Department: Department of the Navy
Location(s): Yokosuka, Japan
Salary Range: $184900 - $235272 Per Year
Job Summary: ***ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE IN JAPAN IS EXTREMELY LIMITED. Please see Additional Information section below.*** You will serve as a SHIP PILOT in the Navy Region Japan Port Operations of COMFLEACT YOKOSUKA.
Major Duties:
Qualifications: Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below. This job has a screen-out element which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on the screen-out element(s) will be found ineligible. The Screen-out Element for this position is: ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF THE POSITION WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION - piloting and moving large and small vessels in harbors and at berths or docks; assisting harbor pilots with the berthing of ships and verifying berth set up for vessels; performing docking and undocking operations; and coordinating marine operations (e.g. anchor handling, mooring, etc). . Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification Handbook for Trades and Labor Occupations. Additional qualification information can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=List-of-Approved-Job-Elements Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Conditions of Employment continued: Ship pilots may be required to embark or disembark ships via helicopter. You must achieve Pilotage certification for Yokosuka, Yokohama, and Tokyo Bay within 120 days from the date of hire. This includes satisfactorily completing job qualification requirement and training and assessment requirements per Commander, Navy Installations Command requirements. This position requires rotating shift work. You will be on a twenty four hour-per-day, seven day-per-week work and recall schedule, with regular watch maintained by telephone. This position requires you to maintain a current Radar Observer (Unlimited) certification and maintain a current Mariner's Credential with appropriate endoresement unless NEC W14A (legacy NEC 0215) was held with extensive experience piloting vessels of unlimitedtonnage in and around the waters of Yokosuka, Japan, to include piloting Aircraft Carriers, and conducting extensive dry docking operations. *** This is from the approved PD, request inclusion in the announcement text to ensure those with this extensive experience are encouraged to apply***. This position is considered Key/Emergency-Essential. You will be required to provide immediate and continuing support to ensure the success of combat operations or the availability of combat-essential systems. This is also a Mission Essential position. You will be required to ensure organization or facility continuity of operations and/or completion of tasks that are considered essential to the mission designated by a local or command decision. You must maintain a current passport. You must maintain a current Transportation Worker's Identification Credential (TWIC) unless NEC W14A (legacy NEC 0215) was held with extensive experience piloting vessels of unlimited tonnage in and around the waters of Yokosuka, Japan, to include piloting Aircraft Carriers, and conducting extensive dry docking operations. *** This is from the approved PD, request inclusion in the announcement text to ensure those with this extensive experience are encouraged to apply***. You must possess extensive experience in piloting and moving large and small vessels in harbors and at berths or docks: 1) Entirely under their own power. 2) Partially under their own power, assisted by tugs. 3) Entirely with tugs. You must know and be familiar with operation of such navigational equipment as radar, underwater sound detection gear, etc. You must know and practice the principles of navigation, and have complete knowledge of the Rules of the Road. Incumbent must ensure all requirements and guidance pertinent to the use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials are fully understood and followed by the workforce. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is arduous during periods of piloting, requiring constant standing, and prolonged walking on sea and ocean-going vessels under sometimes difficult conditions. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be intact and well-coordinated. Vision, with or without corrective lenses must be sufficiently acute in each eye. Hearing must be acute for the conversational voice. You must be able to distinguish shade of color in order to see navigational bearing lights and the side lights of other vessels. You must be physically capable of climbing Jacob Ladders up the side of the vessels in all kinds of weather. Slips could result in bruises, broken bones, or fatal injuries.You will be exposed to slippery ladders and decks during adverse weather conditions, and is at risk for death by drowning when climbing Jacob Ladders for boarding vessels in heavy seas. Extreme care must be exercised during these periods. WORKING CONDITIONS:The majority of the pilot's time while aboard ship is out-of-doors. Moves from side to side of the ship constantly and in all kinds of weather. Is required to be out in the weather for the duration of the trips, which may last up to eight hours. While in a stand-by status, work will be conducted in well-lighted, well-ventilated office. The Ship Pilot is designated as mission essential and will be on a twenty four hour-per-day, seven day-per-week work and recall schedule, with regular watch maintained by telephone. Leave must be coordinated with Chief Ship Pilot to ensure no gap in coverage. You may be assigned to work areas where certain potentially harmful physical and chemical agents are present. These agents may include, but are not limited to fumes, dust, noise, heat, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, chemicals, etc. To ensure employee safety and health, the installation maintains personnel protective programs consistent with applicable laws and regulations. These programs may include engineering controls, training, work procedures, use of personnel protective equipment,and medical surveillance. As part of medical surveillance programs, the incumbent may be required to take medical examinations to assess his/her medical qualification for duty involving work with these agents.
How to Apply: Click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Complete resume with relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume, but it is acceptable to provide elsewhere in your application package: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week if experience was less than full time (35-40 hours per week), pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. TIP: A good way to ensure you include all essential information is to use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS to create your resume. 2. Complete assessment questionnaire. For a quick preview of the assessment questionnaire click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12897184 3. Supporting documentation Failure to submit a complete application package will result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. Your complete application (resume, assessment questionnaire, and all supporting documents) must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 03/09/2026. Applications received after 03/09/2026 will generally result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. If more than one resume is received, only the last resume received and processed will be reviewed. NOTE: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account: https://mydon.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process so please plan appropriately. You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information in their resume and documents are legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant.
Application Deadline: 2026-03-09