Mate

University of South Florida•Saint Petersburg, FL

5d•$64,734 - $78,328•Onsite

About The Position

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. The Assistant Marine Captain / Mate serves as the vessel’s second officer and assistant command authority aboard FIO research vessels. The position is directly involved in the daily operation, safe navigation, crew direction, vessel readiness, science mission support, emergency response, and safety of personnel aboard the vessel. The position supports the vessel Captain in ensuring safe, professional, and mission-ready vessel operations in port and underway. This position is responsible for standing navigation watches, directing assigned crew and watchstanders, supporting bridge resource management, supervising deck evolutions, conducting safety briefings, supporting scientific operations, maintaining vessel readiness, training crew, and assisting with operational documentation. In the absence, incapacitation, or delegated authority of the Marine Captain, the Assistant Marine Captain / Mate may assume responsibility for the safety and welfare of the vessel, crew, students, faculty, researchers, passengers, and other personnel aboard. The Assistant Marine Captain / Mate supports the safe and effective operation of FIO research vessels by serving as the second-in-command to the Marine Captain. This position performs navigation, watchstanding, deck operations, safety, training, maintenance, science support, and emergency-response duties aboard FIO vessels operating in support of research, education, training, and outreach missions. The position requires professional maritime judgment, practical vessel-handling skills, knowledge of navigation rules and vessel operating procedures, experience directing crew, and the ability to manage risk in a dynamic shipboard environment. The Assistant Marine Captain / Mate works directly with the Marine Captain, Chief Engineer, vessel crew, marine technicians, chief scientists, students, researchers, and shoreside marine operations personnel to ensure that vessel operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in support of mission objectives. This position will report directly to the Marine Captain on the USF St. Petersburg campus.

Requirements

Professional maritime judgment.
Practical vessel-handling skills.
Knowledge of navigation rules and vessel operating procedures.
Experience directing crew.
Ability to manage risk in a dynamic shipboard environment.

Responsibilities

Serves as the vessel’s second officer and assistant command authority aboard FIO research vessels.
Directly involved in the daily operation, safe navigation, crew direction, vessel readiness, science mission support, emergency response, and safety of personnel aboard the vessel.
Supports the vessel Captain in ensuring safe, professional, and mission-ready vessel operations in port and underway.
Standing navigation watches.
Directing assigned crew and watchstanders.
Supporting bridge resource management.
Supervising deck evolutions.
Conducting safety briefings.
Supporting scientific operations.
Maintaining vessel readiness.
Training crew.
Assisting with operational documentation.
Assuming responsibility for the safety and welfare of the vessel, crew, students, faculty, researchers, passengers, and other personnel aboard in the absence, incapacitation, or delegated authority of the Marine Captain.
Performing navigation, watchstanding, deck operations, safety, training, maintenance, science support, and emergency-response duties aboard FIO vessels.
Working directly with the Marine Captain, Chief Engineer, vessel crew, marine technicians, chief scientists, students, researchers, and shoreside marine operations personnel to ensure that vessel operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in support of mission objectives.