Marine Captain

Job Identification: 43711

Job Category: Campus Operations

Apply Before: 06/18/2026, 11:55 PM

Degree Level: High School Graduate

Locations: 140 7th Ave S, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33701, US

Hiring Salary: $75,000 – 120,000

Essential Personnel: No
Job Description

Position Details

Dept Number/Name: 471000 – Florida Institute of Oceanography

Location: USF St. Petersburg

Salary Plan: Administrative

Job Code/Title: 6564 / Marine Captain I

Hiring Salary/Salary Range: $75,000 – 120,000 (commensurate based on experience)

Position Number: 100016242

Organizational Summary:

The Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) is an institute of the University of South Florida that connects Florida’s academic, public, and private partners to the marine environment through oceanographic research, education, workforce development, and applied maritime operations. As a regional marine science and technology resource, FIO provides access to research vessels, specialized marine equipment, field operations expertise, and the Keys Marine Laboratory to support discovery, student learning, environmental stewardship, and solutions to complex coastal and ocean challenges.

Through its vessels, facilities, and experienced maritime professionals, FIO enables researchers, students, agencies, and industry partners to conduct work on, in, and around the water safely and effectively. FIO supports oceanographic research while also serving as a broader platform for interdisciplinary education, experiential learning, marine technology testing, public-private collaboration, and workforce development. As part of USF, FIO strengthens the university’s role as a leader in ocean science, coastal resilience, and marine innovation while serving the needs of Florida and the broader ocean community.

Position Description:

The Research Vessel Captain / Marine Captain serves as the senior vessel authority and is responsible for the safe, compliant, effective, and mission-ready operation of assigned FIO uninspected research vessels. The position exercises command authority over vessel operations, crew, embarked personnel, students, researchers, vessel users, and mission activities while underway, alongside, and during mobilization and demobilization.

The Captain is responsible for navigation, piloting, voyage planning, vessel readiness, crew supervision, deck operations, mission execution, emergency preparedness, safety management, regulatory compliance, scientific mission support, vessel documentation, budget and procurement support, vendor coordination, and communication with FIO leadership, research users, port authorities, regulatory agencies, and external partners.

The updated role is broader than traditional vessel operation. The Captain functions as an operational manager for a mobile university research platform and is responsible for integrating maritime safety, research mission requirements, personnel management, risk controls, logistics, vessel maintenance coordination, scientific equipment deployment, and administrative reporting. The position requires independent judgment and decision-making in dynamic maritime environments, including remote operations, adverse weather, nighttime operations, emergency situations, research deployment evolutions, and multi-day expeditions. This position will report directly to the Manager Marine Operations on the USF St. Petersburg campus.

Responsibilities

Command, Navigation, Vessel Operations, and Mission Execution. Serve as Captain and senior authority aboard assigned FIO research vessels. Operate, pilot, navigate, and command vessels in port, near-coastal waters, offshore waters, restricted waterways, anchorages, and research operating areas. Maintain responsibility for the safety and welfare of all embarked personnel, including crew, students, faculty, researchers, agency personnel, contractors, and guests. Stand or supervise bridge watches as required; maintain navigational awareness; monitor weather, sea state, vessel traffic, operational constraints, route hazards, fuel endurance, and vessel limitations. Make operational decisions necessary to safely execute research and education missions, including delaying, modifying, suspending, or terminating operations when safety, vessel condition, weather, crew readiness, or mission risk requires.

Vessel Readiness, Maintenance Oversight, and Operational Planning. Inspect vessel condition and readiness before, during, and after missions. Coordinate vessel preparation, route planning, deck configuration, equipment readiness, fueling, potable water, stores, research gear, and mission-specific requirements. Supervise crew in vessel maintenance, repair, preservation, and readiness activities while in port and underway. Coordinate with engineering personnel, Marine Operations, Fleet Readiness, vendors, and shore support to identify deficiencies, prioritize repairs, verify corrective actions, and ensure vessel availability. Oversee readiness of deck machinery, winches, cranes, frames, rigging, small boats, forklifts, safety equipment, navigation systems, communications equipment, and other mission-critical systems.

Crew Leadership, Supervision, Training, and Performance Management. Supervise assigned vessel crew and direct reports, which may include Assistant Captain, Mate, Engineer, Marine Mechanic, Marine Engineering Specialist, Deckhand, Cook/Deckhand, temporary crew, students, or mission support personnel. Assign duties, oversee daily work, establish safety and performance expectations, monitor crew readiness, support training, mentor personnel, and maintain accountability for professional conduct and operational discipline. Ensure crew members understand vessel procedures, emergency duties, deck safety, research support requirements, watchstanding responsibilities, and institutional expectations.

