Small Craft Operator (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Small Craft Operator (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Benicia, California

Salary Range: $37.51 - $43.69 Per Hour

Job Summary: This position is located in the Reserve Fleets, Office of Ship Operations, Office of the Deputy Associate Administrator for Federal Sealift, Office of the Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, Maritime Administration (MARAD). This position is established to operate and perform general maintenance and repairs of various types of diesel driven water craft engaged in patrols, carrying personnel, supplies, and equipment to and from the various ship units of the Reserve Fleet.

Major Duties:

• The Small Craft Operator: Operates diesel and/or gasoline driven watercraft. Exercises responsibility for the safe operation of the craft, personnel, and material on board. Responsible for patrolling the fleet area (water areas) during working and non-working hours as assigned. Serves as deck hand on fleet craft and barges. The ideal applicant for this position can operate independently, has excellent boat handing skills, innovation, alertness, quick reaction, and prompt decision-making abilities.

Qualifications: Qualifications for the position are based on the training, experience, or other requirements that determine which applicants would be able to perform satisfactorily in the position to be filled. To qualify for the WG-09, your experience should include experience equal or equivalent to the following: Ability to lay out courses to assigned destinations, avoiding hazards, to determine position and estimated time of arrival. Ability to recognize emergencies or unsafe conditions and take timely corrective action to overcome or prevent the situation. Ability to operate independently, requiring excellent boat handing skills, innovation, alertness, quick reaction, and prompt decision-making abilities. Your application will also be rated on the following job elements: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. Work Practices. Ability to Interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (related to watercraft operation). Ability to Drive Safely (watercrafts). 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. If you do not meet the minimum levels in the ability to do the work OR if you do not meet the minimum level overall, you will be disqualified.

How to Apply: You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-05-19