Marine Deckhand

The Marine Division with King County Metro Transit is hiring for a Marine Deckhand position for the Water Taxi team.

Deckhands work onboard our Water Taxi vessels, which are based out of the Pier 48 terminal on the Seattle waterfront. While working under the direction of the Captain, Deckhands ensure that our vessels are maintained, safely prepared for service, and that our passengers and crew are kept safe. This position directly supports the County's interest in ensuring our commuters have a reliable way to access our downtown core through our Vashon Island and West Seattle service routes.

King County has been operating Water Taxi services since October 2009. In 2019, the Marine Division joined King County Metro to help Metro meet its goals of incorporating multiple modes of transit, including buses, boats, trains, shuttles, accessible services, and rideshare programs.

The Marine Division operates the Water Taxi ferry service on two routes in Puget Sound, both originating at Pier 50 in downtown Seattle: one route to West Seattle and the other to Vashon Island. The Water Taxi provides year-round service 7 days a week, 11 to 17 hours daily. In addition to King County Water taxi service, Kitsap County currently provides passenger-only ferry service to Kingston, Bremerton and Southworth, which all use the King County passenger-only facility in Seattle.

Recruitment Information:

This recruitment will immediately fill one (1) Career Service position and may also be used to create an eligibility list for future Career Service, as well as any fully benefitted Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) and/or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies valid up to twelve (12) months or until exhausted and at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who May Apply:

This position is open to King County employees and the public.

Questions? if you have any questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at [email protected]

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Marine Deckhand, you will also:

• Assist the Captain and/or engineers with vessel startup and shutdown, raise and lower passenger loading ramps, handle mooring lines, load and unload passengers, stand watch while underway, perform safety and security functions, perform general maintenance and cleaning duties for vessels and facilities, and be prepared to respond to emergencies or security situations aboard the ferry or at the terminals.
• Assist passengers in boarding and departing the ferry; ensure passenger safety; answer questions and provide information.
• Handle mooring lines; cast off lines upon embarking and secure lines upon docking.
• Perform basic deck and vessel cleaning and maintenance functions; keep decks clean and free of debris, snow and ice; light maintenance such as removing and preparing surfaces for non-skid application and painting deck surfaces such as superstructure and railings of vessel; clean vessel furnishings, decks, restrooms, bulkheads, overheads, windows, baseboard heaters, and vessel exterior as needed; empty vessel trash and separate items for recycling.
• As directed by the captain: perform lookout watches and assist with vessel navigational; conduct regular vessel safety/security sweeps and engine room rounds while underway.
• Move passenger loading ramps into place and control entry and exit of passengers.
• Ensure all entering passengers have paid the appropriate fare; observe appropriate use of electronic fare media; operate fare collection equipment, assist passengers with cash payments and use of fare box; count and record number of passengers.
• Assist in fueling operations and replenishment of the vessel supplies.
• Participate in all required training and drills; perform all applicable emergency procedures.
• Understand proper use of all safety and emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers, vessel firefighting systems, life rafts, life preservers, life rings, emergency shut-downs, radio beacons, etc.; ensure each item is maintained and in working order.
• May be required to take over operation of the ferry to bring the vessel into port if the captain is incapacitated.

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Possess the following credentials:
   • A valid Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
   • A valid United States Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) or Merchant Mariner's Credential (MMC) with minimum endorsement of Ordinary Seaman (OS).
   • Current First Aid/CPR certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
2. Two (2) or more years of work experience in the maritime industry on high-speed passenger vessels. 
3. Work experience providing customer service to the traveling public, or the ability to provide accurate, timely, and polite service to the traveling public, including providing appropriate guidance to customers in the event of an emergency situation.

The most competitive applicants will also possess these desirable qualifications:

• Previous work experience on US Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessels, preferably on high-speed vessels.
• USCG MMD or MMC with an Able Seaman (AB) endorsement.
• 100-ton USCG Captain's License and experience navigating Pacific Northwest waters.
• Certification in Fire Safety Training and Life Saving Training.
• Satisfactory completion of the training and experience necessary to qualify as a Senior Deckhand in compliance with USCG Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 1-91.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued.
• Ability to demonstrate behaviors that include fairness, respect, and inclusiveness.
• Ability to respond safely, effectively, and expeditiously during an emergency.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work split shifts is preferred.

• Ability to be punctual in order to provide reliable sailings as scheduled for the traveling public.

To Apply:

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at [email protected].

Required Application Materials:

• An online employment application with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience). Be sure to list all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving.
• Attach a cover letter/letter of interest.
• Completed Supplemental Questions

Selection Process:

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule:

Start times may be as early as 4:45am and end times might be as late at 11:45pm, and service is provided 7 days per week. This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime pay.

Work Environment and Location:

The work location will be at Pier 48 and Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront. This position will have you standing or walking most of the day. You will be working outdoors on board the Water Taxi passenger vessel, as well as inside the cabin and pilothouse of the vessel, in all weather conditions. The Pier 48 and 50 facilities are located in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square district, within easy walking distance to popular urban residential neighborhoods like Queen Anne, South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, and near bus lines, Link Light Rail and the Sounder (commuter train) Station.

Safety Sensitive:

This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety-sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, subsequent to the commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

SAFTEY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR AN EMPLOYEE

• Responsible for understanding the Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
• Report all safety concerns.
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

Union Membership: This position is represented by Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific (IBU)

Class Code / Pay Grade: 9450100 / 52

KING COUNTY'S VISION, MISSION, AND ACTIVATE VALUES UNITE US

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

KING COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.