State Ferry Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Position Information
Join the team keeping Mustang Island connected! The Port Aransas Ferry Operation runs a vital fleet of eight vessels-three 20-car and five 28-car ferries-crossing the scenic Corpus Christi Ship Channel between Aransas Pass Harbor Island and Port Aransas. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year as a crucial segment of SH-361, our crew provides a swift, ten-minute lifeline for daily commuters, vacationers, and emergency hurricane evacuations. If you're looking for dynamic work with real community impact on the Texas coast, step aboard and grow your career with us.
Benefits and Perks
At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

• Retirement Plans
• Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
• Paid Leave and Holidays
• Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
• On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
• Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.
For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package
To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)
Position Description
Performs highly responsible work as deck maintenance supervisor for the ferry system. Assists in the supervision of all deck personnel including captains, deck crews and deck maintenance personnel. Plans and monitors all deck maintenance work. Makes recommendations and/or decisions which are critical to the unit's operational readiness for continuous, all weather, ferry operations consistent with the demands of vehicular traffic. Reports to the Ferry Manager and assists in all personnel matters. Works as a relief ferry captain as assigned. Work requires frequent contact with the public and various local, state and federal advisory and regulatory entities. Employees at this level establish their own work plan and priorities to meet set objectives. Issues are rarely referred to the supervisor but are handled at the occurrence.
Essential Duties:

• Assumes ferry operations and support functions in the absence of manager or assistant manager.
• Assists the Ferry Operation Manager and Assistant Ferry Manager in all areas of personnel management including scheduling, hiring, completion of performance evaluations and discipline.
• Assists with overseeing physical inventories of reportable property and materials.
• Ensures personnel are trained and follow policies and procedures relating to completion of reports, records, work requests, documentation for machinery history, safety and current vessel and facility maintenance projects.
• Ensures strict compliance with the Federal Waters Pollution Control Act.
• Monitors and inspects vessels shore facilities, equipment and work areas; identifies hazards and promotes on-the-spot corrections and identifies ways to correct the hazards and devises methods to improve safe working conditions.
• Monitors safety practices of ferry crews and deck maintenance crews.
• Provides input into preparation of the unit-operating budget.
• Recommends/approves formal training requests for departmental personnel.
• Reports to the supervisor on matters affecting the operational capability of the unit, engineering, maintenance or repair requirements of concern.
• Serves as primary enforcement authority for State Regulations Governing Operation of the Ferries.
• Supervises captains and deck personnel, as assigned.
• Works as a relief captain, as assigned.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Relevant work experience may be substituted for degree on a year per year basis OR related graduate level education may be substituted for experience on year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications
Experience: 5 years of experience in marine operations. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).
Supervisory experience:

• No supervisory experience required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver's license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
• Vessel Crew Member Cert
• Must have required US Coast Guard (USCG) certifications an/or documents appropriate for the position and vessel being operated.
• USCG Lic-Mas-S&L Ves -100 Tons
• Transp Worker ID Cred - TWIC

Competencies:
Extensive knowledge of:

• Marine operations.
• Applicable laws, rules, and regulations

Expert skill in:

• Fire fighting.

Considerable Knowledge of:

• Applicable inspection methods, procedures and techniques.
• Methods and procedures used in the maintenance and repair of marine equipment, machinery, facilities and ferryboats.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines and specification codes.

Proficient skill in:

• Overseeing and coordinating projects and program activities.
• Prioritizing and organizing work assignments.
• Preparing and maintaining confidential and sensitive records, files and reports.
• Training in a classroom, office, or field environment.
• Navigating ferryboats.
• Using applicable hand and power tools, equipment and mechanical devices of the trade.
• Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others.

Ability to:

• Work in varying conditions to include heavy traffic, overhead power lines and underground utilities.
• Work in cramped spaces (bend, stoop, crawl) and at varied heights.

Some skill in:

• Supervising technical staff.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
• Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and/or above 100 degrees for more than one hour.
• Subject to noise.
• Subject to vibration.
• Subject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals.
• Subject to atmospheric conditions-fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation.
• Subject to air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.
• Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device.
• Woks in narrow aisles or passageways.
Sedentary work:
• Lift up to 10 lbs. at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools.
Light work:
• Lift up to 20 lbs. at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs.
Medium work:
• Lift up to 50 lbs. at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs.
• Climbing - ascending/descending ladders, stairs, scaffoldings, ramps, etc.
• Balancing-walking, standing, crouching on various surfaces without falling.
• Stooping-bending body downward and forward by bending spine at waist.
• Kneeling-bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee(s).
• Crouching-bending body downward and forward by bending leg(s) and spine.
• Crawling-moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching-extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing-prolonged periods of time.
• Walking-moving on foot to accomplish tasks: long distance/from one work site to another.
• Pushing-using upper extremities to press against object with force to move in a direction.
• Pulling-using upper extremities to exert force moving objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting-raising objects from lower to higher position/horizontally to a different position.
• Grasping-applying pressure to an object with fingers and palm.
• Feeling-determining size, shape, temperature or texture of objects.
• Talking-expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words.
• Hearing-perceive sound at normal speaking levels; receive information by oral communication.
• Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading.
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes visual inspection of small defects/parts.
• Close Visual Acuity-using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts.
• Visual Acuity-operate machines, such as drill presses, power saws, and mills.
• Visual Acuity-operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• Visual Acuity-determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures.
Conditions of Employment:
Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation - 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) - does not authorize "medical marijuana" under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.