, which are widely recognised. They are recommended rather than required, and experience still counts for more in most hiring decisions.
What are the hours like?
Expect long days in summer, weekend work around boat shows and events, and being on call for storms or incidents. Winter is quieter and is when most planning, budgeting and maintenance projects happen.