JOB TITLE: Assistant Harbormaster - Seasonal 2026
POSITION GRADE/LEVEL: Personnel Policies, Schedule B, Not benefit eligible
LOCATION: Duxbury Harbor and Waterways
DEPARTMENT: Harbormaster Department
HOURS: Seasonal, part-time, variable as needed, including weekends, nights and holidays, 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 reduced off-season hours available)
NUMBER OF OPENINGS: 7
1. Position Purpose: The purpose of this position is to assist the Harbormaster, Executive Officer in daily marine or shoreline-based operations. Assistant Harbormaster training should 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. Supervision Received: Reports directly to the Harbormaster under the oversight of the Executive Officer/Assistant Harbormaster I.
3. Confidentiality: Employee has access to department-wide confidential information including employee records. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and Public Records Act.
4. Accountability: Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse customer 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 specific department or functional area. Extensive judgment is required to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.
6. Complexity: The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planning long range projects; and devising new techniques for application to the work.
7. Nature and Purpose of Public Contact: Employee interacts constantly with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from the other organizations, representatives of professional organizations, and news media. The employee serves as a spokesperson or recognized authority of the organization in matters of substance or considerable importance. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of a department to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns of the public.
8. Essential Functions & Expectations:
(The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position).
1. Assists the Harbormaster and Executive Officer with the tasks and mandates of the Harbormaster Department.
2. Required to work outside of normal business hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
3. Aids mariners and vessels in distress and recovers boats adrift.
4. Assists in providing appropriate actions to safeguard the harbor and anchorages in all aspects. Assists with ATONS, PTONS, and maintenance of safety buoys.
5. Patrols harbors, town pier, floats, docks, marinas, waterways, town landings, shoreline to enforce a variety of state, and local laws, codes, ordinances and rules and regulations pertaining to marine and shellfish, marine traffic/access controls and public safety.
6. Enforces, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations
7. Assists in marine search and rescue assignments.
8. Assist in coordinating search and rescue operations along Duxbury shoreline as directed.
9. Responds and assists in emergencies and operates in coordination with additional emergency responders as required.
10. Assists with Clean Vessel Act operations.
11. Assists in maritime based special events and or evacuations as directed.
12. Assists with transient/guest mooring assignments and related paperwork.
13. Assists the public: answer questions, furnishing information. Handles the difficult customer service requests.
14. Performs similar or related work as required.
9. Work Environment: Work is performed under varying conditions, either in an office, in a boat, in a vehicle or in the immediate surrounding shoreline and coastal areas. Frequent patrol work is conducted outdoors with exposure to extreme weather conditions in secluded areas. The incumbent may be required to work outside of normal business hours. In addition, incumbent is required to work on weekends and holidays and may be required to be available to attend evening meetings and emergency situations.
Operates standard office equipment and computer. Operates motor vehicles, marine units, pumps, navigational equipment, emergency medical/rescue equipment, and two way radios.
Has frequent contact with other Town departments, members of the boating public, fishing, and hunting communities, the Coast Guard, local, state and federal agencies, and the general public. Contacts and communications are by phone, correspondence, and in person and frequently require significant resourcefulness and persuasiveness to influence the behavior of others.
Errors could result in significant exposure to liability, damage to boats and equipment, monetary loss, adverse public relations, reduced level or services, and potential loss of life.
10. Recommended Minimum Qualifications:
High school education or equivalent. Study, or strong interest, in criminal justice, biological sciences, marine sciences, or environmental sciences/protection. Must have the ability to effectively communicate with co-workers, the public, governmental agencies and carry out specific tasks as assigned by supervisor. Must have experience in, small boat handling. Required to attend and complete trainings/meetings provided by the Harbormaster Department and related agencies.
11. Special Requirements:
A valid Massachusetts motor vehicle operator's license required.
Eighteen (18) years old or older.
Qualifications to operate all department equipment and vehicles required.
Harbormaster Training Academy Certification desired, if available
12. Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Applicable Massachusetts General Laws, town bylaws, and regulations relating to the maritime law and waterway operations.
Abilities: Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with government agencies, other town employees and general public, often in highly stressful situations. Ability to enforce rules and regulations firmly and impartially. Ability to deal effectively and cordially with all persons using the waterfront, waterways, beach and shorelines. Basic computer skills. Ability to operate vehicles in hazardous and severe weather conditions.
Skill: Excellent organizational, and communication skills.
13. Occupational Risk: Duties regularly present frequent, recurring exposure to hazardous conditions on land and in water, exposure to extreme weather conditions in secluded areas. Job frequently entails the possibility for serious injury or exposure to conditions that could result in total permanent disability or loss of life. Extreme care and safety precautions are required at all times. Special safety precautions, training, or protective clothing such as personal flotation devices, dry suits, gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hats or boots may be required.
14. Physical and Mental Requirements:
(The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit 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. This position requires the ability to operate a keyboard and calculator at efficient speed. Regularly climbs, stoops, crouches, kneels, and climbs on board boats, or ladders. Specific vision abilities required include close, medium, and distance 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 may be required for swimming when performing rescue operations. Physical ability to perform search and rescue duties by land and sea; ability to climb in and out of boats.
15. Motor Skills: Duties may involve close hand and eye coordination and physical dexterity. Manipulation and motor control under conditions that may require extreme accuracy may be needed in making repairs to electronic instruments or complex equipment, conducting laboratory tests, performing microscopic experiments.
16. Visual Demands: Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, routinely reviewing non-written materials such as instrumentation for analytical purposes and with a need for color vision.
Town of Duxbury is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled
Applications will be accepted starting on February 3, 2026, and posting will remain open on a rolling basis until filled.
