Lead Service Stew / HOD role

Role Overview

Yacht Size: 90m MY

Start Date: Late November 2026 – interviewing now

Contract: TBC

Compensation: $7,000 per month DOE

Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, Crowd Management & Crisis Management in date (WSET a bonus)

Visa Requirements: TBC

Location: Mediterranean / Yard for winter

Yacht & Crew Profile

• 90m private MY is looking for a new Lead Service Stew to join their interior team
• There is no Chief Stew on board, so the Lead Service role is in essence a HOS and runs the interior with the HOH
• UHNW owner – the Lead Service Stew works closely with the owner and is their main point of contact for all service matters
• Currently in a shipyard period in Europe until approx. mid-March 2027, then straight into a Med season (May–September) with a potential Caribbean crossing around Oct/Nov
• Interior team of 10: 4 in service, 4 in housekeeping, a laundry specialist and a floating stew – good longevity amongst the team
• Close, social crew who get on really well – dinners, drinks, hikes, day trips, and half the team are gym regulars
• Crew are living in apartments during the yard period
• Described by the crew as a great yacht with a lovely team

The Role

• This is more than a traditional HOS role – there is no Chief Stew, so the interior is jointly managed by the Lead Service and the Lead Housekeeper
• Leading all guest service: formal, informal, plated, buffet and silver service, plus high-level beverage, cocktail and wine service
• Interior admin: budgets, forecasting and reforecasting, expenditure, provisioning and procurement, supplier quotes, inventories, leave and rotation planning, and SOPs
• Coordinating interior yard projects and contractors
• Systems used: Voly (budgets and work/rest), Pinpoint, Sortly and Excel
• Mentoring and developing junior crew
• Very guest facing when the owner is on board, so strong personal time management is key to juggling service and admin
• Starting in the yard is a great opportunity to learn the boat, the team and the admin side before the season

Role Requirements

• Minimum 2+ years as Lead Service or in an equivalent senior interior role, ideally on 80m+
• Proven interior management and admin experience – budgets, provisioning, rotations, shipyard periods and contractors
• Excellent silver service, formal dining, mixology and wine knowledge
• Emotionally mature, discreet and confident
• A natural leader who leads by example, stays calm under pressure and can slip easily into a close, well-established team
• Equally comfortable with hands-on service and admin