Yachting Sector Business Development Lead
American Bureau of Shipping Career Site Open · verified Sep 24, 2026 At a glance
Senior Business Development role at American Bureau of Shipping Career Site. Genoa · full-time.
Pay not stated
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Help shape and carry out plans that expand ABS commercial activity across the yacht market
- Find opportunities in yacht construction, refit work, sustainability, digitalization, and lifecycle services
- Build relationships with yacht owners’ representatives, builders, refit yards, designers, managers, and suppliers
- Support proposals and client pursuits, joining meetings, conferences, trade events, and industry forums
- Track yacht-market shifts, competitors, regulations, and client priorities to guide services and account work
What you bring
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, plus at least seven years of relevant experience
- Background in yachts or another listed maritime sector, with business development or commercial experience strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of yacht-market dynamics, vessel operations, shipbuilding, refit, classification, certification, or marine services
- Professional fluency in English for detailed commercial and technical communication
Who this fits
You’ll suit a senior commercial professional who understands yacht-market dynamics and can work with both technical and business stakeholders. European yacht-market experience is particularly relevant, and an MBA or another European language would strengthen your profile. The role can be based in Genoa, Rotterdam, Hamburg, or London, and reports to a senior business development leader.
From the employer
The Yachting Sector Business Development Lead is responsible for supporting the development and execution of ABS’ Business Development (BD) strategy for the yacht market, aligning client needs, market opportunities, and industry trends with ABS capabilities to support growth. Based in Europe, this role will help strengthen ABS’ market presence and client engagement across the global yacht sector.
Location:
This role can be located at ABS offices in Genoa, Italy; Rotterdam, Denmark; Hamburg, Germany, or London.
What You Will Do:
- Support the development and execution of business development plans for the yacht market to help grow ABS’ presence and commercial opportunities.
- Identify and pursue opportunities across yacht new construction, refit activity, sustainability initiatives, digitalization, and lifecycle support services.
- Build and maintain relationships with owners’ representatives, builders, refit yards, designers, management companies, suppliers, and other key industry stakeholders.
- Partner with business development and internal teams to support proposals, client engagement, and pursuit of new business opportunities.
- Represent ABS in client meetings, trade events, conferences, and other industry forums to strengthen market visibility and relationships.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, regulatory developments, and client needs to help inform strategy and commercial priorities.
- Provide market insight to support the development and promotion of ABS services relevant to the yacht sector.
- Support key account activities and help promote ABS services and capabilities throughout the business community.
What You Will Need:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent required.
- MBA or equivalent preferred.
- Seven (7) or more years of related experience.
- Experience in one or more relevant sectors, including yachts, passenger vessels, commercial marine, shipbuilding and repair, luxury marine assets, or related maritime services.
- Experience in business development, market strategy, client engagement, or commercial support within the maritime industry is strongly preferred.
- Experience in the European yacht market is strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of yacht market dynamics, including new build programs, refit cycles, owner expectations, quality standards, sustainability trends, and regulatory developments.
- Demonstrated technical and/or commercial expertise related to vessel operations, shipbuilding, refit activity, classification, certification, or marine services.
- Sound business judgment and the ability to identify and support commercial opportunities.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both commercial and technical stakeholders.
- English language fluency required to conduct detailed business and technical communication at a professional level.
- Ability to develop a working knowledge of ABS Rules, Guides, statutory regulations, and related instructions, as well as the ABS Employee Safety Policy.
- Additional European language capability is a plus.
Reporting Relationships:
Reports to a senior leader within the business development organization, depending on final organizational structure.
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