How to transition into the role of a New Build Owner’s Representative

So, you’ve led teams, run operations, and navigated high-pressure situations on board where the owner’s satisfaction depended on your judgment. You know how yachts are run – from the bridge to the engine room. 

You’ve already worked with yacht owners, managed their expectations, and earned their trust. Alongside this, you’ve overseen maintenance periods, managed yard time, and prepared the yacht for delivery after an extensive refit.

Now you’re thinking about your next move – one that takes you ashore more often but still keeps you connected to the industry you’ve built your career in. The good news? You don’t have to leave yachting behind to take that step.

This is where the New Build Owner’s Representative role comes in. And if you’ve been in a senior position, you might be more eligible for the role than you may think. 

What exactly is an OR?

Firstly, let’s be clear – an Owner’s Representative (OR) is not the same as a project manager. A project manager works for the yard or a management company to deliver the build according to their plan. 

An OR works for one person only – the owner. In many ways, you are the yacht’s asset manager during the build, representing the owner’s interests in every meeting and on every decision. During a new build, you act as the link between the owner, shipyard, naval architects, interior designers, surveyors, and technical teams. 

You review specifications, drawings, and change requests with a critical eye based on operational reality, and you monitor quality, budget, and schedule from the owner’s perspective to ensure no detail is missed. 

You’re on-site for inspections, approvals, and sea trials, identifying potential issues early and proposing solutions before they become costly. In short, you are the owner’s voice in every room where decisions are made.

The benefits of prior experience

If you’ve been a captain making operational calls under pressure, a chief engineer troubleshooting complex systems, a purser managing budgets and logistics, or an interior manager executing the highest service standards, you already understand how to anticipate an owner’s needs before they ask.

You also know how to balance technical, financial, and human considerations in decision-making, and communicate with everyone from contractors and crew to designers and owners in a way that gets results.

Think about the many times you’ve managed complex inventories, coordinated with multiple departments under tight deadlines, negotiated with suppliers or contractors, or resolved unexpected issues while keeping operations running smoothly. 

These are exactly the skills an Owner’s Representative uses, only they were applied before the yacht left the yard. So you already have a lot of the experience and skills you’ll need to succeed in this role.

Stepping into the role

To confidently step into the role, you’ll need to build on your existing skill set and work on other areas of the role where you may lack experience or knowledge. 

This means developing a deeper understanding of the shipyard build process and critical milestones, learning how to read and interpret contracts, gaining owner-focused budget oversight and financial reporting experience, and understanding the legal compliance requirements for new builds and refits.

This is where a specialised course like the Yacht Owner’s Representative Program (YORP), comes into play. This in-depth, 12-week training program equips aspiring ORs with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently step into their first role. 

Carefully curated, it focuses on both the operational and technical expertise needed to succeed from day one. Each week features two live sessions plus expert-led masterclasses covering everything from Legal and Compliance to the foundations of a new build.

After 12 weeks, students graduate from the program, and officially become an IAMI & GUEST-accredited Yacht Owner’s Representative. Upon completing modules 40 to 43, students will be eligible to be listed as a qualified OR on the Yacht Owner’s Representative Register.

Setting yourself up for success

Your network is your most valuable asset as an Owner’s Representative. The yachting world is small and opportunities often come through a personal recommendation from someone who understands your work ethic. 

Your goal now is to turn your existing relationships into a strong support system who will keep an ear out for any opportunities. Make it known to your Captains, Build Managers, and other senior crew that you’re looking to make the transition and don’t be shy about making your aspirations known. 

Think beyond your current vessel. Attend industry events like the Monaco Yacht Show, METSTRADE, and Cannes Yachting Festival, and use them to build connections with the right people. 

Your next step will be to seek opportunities where you can gain direct exposure to the yard or build process. Whether that’s assisting with a major refit, taking on oversight during a yard period, or shadowing an experienced OR to understand how the role works in practice.

Finally, invest in building your knowledge base. Programmes like YORP provide the contractual, compliance, and operational insights needed to represent an owner effectively, giving you the credibility and confidence to stand out in this competitive field.

Want to learn more?

If you have any questions regarding what an OR’s roles and responsibilities are, or what else you can do to improve your chances of finding that first role, register for our webinar on the 3rd of September 2025. Register here.