Ship Captain Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

• Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services 1

• Administrative 1

• Full Time 1

• On-site (work in-person at business location) 1

Reporting to the Captain and Director of Marine Programs, the Captain’s Assistant/Purser performs a variety of administrative, technical, and analytical duties and provides day-to-day administration in the Department of Marine Programs and aboard the training ship docked at the campus and at sea.

This position is required to participate in the academy’s annual Summer Sea Term as a condition of employment

The Division of Marine Programs, which oversees both the Training Ship and the Waterfront, is responsible for supporting a wide range of maritime student education and training. These responsibilities include student licensing and credentialing, coordination of annual Summer Sea Term operations, and the management of programs and resources that support hands‑on maritime instruction.

• Ability to analyze data and make accurate projections using business mathematics and basic statistical techniques; ability to organize and plan work and projects including handling multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to make independent decisions in day-to-day operations.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

• Equivalent to graduation from a four‑year college or university. One year of technical or administrative experience. A graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.

• Must possess or be able to obtain, within six months of employment, and maintain a U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with STCW Basic Safety Training and Security Awareness endorsements, domestic ratings of Ordinary Seaman, Wiper, and Steward Department (Food Handler).
• Must possess or be able to obtain, within sixty days of employment, and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must possess or be able to obtain, within ninety days of employment, and maintain a valid U.S. passport.
• Must possess or be able to obtain, within six months of employment, and maintain USCG Medical Certification (Fit for Duty).

Anticipated Hiring Range:$68,832- $75,996 annually

Classification Range: $57,588 - $83,904 annually

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best‑in‑class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 22,000 top‑tier students come to San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Maritime Academy in Solano County to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities, maritime and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands‑on philosophy, small class sizes and close student‑faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit www.calpoly.edu .

Cal Poly Maritime Academy, located in Vallejo, California, is the only degree‑granting maritime academy on the West Coast and a nationally recognized public maritime university on the Solano Campus of California Polytechnic State University. It prepares students for leadership roles in maritime operations, engineering, logistics, business, global supply chains and national security. Through Cal Poly's Learn by Doing philosophy, students train hands‑on in classrooms and labs and aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear. For more information, visit maritime.calpoly.edu .

Please watch the video linked here to learn more about the CSU system.

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Advertised: July 24, 2026 (9:0 0 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled