Marine Captain

University of South Florida•Saint Petersburg, FL

21h•$75,000 - $120,000•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 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.

Requirements

Senior vessel authority
Command authority over vessel operations, crew, embarked personnel, students, researchers, vessel users, and mission activities
Responsible for navigation, piloting, voyage planning
Responsible for vessel readiness, crew supervision, deck operations, mission execution, emergency preparedness, safety management, regulatory compliance
Responsible for scientific mission support, vessel documentation, budget and procurement support, vendor coordination
Responsible for communication with FIO leadership, research users, port authorities, regulatory agencies, and external partners
Functions as an operational manager for a mobile university research platform
Integrates maritime safety, research mission requirements, personnel management, risk controls, logistics, vessel maintenance coordination, scientific equipment deployment, and administrative reporting
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.

Responsibilities

Serves as the senior vessel authority and is responsible for the safe, compliant, effective, and mission-ready operation of assigned FIO uninspected research vessels.
Exercises command authority over vessel operations, crew, embarked personnel, students, researchers, vessel users, and mission activities while underway, alongside, and during mobilization and demobilization.
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.
Functions as an operational manager for a mobile university research platform.
Integrates maritime safety, research mission requirements, personnel management, risk controls, logistics, vessel maintenance coordination, scientific equipment deployment, and administrative reporting.
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.