Department of the Army

SMALL CRAFT OPERATOR

Jersey City, New Jersey Full time

SMALL CRAFT OPERATOR

Department: Department of the Army

Location(s): Jersey City, New Jersey

Salary Range: $40.84 - $47.63 Per Hour

Job Summary: About the Position: Works under the supervision of the Master Tug Supervisor who issues assignments, instructions and administrative and technical guidance. Review of work is in terms of timeliness of accomplishment, adequacy of end result, and safety of vessel and crew in accordance with performance standards established by the Supervisor and communicated to the incumbent in writing on a yearly basis.

Major Duties:

  • Operates in wide ranging weather conditions to include reduced visibility from heavy rain, fog, and snow as well as on water ways with minor ice cover.
  • Safely and properly operates all survey ancillary motorized and non-motorized equipment in tight areas, currents, rough offroad terrain, various weather conditions, on land and in open water.
  • Gives passing signals to approaching vessels and follows navigation rules and regulations.
  • Steers boat alongside of moving plant or craft, steers vessel by operating controls in pilot house requiring ability to maneuver the boat in all kinds of weather and at times.
  • Interprets pertinent safety and vessel regulations and requirements so as not to jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of crew and passengers while still being able to accomplish the missions.
  • Oversees vessel crew docking and undocking, tying up to and maneuvering small barges and other work platforms as an assist vessel.
  • Applies knowledge of navigation rules and regulations of the Coast Guard governing motorboats and collision regulations.
  • Maintains, troubleshoots, and performs minor repairs on vessel systems.

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) SMALL CRAFT OPERATOR without more than normal supervision which includes; the operation, navigation, maintenance, and surveys of vessels on and offshore, engine repair, and towing of small crafts and perform inspections and surveys. - 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 Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Ability to Work with Others Knowledge of Specific Equipment, Machinery, Structure, or Components That Are Involved Physical Effort: Moderately heavy physical effort is required in lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds; work in stretched and cramped positions. Working Conditions: 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/12931328). 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