Senior Manager, Maritime Operations

Port of Seattle•Seattle, WA

17h

About The Position

Every role at the Port of Seattle is vital to our thriving community. We are a leader in moving people and cargo across the country and around the world. With facilities and property ranging in scope from a half-acre park to one of the largest airports and container terminals on the West Coast, we maximize the public assets in our portfolio with an eye toward best uses and environmental sustainability. Find out more here . Our vision is to create a Port that mirrors – throughout its breadth of operations and services and within its leadership – the diversity of our communities, instill principles of equity into its culture, and ensures a fair and intentional distribution of opportunities to expand economic develop and quality of life for all in our region. Find out more about how our values RAISE us up and our commitment to equity . The Port of Seattle is unable to sponsor employment visas at this time. Salary offers will be made within the posted range. Placement within the range will be determined based on your similar work experience. The Port considers work experience to be similar if the scope and level of responsibility of your prior positions match the job being offered. As the Senior Manager of Maritime Operations, you will lead the Maritime Operations Team at Terminal 91 (T91), overseeing 24/7 operations across the Port’s deep-water commercial moorage facilities in collaboration with other T91 customers of Real Estate, as well as Facilities Managers assigned to this location and other Port teams. You will drive strategic business planning, capital development, and operational excellence while building strong relationships with customers, stakeholders, and the maritime community. Acting as a Port ambassador, you will guide initiatives that advance safety, regulatory compliance, diversity, and financial performance across all facilities. You will directly supervise two Operations Superintendents and a Billing and Admin Specialist, providing leadership, direction, and development for all Maritime Operations staff. You will guide Portwide initiatives, including safety, staff development, diversity awareness, continuous process improvement, and Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE) purchasing programs. You will oversee operational and financial performance of Maritime Operations, providing quantitative and qualitative analysis of budgets, reviewing work products from Port service groups, managing spending to meet revenue goals, and balancing other Port Objectives, including regulatory compliance, small business and diversity initiatives, green programs, and regional economic benefits. You will provide primary leadership and direction for Terminal 91 and multiple deep-water commercial moorage facilities throughout the harbor, overseeing over 11,000 lineal feet of large vessel berth moorage, cruise passenger terminals, uplands, mooring dolphins, and submerged lands. You will oversee operations across deep-draft commercial maritime sectors—including Commercial Fishing, Seafood Processing, Tug & Barge, Ships of State, Seismic and Research, Marine Construction, Oil and Energy, Native American, and Industrial vessel operators—and participate as a management team member in directing all Maritime Operations and Security facilities. You will lead strategic business planning, annual goal setting, and pricing decisions for products and services, including tariffs, preferential rates, leases, license agreements, and Special Use Contracts, while negotiating agreements and establishing operational procedures. You will represent the Port’s operational and business interests during capital planning and implementation, providing direction to project managers, design and construction teams, and other service providers, while communicating construction updates and progress to customers, the community, leadership, and media. You will foster, build, and maintain strong relationships with customers, surrounding businesses, neighborhood communities, and key stakeholders, proactively addressing their needs and serving as an ambassador for the Port to visiting elected officials and other outside parties. You will ensure facility compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, participate in cross-functional procedure and policy development, and stay current on market trends and competitive facilities to inform operational and capital decisions.

Requirements

Experienced – You have six (6) years of experience in operations and/or facilities, and three (3) years of experience supervising staff and managing a functional area.
Committed to Equity – You will apply equity and exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. At the Port of Seattle, equity is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all Port employees.
Knowledgeable – You bring strong knowledge of public administration within a maritime operations environment, along with experience in the maritime and commercial fishing industries. You understand capital, small capital, and expense project management, and apply that knowledge to guide operational and strategic decision-making.
Leadership – You have demonstrated experience leading teams and programs in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, and effectively engaging with executives, public officials, and external partners.
Customer Focused – You foster a strong customer service culture, modeling professionalism, responsiveness, and accountability while balancing operational, financial, and regulatory priorities.

Responsibilities

Lead the Maritime Operations Team at Terminal 91 (T91), overseeing 24/7 operations across the Port’s deep-water commercial moorage facilities in collaboration with other T91 customers of Real Estate, as well as Facilities Managers assigned to this location and other Port teams.
Drive strategic business planning, capital development, and operational excellence while building strong relationships with customers, stakeholders, and the maritime community.
Act as a Port ambassador, you will guide initiatives that advance safety, regulatory compliance, diversity, and financial performance across all facilities.
Directly supervise two Operations Superintendents and a Billing and Admin Specialist, providing leadership, direction, and development for all Maritime Operations staff.
Guide Portwide initiatives, including safety, staff development, diversity awareness, continuous process improvement, and Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE) purchasing programs.
Oversee operational and financial performance of Maritime Operations, providing quantitative and qualitative analysis of budgets, reviewing work products from Port service groups, managing spending to meet revenue goals, and balancing other Port Objectives, including regulatory compliance, small business and diversity initiatives, green programs, and regional economic benefits.
Provide primary leadership and direction for Terminal 91 and multiple deep-water commercial moorage facilities throughout the harbor, overseeing over 11,000 lineal feet of large vessel berth moorage, cruise passenger terminals, uplands, mooring dolphins, and submerged lands.
Oversee operations across deep-draft commercial maritime sectors—including Commercial Fishing, Seafood Processing, Tug & Barge, Ships of State, Seismic and Research, Marine Construction, Oil and Energy, Native American, and Industrial vessel operators—and participate as a management team member in directing all Maritime Operations and Security facilities.
Lead strategic business planning, annual goal setting, and pricing decisions for products and services, including tariffs, preferential rates, leases, license agreements, and Special Use Contracts, while negotiating agreements and establishing operational procedures.
Represent the Port’s operational and business interests during capital planning and implementation, providing direction to project managers, design and construction teams, and other service providers, while communicating construction updates and progress to customers, the community, leadership, and media.
Foster, build, and maintain strong relationships with customers, surrounding businesses, neighborhood communities, and key stakeholders, proactively addressing their needs and serving as an ambassador for the Port to visiting elected officials and other outside parties.
Ensure facility compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, participate in cross-functional procedure and policy development, and stay current on market trends and competitive facilities to inform operational and capital decisions.

Benefits

Healthcare – Medical, Dental, and Vision Care with options that work for you and your family.
Paid Vacation – Just about four weeks per year that increases with tenure to rest and rejuvenate.
Paid Sick Leave – At least one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked.
Holidays – More than ten days per year to celebrate with family and friends away from work.
Pension/Retirement Plans – A pension and additional savings plans to prepare for your future after the Port.
Getting to Work – From subsidized parking and a low-cost public transit card to alternative work arrangements giving you an opportunity to work hybrid.
Parental Leave – Six weeks of paid leave to spend with new additions to your immediate family.
Development – From tuition reimbursement, training, stretch assignments and internal internships, we support a learning culture.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – The Port of Seattle values diversity as a source of innovation and strength. We are actively working across the organization to create a culture where all employees – regardless of race, gender, and other identities – succeed and reach their fullest potential.
Work-Life Balance – We provide the resources to help you create habits to be healthy and balanced.
Mission Driven – We are focused together in promoting economic opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner.