The Lead Marine Captain position is responsible for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and crew supervision of the vessel both at sea and in port of the Research Vessel (R/V) Western Flyer. Per US Coast Guard regulations, this position requires a Merchant Marine Credential (MMC) of Master of a vessel 498 GRT 856 GT ITC or greater. This position will also be responsible for the implementation and oversight of the vessel’s US Coast Guard-required Vessel Security Plan.
The Captain reports directly to the Assistant Marine Superintendent and is directly involved in all aspects of the daily operation of the vessel and its crew, both while in-port and underway, and is responsible for the safety and welfare of vessel crew, student, faculty, researchers, and other personnel onboard. This position may also serve as relief captain or crew on any of FIO’s other research vessels, as needed.
This position works outdoors in inclement weather (including wet, windy, and hot weather) onboard research vessels and may require working on elevated surfaces, in confined spaces, near hazardous materials with exposure to high noise levels, and in energy control areas, as required. Ship Operations is a 24-hour operation; therefore, weekend and holiday work may be required to meet business needs. The incumbent operates vessels, vehicles, heavy equipment, and pneumatic driven tools/equipment, and lifts, carries, pushes, and/or pulls objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
This position functions as the Captain (piloting, navigating, logistics, and operations) of FIO’s R/V Western Flyer, which is engaged in educational and research marine expeditions. This position is responsible for the safe and efficient operation and navigation of the vessel in all weather conditions, as well as the safety of all persons on board. This position oversees the maintenance of the vessel both in-port and at-sea, and provides active command as deck watch officer, in rotation, while at sea. This position supervises deck safety practices during all deck operations both in-port and at-sea.
This position is responsible for crew management, training, and drilling, adhering to all applicable US Coast Guard, Federal and State laws, in addition to company policies and procedures. Conducting regular/emergency drills including, but not limited to, man overboard, shipboard fire, abandon ship, marine sanitation casualty, and CPR/First Aid. Effective communication skills are required to direct crew, keep passengers safe, and relay pertinent information. A strong focus on safety and teamwork, the ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships, and the ability to maintain calm and take control in various situations are essential for this role.
This position requires a detailed working knowledge of all ships systems and their proper maintenance. The vessel Captain oversees maintenance and operation of all systems, to include but not be limited to painting and general aesthetics, plumbing, electrical, water (potable, raw, black, and gray) systems, fire suppression, bilge, communications, navigation, and vessel maintenance systems. This position will also oversee maintenance and operation of hydraulic winches, frames, and forklift used to deploy and recover scientific equipment and load the deck. The vessel Captain may be required to order and purchase parts and materials for maintenance and repair in compliance with company policies and procedures for procurement and may be required to coordinate with outside vendors for maintenance and repair of systems on an as-needed basis.
This position is responsible for ensuring appropriate shipboard briefing and orientation is conducted for all scientific parties and/or persons aboard the vessel for educational and research marine expeditions. This includes conducting training in survival equipment (life jackets, life rafts, life rings, survival suits, EPRIB, etc.) and enforcing use of personal safety equipment. The vessel Captain is also responsible for conducting pre-cruise inspections, including on the appearance and cleanliness of the vessel, as well as ensuring all required gear and supplies to complete the research mission have been loaded prior to departure.
The vessel Captain is required to troubleshoot vessel or equipment failures, as necessary, to ensure completion of the research or educational mission (i.e. determine causality, repair, replace or seek alternative methods) and to achieve goals of the ship’s crew and scientific party on completing assigned duties.
This position will be required to perform administrative and documentation duties as required. This may include, but is not limited to, documentation of vessel walkthrough and orientation of new hires, participating in recruitment process for new hires, documenting and reporting employee relations or human resource concerns to the appropriate administrator, working with Marine Superintendent or designee on the review of Safety Management Manual, Vessel Security Plan, or other polices as requested. This position will be required to maintain compliance with USCG and ABS, scheduling regular inspections as required to maintain certification and COI.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a high school diploma and a minimum of five (5) years combined experience as a US Coast Guard licensed Master and must have the appropriate valid licensure to operate as the Master of a vessel 498 GRT 856 GT ITC or greater at the time of hire. The vessel Captain must have at least three years’ pilothouse experience as a member of the navigation watch operating a vessel in near coastal waters or open oceans. Requirements at the time of hire include Unlimited Radar Observer endorsement, Certifications for Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, Certified Firefighting, Basic Safety Training (STCW-95, BST), first aid/CPR certified, valid TWIC, valid driver’s license, and valid US Passport.
Preferred Qualifications: Advanced Captain experience (10+ years) supervising a large crew onboard and oceanographic research expeditions for extended period at sea. Experience with ROV operations and Dynamic Positioning, including DPO qualification. Multi-Hull or SWATH vessel experience. Previous experience with deck winches, operation and deployment of oceanographic equipment or similar; working knowledge of diving operations, marine rigging and salvage operations, buoy operations or similar.
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Contact the USF ADA Lead ([email protected]) to coordinate your accommodation request.
Please provide the following documents when completing your application:
Curriculum vitae / resume
Copy of Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC)
A copy of academic transcripts
Contact information for three references (one must be your current/most recent supervisor).
The selected candidate must have a current work authorization in the United States. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
