A principal and their family living in Abu Dhabi is seeking a top notch candidate to take on the role of Director of Hospitality. The role will be mainly based on the principals boat where you will work alongside the captain, boat engineer, and chef.

This is a live-in role, where the candidate will reside on the boat, unless already based in Abu Dhabi with their own accommodation. The role is 6-days per week with timings to be confirmed.

There will be occasions when the candidate will be required to assist the family in other environments. This role fully incorporates the responsibilities of a chief stewardess while extending them to a Director-level. The Director of Hospitality is a highly hands-on, guest-facing professional, responsible for service delivery, people management, and UHNW guest experience across the vessel and other hosted environments. 

Day-to-day responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to the following:

The Vessel Interior Standards, Housekeeping & Presentation 

• Full responsibility for interior maintenance, cleanliness, and presentation standards.
• Create, implement, and enforce SOPs for:
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules
  • Interior set-ups and resets
  • Laundry and wardrobe management
• Oversee:
  • Guest areas detailing (with checklists and training)
  • Crew mess cleanliness
  • Crew and guest laundry operations
• Maintain expert knowledge of sensitive and luxury interior materials and their correct care.
• Oversee guest wardrobe management and clothing maintenance. 

Service Delivery & Guest Relations 

• Act as the face of hospitality and interior service for the vessel.
• Personally run and deliver 7-star service for:
  • All guest meals
  • Beverage and bar service
  • Formal and informal events
• Lead service execution, including:
  • Wine pairing and presentation
  • Cocktail preparation and spirit knowledge
  • Tablescapes, themed nights, and bespoke guest requests
• Manage guest complaints, de-escalation, and sensitive situations with discretion.
• Act in a concierge-style role, including:
  • Itinerary creation
  • Restaurant, tour, and attraction bookings
• Maintain, manage, and continuously update guest preference sheets. 

Vessel Inventory, Provisioning & Budget Oversight 

• Full responsibility for the vessel interior and hospitality inventories, including:
  • Crew uniforms
  • Crew food and beverages
  • Guest food, drinks, wines, and spirits
  • Cleaning supplies and service items
  • Guest clothing and interior accessories
• Manage provisioning for:
  • Crew
  • Guests
  • Laundry, cleaning, and toiletries
• Demonstrate strong budgeting and accounting awareness
• Organize and manage ongoing job lists. 

Team Management, Training & Culture

• Manage the vessel's interior/hospitality personnel and act as the link between departments.
• Manage the property's hospitality personnel and act as the link between departments.
• Set the standard and ensure all team members perform to the highest level.
• Create and deliver training guidelines (written and in person).
• Draw on individual strengths, nurture growth, and support team development.
• Act as a calm, supportive senior presence — a “boat mum” mindset where appropriate.
• Create a roster and manage hospitality service coverage as required.
• Maintain professionalism, boundaries, and discretion at all times. 

Cross-Location & Director-Level Scope 

• Ensure consistent hospitality standards across: The Vessel and Hosted events and environments across the UAE
• Provide hospitality support at the property when the Principal and family are having events in residence.
• Travel within the UAE as required to support guests and events.
• Operate autonomously under the PA to the Principal with minimal supervision. 

Desired Qualifications

• The candidate must have elegant taste
• Longevity in previous roles
• Able to read the room and know when to step back
• The candidate should be humble, down to earth and a good listener

Requirements

• Experienced stewardess with significant yacht/day boat background (Essential).
• Proven UHNW guest exposure.
• Excellent food, wine, beverage, and service knowledge.
• Fluent in English with strong computer literacy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and anticipatory mindset.
• Highly discreet, emotionally intelligent, and well presented.
• Reliable basic first aid skills.
• Comfortable operating independently in a trusted, long-term role.
• Highly organized and a great multitasker who is excited to juggle multiple complex streams of work
• Able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Driven to succeed and enjoys being held and holding others accountable to high standards
• A detail-oriented and meticulous individual who can see how their everyday duties connect to larger goals