Research Mission Support, Deck Operations, and User Coordination. Coordinate directly with chief scientists, faculty, students, technicians, agency partners, and external users to translate research objectives into safe vessel operations. Plan and supervise launch and recovery of scientific equipment using cranes, winches, A-frames, frames, nets, trawls, small boats, buoys, sampling systems, and other oceanographic equipment. Ensure safe deck operations, rigging, lifting, equipment deployment, recovery procedures, and communication between bridge, deck, engineering, and science personnel. Conduct pre-mission and onboard briefings covering vessel orientation, safety expectations, emergency procedures, deck hazards, personal protective equipment, and operational limitations.

Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Risk Management, and Compliance. Maintain responsibility for vessel safety culture and emergency readiness. Conduct, document, and evaluate emergency drills, including man overboard, fire, abandon ship, flooding, loss of propulsion, loss of steering, medical emergency, marine sanitation casualty, pollution incident, and other applicable scenarios. Inspect and ensure readiness of survival equipment, life jackets, life rafts, life rings, immersion suits, EPIRB, firefighting equipment, first aid supplies, communications, alarms, and emergency systems. Enforce PPE use and safe deck practices. Conduct risk assessments for weather, navigation, lifting, small boat operations, research equipment deployment, and nighttime or adverse-condition operations. Support compliance with applicable USCG, institutional, environmental, safety, and operational requirements for uninspected research vessels.

Administrative Records, Reporting, Procurement, and Fiscal Accountability. Maintain route plans, vessel logs, deck logs, cruise reports, safety records, drill records, voyage documentation, vessel correspondence, crew records as assigned, equipment checklists, and required operational reports. Complete cruise summaries and after-action notes. Manage ship’s funds, credit card expenditures, procurement of supplies, inventory records, consumable and non-consumable stock, and vessel operating documentation. Provide timely updates to Marine Operations regarding vessel readiness, deficiencies, schedule impacts, incidents, budget needs, procurement requirements, and mission outcomes.

External Coordination, Representation, and Problem Solving. Serve as the vessel-level representative for FIO in interactions with researchers, students, faculty, VIPs, government officials, port authorities, vessel traffic services, vendors, shipyards, foreign customs or immigration officials when applicable, and other maritime stakeholders. Exercise diplomacy, professionalism, and sound judgment in complex operating environments. Troubleshoot operational, mechanical, logistical, weather, personnel, or mission-related challenges and identify safe alternatives to accomplish mission objectives when conditions change. Perform other duties as assigned by Marine Operations leadership or designee.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position supervises assigned vessel personnel and may provide direction to temporary crew, student workers, contract personnel, and embarked mission support personnel while aboard the vessel. Direct reports may include positions such as Assistant Captain (Mate), Engineering, Cook/Deckhand, deck personnel, or other assigned crew.

Supervisory responsibilities include assigning work, directing daily operations, enforcing vessel safety procedures, mentoring crew, supporting training, monitoring performance, identifying staffing concerns, supporting corrective action, and ensuring assigned personnel are prepared to safely support FIO missions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma and minimum five years combined experience as a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master. Must presently hold a U.S. Coast Guard Master credential appropriate for assigned vessel operations, with a minimum of Master 100 Tons or greater unless a higher credential is required by vessel assignment, operating area, or institutional standard.

Must have at least three years of pilothouse experience as a member of the navigation watch operating a vessel in near-coastal waters or upon the oceans. Must possess Unlimited Radar Observer endorsement; STCW Basic Safety Training as applicable; first aid and CPR certification; firefighting certification as applicable; valid driver’s license, with Florida license required upon employment; valid passport; and valid TWIC.

Preferred Qualifications:

• U.S. Coast Guard Master 200 Tons or greater.
• Bridge Resource Management training.
• Advanced experience commanding or supervising crew aboard oceanographic, research, government, offshore, passenger, training, or comparable vessels. Experience conducting multi-day research cruises and 24-hour vessel operations.
• Experience supporting students, faculty, scientists, agency personnel, and external research users. Strong interpersonal communication, mentoring, and leadership skills.
• Experience with deck winches, cranes, A-frames, small boats, scientific equipment deployment, buoy operations, trawling, sampling systems, ROV/AUV support, diving operations, marine rigging, salvage operations, or similar research vessel operations.
• Experience with vessel maintenance planning, safety management, crew supervision, procurement, vendor coordination, incident reporting, and vessel logs.

Please provide the following documents when completing your application:

• Curriculum vitae / resume
• A copy of academic transcripts
• Contact information for three references (one must be your current/most recent supervisor).

The selected candidate must have a current work authorization in the United States. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF’s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.

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