JOB TITLE: Assistant Harbormaster - Seasonal 2026
POSITION GRADE/LEVEL: Personnel Policies, Schedule B, Not benefiteligible
LOCATION: Duxbury Harbor and Waterways
DEPARTMENT: Harbormaster Department
HOURS: Seasonal, part-time, variable as needed, including weekends, nights andholidays, 8 hours per day, 20-40 hours per week
REPORTS TO: Harbormaster and Executive Officer
PAY RANGE: Starts at $17.00 per hour (dependent upon qualifications)
SEASONAL SCHEDULE: April through Labor Day (possible reducedoff-season hours available)
NUMBER OF OPENINGS: 7
1. Position Purpose:The purpose of this position is to assist the Harbormaster, Executive Officerin daily marine or shoreline-based operations. Assistant Harbormaster trainingshould be maintained in applicable federal, state and local laws, bylaws,regulations, shellfish law enforcement and management, marine law enforcement,harbor management, search and rescue, first aid certification.
2. SupervisionReceived: Reports directly to the Harbormaster under the oversight of theExecutive Officer/Assistant Harbormaster I.
3. Confidentiality:Employee has access to department-wide confidential information includingemployee records. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to thisinformation in accordance with Departmental Policy and Public Records Act.
4. Accountability:Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adversecustomer relations, damage to equipment, legal repercussions, monetary loss,labor/material costs, personal injury, and jeopardize programs.
5. Judgment:Guidelines may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies,general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specificdepartment or functional area. Extensive judgment is required to develop new oradapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to dealwith new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines orpolicies.
6. Complexity: Thework consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles,techniques and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignmentstypically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for applicationto the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planning longrange projects; and devising new techniques for application to the work.
7. Nature and Purposeof Public Contact: Employee interacts constantly with co-workers, the public,groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from the otherorganizations, representatives of professional organizations, and news media.The employee serves as a spokesperson or recognized authority of theorganization in matters of substance or considerable importance. The employeedeals with the public and other individuals on behalf of a department tocommunicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines.Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involvingcourtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns of thepublic.
8. Essential Functions& Expectations:
(The essentialfunctions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of thevarious types of work that may be performed. The omission of specificstatements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work issimilar, related or a logical assignment to the position).
1. Assists theHarbormaster and Executive Officer with the tasks and mandates of theHarbormaster Department.
2. Required to workoutside of normal business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
3. Aids mariners andvessels in distress and recovers boats adrift.
4. Assists inproviding appropriate actions to safeguard the harbor and anchorages in allaspects. Assists with ATONS, PTONS, and maintenance of safety buoys.
5. Patrols harbors,town pier, floats, docks, marinas, waterways, town landings, shoreline toenforce a variety of state, and local laws, codes, ordinances and rules andregulations pertaining to marine and shellfish, marine traffic/access controlsand public safety.
6. Enforces, state,and local laws, rules, and regulations
7. Assists in marinesearch and rescue assignments.
8. Assist incoordinating search and rescue operations along Duxbury shoreline as directed.
9. Responds andassists in emergencies and operates in coordination with additional emergencyresponders as required.
10. Assists with CleanVessel Act operations.
11. Assists inmaritime based special events and or evacuations as directed.
12. Assists withtransient/guest mooring assignments and related paperwork.
13. Assists thepublic: answer questions, furnishing information. Handles the difficultcustomer service requests.
14. Performs similaror related work as required.
9. Work Environment:Work is performed under varying conditions, either in an office, in a boat, ina vehicle or in the immediate surrounding shoreline and coastal areas. Frequentpatrol work is conducted outdoors with exposure to extreme weather conditionsin secluded areas. The incumbent may be required to work outside of normalbusiness hours. In addition, incumbent is required to work on weekends andholidays and may be required to be available to attend evening meetings andemergency situations.
Operates standardoffice equipment and computer. Operates motor vehicles, marine units, pumps,navigational equipment, emergency medical/rescue equipment, and two way radios.
Has frequent contactwith other Town departments, members of the boating public, fishing, andhunting communities, the Coast Guard, local, state and federal agencies, and thegeneral public. Contacts and communications are by phone, correspondence, andin person and frequently require significant resourcefulness and persuasivenessto influence the behavior of others.
Errors could result insignificant exposure to liability, damage to boats and equipment, monetaryloss, adverse public relations, reduced level or services, and potential lossof life.
10. RecommendedMinimum Qualifications:
High school educationor equivalent. Study, or strong interest, in criminal justice, biologicalsciences, marine sciences, or environmental sciences/protection. Must have theability to effectively communicate with co-workers, the public, governmentalagencies and carry out specific tasks as assigned by supervisor. Must haveexperience in, small boat handling. Required to attend and completetrainings/meetings provided by the Harbormaster Department and relatedagencies.
11. SpecialRequirements:
A valid Massachusettsmotor vehicle operator's license required.
Eighteen (18) yearsold or older.
Qualifications tooperate all department equipment and vehicles required.
Harbormaster TrainingAcademy Certification desired, if available
12. Knowledge,Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: ApplicableMassachusetts General Laws, town bylaws, and regulations relating to themaritime law and waterway operations.
Abilities: Ability todeal effectively and diplomatically with government agencies, other townemployees and general public, often in highly stressful situations. Ability toenforce rules and regulations firmly and impartially. Ability to dealeffectively and cordially with all persons using the waterfront, waterways,beach and shorelines. Basic computer skills. Ability to operate vehicles inhazardous and severe weather conditions.
Skill: Excellentorganizational, and communication skills.
13. Occupational Risk:Duties regularly present frequent, recurring exposure to hazardous conditionson land and in water, exposure to extreme weather conditions in secluded areas.Job frequently entails the possibility for serious injury or exposure toconditions that could result in total permanent disability or loss of life.Extreme care and safety precautions are required at all times. Special safetyprecautions, training, or protective clothing such as personal flotationdevices, dry suits, gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hats or boots may berequired.
14. Physical andMental Requirements:
(The physical demandsdescribed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee tosuccessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to performthe essential functions).
Physical Demands:While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required tosit and talk or hear, walk or run on sand or mud, use hands to finger, handle,or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Thisposition requires the ability to operate a keyboard and calculator at efficientspeed. Regularly climbs, stoops, crouches, kneels, and climbs on board boats,or ladders. Specific vision abilities required include close, medium, anddistance vision, and the ability to adjust focus and distinguish colors;employee is required to detect odors. Frequently lifts up to 25 pounds;occasionally lifts or moves more than 100 pounds. Strenuous physical effort maybe required for swimming when performing rescue operations. Physical ability toperform search and rescue duties by land and sea; ability to climb in and outof boats.
15. Motor Skills:Duties may involve close hand and eye coordination and physical dexterity.Manipulation and motor control under conditions that may require extremeaccuracy may be needed in making repairs to electronic instruments or complexequipment, conducting laboratory tests, performing microscopic experiments.
16. Visual Demands:Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understandingand for analytical purposes, routinely reviewing non-written materials such asinstrumentation for analytical purposes and with a need for color vision.
Town of Duxbury is anEEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled
Applications will beaccepted starting on February 3, 2026, and posting will remain open on arolling basis until filled.
Town of Duxbury is an EEO Employer - M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status
