Department of the Army

ASSISTANT MASTER, TUG

Jersey City, New Jersey Full time

ASSISTANT MASTER, TUG

Department: Department of the Army

Location(s): Jersey City, New Jersey

Salary Range: $47.58 - $55.52 Per Hour

Job Summary: About the Position: Works under the supervision of the Master of the Vessel and is Second in Command. They provide assignments, priorities & policies and rely upon the incumbent to control operations and accomplish an adequate quantity and quality of work. Fills in as Master when needed. Overall work is reviewed for efficient and economical accomplishment within priorities and controls received and in terms of conformance with procedures and performance standards established by the supervisor.

Major Duties:

  • Operates vessel in local areas in and around harbors, tributaries and rivers and performs assigned missions under adverse conditions such as maneuvering in heavy boat traffic, combating strong winds, tides and currents, etc.
  • Directs operation of hoisting gear aboard vessel in lifting and/or discharge of drift and debris nets, wreckage and debris from water, supplies and equipment, setting ranges and buoy, dropping and operating drag and sweep bars, driving pilings, etc.
  • Ensures that slings and rigging are proper and secure, etc.
  • Aids in docking and undocking of vessel and other floating plants.
  • Pilots and steers vessels by pilothouse control; requiring the use of navigation aids such as GPS, DGPS, radar, electronic charting, etc.
  • In charge of the deck and engine room crew including personnel on-the-job training, safety, maintenance, crane operations ,and general vessel business.
  • Ensures vessel is prepared to sail at all times, is seaworthy, properly crewed and fitted to accomplish the assigned mission.

Qualifications: Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) employees with competitive status. Current Civilian Employees of the Command Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) ASSISTANT MASTER, TUG without more than normal supervision which includes; operation, control and maintenance of vessel; operation of hoisting gear for lifting and/or discharge of debris nets, wreckage and debris from water; ensuring riggings and slings are secure; use of navigational equipment such as GPS and Radar; delegation of duties to crew aboard vessel; and maintaining vessel preparedness. - Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating. Required Conditions of Employment: The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess: 1) a valid Merchant Marine Credential for Ordinary Seaman; AND 2) a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). (Note: You must attach a copy of your credentials to your application package and include the serial number, date issued and expiration date.)Please note the requirements for both a current MMC and TWIC must be in hand for consideration for an interview and a Tentative Job Offer; therefore, you must attach a copy to your application package. If you are interested in pursuing and learning how to acquire the MMC and TWIC credentials, please see the following sites for additional information: The websites for information on how to acquire the MMC and TWIC are: MMC - https://www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/merchant_mariner_credential/ TWIC - https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Reliability and Dependability as an Assistant Master Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order) Moderately heavy physical effort is required in lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds; work in stretched and cramped positions. Works both inside and outside during a variety of weather conditions and climates, including extremes of heat and cold and heavy rainfall. There is a danger of slipping from a vessel into water with possibility of physical injury or drowning. On-shore work may involve working in mud, snow, or ice in dirty or cramped situations.

How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/04/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12932841). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-04