Lighthouse Careers

Yacht First Officer and Mate Jobs

Deck officers keep the watch, run the deck department and support the captain. First and chief officers usually manage the deck crew and the safety and maintenance systems.

8 open first officer positions right now

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What the job involves

  • Keep a navigational watch and support safe navigation
  • Manage the deck crew and daily work
  • Run safety equipment checks and drills
  • Prepare the yacht for surveys and inspections

What you need

  • STCW Basic Safety Training and a valid ENG1 seafarer medical certificate, which almost every yacht requires before you start
  • Officer of the Watch certificate for the yacht's size, or a chief mate certificate for larger roles
  • Yacht deck experience

Officers move from third or second officer up to first officer and then captain as their certificates allow.

Yacht First Officer jobs: common questions

What is the difference between a first officer and a chief officer?
The titles are often used for the same role. Both are the captain's deputy and lead the deck department, and usage varies by yacht.

Hiring a first officer?

We send a shortlist of vetted candidates within 24 hours. No upfront fees.

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