Director Vessel Operations

About Us

Matson has been the leading ocean shipping and logistics provider throughout the Pacific since 1882. We are the supply chain lifeline for Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and islands of the South Pacific. We also offer the top two ocean shipping services in the world's largest trade lane - Asia to the U.S. West Coast. With our subsidiaries Matson Terminals and Matson Logistics, our business focus is exceeding customer expectations with quality, reliability, and integrity.

We strive to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner and promote land-based environmental programs in Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska. We help improve the communities in which we work and live through our community giving program that annually supports hundreds of local organizations. And we work to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in our company, communities and industry through an active social equity program.

Matson is a great place to work, and everyone who works with us becomes part of the Matson ohana or family. Join our team and help us move freight better than anyone.

Learn more at matson.com.

About the Role

The Director Vessel Operations Long Beach position will plan, organize, direct, and control the shipboard marine operations of the fleet to assure their readiness to meet cargo commitments safely in accordance with overall corporate objectives and operating plan.

In addition, the position involves conducting frequent vessel visits and coordinates with Masters to ensure vessels are operated and maintained in accordance with Company goals and are capable of meeting voyage and cargo commitments in a manner that is consistent with Company standards and customers' expectations. The incumbent must also maintain a detailed working knowledge of fleetwide shipboard union agreements to ensure that vessels Masters and department heads are maintaining vessel compliance with those agreements, in a manner consistent with long rang Company goals.

The incumbent must be familiar with and observe company policies, industry agreements and practices rules of regulatory agencies, pertinent state and federal statues, international agreements effecting shipping and contractual agreements with suppliers and shippers to ensure that obligations of the company are properly discharged. Must be able to maintain thorough knowledge of government, labor and industry groups involved in regulating or administering marine transportation issues and represent company interest to those groups.

The Director Vessel Operations Long Beach reports to the Vice President of Vessel Operations and Engineering, while coordinating with counter parts in other ports for a safe, efficient, and economical operation of the Matson line haul vessels. This position will supervise the performance of each assigned vessel through the ship's Master.

Dimensions:

• Number of Direct Subordinates: 32 senior shipboard officers
• Number of Active Vessels: 16 owned, 4 barges, 7 chartered (plus 3 owned vessels currently under construction)

2025 Plan

• Crew Wages: $131.387M
• Pilot, Tug, Lines, other: $48.736M
• Shoreside Labor: $9.500M
• Inactive Vessels: $9.000M
• G & A: $1.600M

Fuel Consumption 305,599 MT

What you'll do:

• Files quarterly reports on vessels inspected in accordance with SMS.
• Completes annual Senior Officer Performance Reviews as required by SMS.
• Ensures vessels are in compliance with existing laws and regulations and ensures prompt compliance with changes as they occur.
• Responsible for the developments of vessel operating budgets, and with vessel Master and department heads controls costs to ensure that vessel expenses are kept with budget, administers vessel operating budgets for controllable overtime, consumable stores, and subsistence to optimize operating efficiencies.
• Maintains data files and develops periodic reports on various ship budgets and operating standard performance functions. Extensive knowledge of NSE management software and MS Office applications essential.
• Motivates and develops vessel senior staff to ensure that vessels are operating efficiently on schedule and with safety to crew and cargo. Supervises performance of vessel personnel and makes recommendations for assignments, transfers, and promotions to assure a high level of proficiency aboard ship.
• Assists with negotiations for grievances as required to support the Marine Personnel Department.
• Maintains professional relationships with USCG Sectors in LA/LB, SF, SEATAC, and Alaska. Attends major USCG port events and change of command ceremonies in those USCG ports as requested by VP Vessel Operations and Engineering.
• Serves as a member of the LAX/LGB Pilot Advisory Council - attends all meetings as a priority.
• Assists Director of Chartering with operating issues related to charter vessels and available to attend charter vessels weekly in Long Beach.
• Recommends and proposes vessel capital expenditures and administers installations after approval. Provides liaison with Engineering and Fleet Maintenance on vessel changes, and new construction.
• Maintains effective communication between offshore personnel and shore-side personnel, both in terminals and at corporate headquarters, and coordinates ship/port services function in Long Beach and other ports as directed.
• Stands HQ Weekend Duty on a rotational basis with other managers Vessel Operations.
• Serves as ship handling subject matter expert on SMS Category One Incident investigations.
• Participates in New Vessel start up outfitting and organization.
• May be required to attend vessels dry docking outside of USA.
• This position, with the Manager, Marine Operation in Honolulu is responsible for the performance of vessel personnel, and makes recommendations for the personnel assignments, promotions, and transfers

You have these skills:

• Unlimited Master's License or equivalent
• Maritime Academy graduate or equivalent
• Senior Officer Seagoing experience aboard Matson vessels (prefer Master experience)
• Ship handling subject matter expert.
• Vessel Stability
• Incident Command Credentials

And these qualifications:

• This position is expected to have LNG fuel training credentials and experience in LNG bunkering operations in Long Beach. Recruits and trains marine personnel for service abroad LNG fueled vessels.
• This position must be knowledgeable in each phase of vessel operation, seamanship, ship handling, the vessels' routes, ports-of-call and shore facilities, type of cargo carried, cargo handling methods and procedures, and the peculiar problems associated with each vessel's operation.
• The position should have a Master's license, or the equivalent, in seagoing experience and, in addition, must have knowledge of the Company's operation procedures.
• The position requires contact with ships' Masters at sea and in port, under a variety of conditions, including emergencies; therefore, it requires an in-depth knowledge of vessel operating capabilities and limitations.
• This position represents Matson's interest in government labor and industry groups related to marine transportation and marine safety. The incumbent must have working knowledge of said organizations and is expected to deal with organizations such as American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Public Health Department, etc., as required, to ensure proper compliance, support offshore needs and promote company goals.
• The incumbent must be highly knowledgeable in union agreements, relating to vessel crews, including but not limited to: MM & P, SIU-Pacific District, SUP, MEBA, MFU and ARA. To a lesser extent the incumbent should be familiar with shore-side ILWU agreements.

Extra credit if you have:

• Recent sea time as Master or Chief Mate aboard containerships preferred.

The annual salary range is posted for this position in California is $145,400 - $200,000. The salary offered will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

At Matson, we're looking for people to build a unified team to maintain our values of trust, integrity, and reliability. We welcome diverse perspectives and people who think rigorously and thoughtfully challenge assumptions.

#MI

Matson is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, AIDS/HIV status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, including, but not limited to, the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances.