Position Announcement
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Port Engineer
Position #0007833
Position: The Ship Operations group invites applications for a full-time
(1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Port Engineer position. Reappointment is
at the discretion of the Dean.
The Port Engineer supports the research portion of Oregon State
University's mission as a member of the Ship Operations group in the
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS). Faculty, staff and
students of COAS advance the frontiers of knowledge about the ocean,
atmosphere and Earth system. Ship Operations is responsible for the
scheduling, operation, maintenance, and repair of two Oceanographic
research vessels (R/V), the R/V WECOMA and the R/V ELAKHA. These Vessels
are used in support of research and education, conducted by the College
and other educational and research institutions, through the University-
National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS). Our success is based on
an interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art technology and
facilities. COAS is a national leader in the study of coastal zones and
ocean processes. Through field experiments, theoretical investigations and
numerical modeling and simulations, we study all aspects of ocean, land
and atmospheric processes and interactions. This position contributes to
broadening the knowledge of the marine and atmospheric environments
through education and research.
The primary duty of the Port Engineer is managing the material readiness
of the Research Vessels Wecoma and Elakha, and the Oregon State University
(OSU) Ship Operations Facility in Newport, Oregon. The position is a
critical part of a small, but dedicated team in Newport, Oregon. A portion
of the incumbent's time is spent out of the office, in hands-on activities
such as crane operations and other facility and ship operations. This
position will perform a variety of tasks including recruiting and
selecting vessel and shore-based employees; preparing specifications for
shipyard and major repair activities; specifying major vessel equipment
for purchase; assisting in the preparation of budgets and proposals;
implementing procedures and maintaining documentation to meet a variety of
regulatory requirements to include ship safety management systems and
operation, as a relief engineer of a research vessel at sea.
Responsibilities:
10% Recruit, interview and select shore personnel including regular, full-
time, temporary and intermittent positions. Provide leadership,
supervision and direction for assigned staff. Plan, assign and review
work, establish goals for each position and assess performance through
completion of evaluations; hire, train, promote employees; discipline or
effectively recommend discipline up to, and including dismissal;
participate in addressing and responding to grievances, developing a
framework for corrective actions as necessary.
10% Prepare specifications, with the assistance of the Captain, Chief
Engineer and Chief Mate, for vessel dry-docking, major machinery overhauls
and modifications to the vessels. Develop criteria to evaluate proposals
for work and participate in selection panels for contractors.
10% Prepare, maintain and audit safety and security plans for WECOMA and
facility security plans for the Ship Operations facility, in compliance
with the "International Management Code for Safe Operation of Ships and
Marine Pollution Prevention Code," "International Shipboard and Port
Security Code," Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations ("Shipping"),
and the International Maritime Organization's "International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea."
20% Assist the Marine Superintendent in preparing annual operation
schedules, and in developing operating budgets, writing proposals and
tracking expenditures. Act for the Marine Superintendent in his/her
absence within the limits of delegated authority.
10% Identify need for new navigation, communications, science support and
safety equipment upgrades on Ship Operations vessels and Ship Operations
shore facility. Write specifications to obtain, install and maintain
equipment to applicable international and U.S. regulations as well as
UNOLS Research Vessel Safety Standards.
25% Assist with shipyard logistics and maintenance, including ship visits
and UNOLS Van Pool management. Provide support for scientific operations
including planning for loading and unloading dock facilities and agent
services in other ports, operation of cranes & forklifts, assisting in the
connection of vessel services and scientific support equipment such as
winches and vans.
10% Relieve Engineer at sea and in port, as required.
5% Provide other support as needed for the regulatory compliance of Ship
Operations vessels, planning for unusual scientific operations onboard
vessels, maintaining regulatory compliance of the shipboard scientific
vans in the National Science Foundation/UNOLS West Coast Van Pool, managed
by Oregon State University (OSU), and other such tasks as may be
identified by the Marine Superintendent.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (engineering preferred)
from maritime or military academy, college or university. A minimum of 6
years experience with research vessel management as a Port Engineer (at
another UNOLS facility) may be substituted for a degree. Position requires
a technical knowledge of ships and related equipment, maintenance
operations, overhaul, design and regulations.
• Familiarity with applicable international and U.S. regulations
pertaining to the operation and maintenance of sea-going research vessels.
• Technical knowledge of ships and related equipment, maintenance
operations, overhaul and design.
• Familiarity with ship repair period management.
• Competency with word processing, spreadsheets and other standard
computing skills.
• Ability to move about in small and confined shipboard spaces and
to conduct light facility tasks including crane and forklift operations
when required.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Port Engineer experience within the United States research fleet.
• Experience in drafting shipyard work period requirements.
• Previous duty as an Engineer or Master/Mate at sea preferable,
including experience on research vessels.
• Current US Coast Guard (USCG) License as Designated Duty Engineer
or better (preference will be given to those with higher licenses).
• Current USCG Merchant Mariners Document endorsed Qualified Member
of the Engine Department (QMED), or better.
• Current Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW) certificate and Transportation Worker Identification Credential
(TWIC).
• Current Refrigerant Certificate.
• Current US Passport or ability to obtain within six months of
start date. A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
To Apply: To access application instructions, go to
https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=59042 and for
the position announcement, go to http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic
documents:
1) A resume/CV that includes the names of at least three professional
references, their e-mail addresses and telephone contact numbers (Upload
references as 'Other Document' if not included with your resume/vitae).
2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have
prepared you for this position.
Inquiries about the position may be directed to Demian Bailey at
[email protected]
Closing Date: For full consideration for this position, your application
must be received by September 6, 2011.
University and Community: OSU is one of only two American universities to
hold the Land-, Sea-, Sun- and Space-Grant designations and is the only
Oregon institution recognized for its “very high research activity”
(RU/VH) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The
university is comprised of 11 academic colleges with strengths in natural
resources, Earth dynamics and sustainability, life sciences,
entrepreneurship and the arts and sciences. OSU has facilities and/or
programs in every county in the state, including 12 regional experiment
stations, 41 county extension offices, a branch campus in Bend, a major
marine science center in Newport and a range of programs and facilities in
Portland. It is Oregon’s largest public research university, conducting
more than 60 percent of the research funded throughout the state’s
university system.
OSU is located in Corvallis, a community of 53,000 people situated in the
Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Ocean beaches, lakes,
rivers, forests, high desert, the rugged Cascade and Coast Ranges and the
urban amenities of the Portland metropolitan area are all within a 100-
mile drive of Corvallis. Approximately 15,700 undergraduate and 3,400
graduate students are enrolled at OSU, including 2,600 U.S. students of
color and 950 international students.
Oregon State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
