Manager, Port Operations

Italy or Miami based

Our client, the global leader in luxury cruise ships providing effortless elegance and intimate yachting experiences is growing and expanding their team.

Based in Europe or Miami Florida, this manager of port operations plays a critical role in the seamless delivery of luxury cruise operations.

Position Summary

The Manager of Port Operations is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of global port operations in support of the company’s worldwide yacht deployment. The role ensures that each port call is operationally prepared, compliant, cost-effective, and executed in accordance with company standards and the expectations of an ultra-luxury commercial yachting experience.

The Manager serves as a primary operational liaison between shoreside leadership, vessel teams, port agents, port authorities, terminals, marinas, government agencies, and other local service providers. Responsibilities include port-call readiness, berth and marina coordination, port agency management, turnaround operations, regulatory requirements, port-cost management, irregular operations, and continuous improvement of operational processes.

The Manager may also support deployment and itinerary planning activities, including itinerary feasibility reviews, destination research, port evaluations, routing alternatives, and itinerary changes. These responsibilities are supportive of the role's primary focus on Port Operations.

Other deliverables include:

- Manage the planning and operational readiness of scheduled port calls across the company’s worldwide deployment.
- Ensure all required port arrangements, confirmations, documentation, services,



and local requirements are completed in advance of vessel arrival.
- Coordinate berth reservations, marina bookings, anchorage requests, terminal arrangements, pilotage, tug requirements, permits,security, waste removal,water, bunkering support, deliveries, offloads, and other port services as required.
- Support embarkation and disembarkation operations, including terminal readiness, luggage handling, stevedoring, transportation, provisioning support, guest flows, and other shoreside requirements.
- Port Agency & Vendor Management
- Maintain productive relationships with port authorities, terminal operators, marina operators, government officials, security providers, stevedores, transportation providers, and other local partners.
- Finance/Cost & Expense Management

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Maritime Studies, Hospitality, Logistics, Transportation, Business Administration, Tourism,or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in port operations, cruise operations, yachting, maritime operations, logistics, or related passenger-vessel operations.
- Strong working knowledge of passenger-vessel port operations, port agency practices, berth and marina arrangements, and international port requirements.
- Experience coordinating customs,immigration, regulatory, terminal,turnaround and vessel support activities.
- Demonstrated experience managing port agents, vendors, and operational service providers.
- Strong understanding of operational budgeting and cost management.
- Detailed knowledge of Mediterranean and Caribbean ports and yachting operation regions.
- Experience with itinerary planning,deployment, or destination development is advantageous but not required as the principal competency of the role.

📌 Port Manager (Ancona)
🏢 MXA Talent Solutions
📍 Ancona