Senior Manager of Maritime Access

*** Unable to provide sponsorship at this time. Only considering persons eligible to work in the United States.

Position Title: Senior Manager of Maritime Access

Supervisor’s Title: Director of Maritime 

Exemption Status:  Exempt

Positions Supervised: Maritime Access Specialists and Maritime Access Program Administrator 

Location:  Charlotte, NC, with travel to other U.S. and international locations as needed 

BACKGROUND: 

Global Support and Development (GSD) is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to work with regional, national, and local communities across the Caribbean, Central America and South Pacific for resilience to crises through rapid response, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation. 

GSD began as an impromptu response to Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu in 2015. Since our founding, we have worked with a number of regional, national and local communities and supported various international and United States domestic disaster response and preparedness efforts.  Our first response defined the core of GSD’s DNA as an organization – to work with communities – led by their needs, filling the gaps they have identified, while leveraging unique approaches and capabilities with an innovation mindset. By integrating our team’s diverse skill sets and resources into local responses, we provide rapid response assistance to affected communities in coordination with regional, national, and local community partners. We work to support and strengthen local capacity through disaster preparedness initiatives, including innovation and climate adaptation, to reduce the impact disasters and the climate crisis have on communities. 

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

GSD’s Senior Manager of Maritime Access leads all administrative, operational, and programmatic Maritime Access Team (MAT) activities and is the lead for integrating Maritime Access programming within broader organizational Programs. The Senior Manager of Maritime Access leads the development, maintenance, and operational development of MAT capabilities, personnel, and assets to include small boats (<40 ft.), dive equipment (SCUBA and SSA), multi-beam sonar capabilities, and other maritime technologies relevant to MAT missions in pre- and post-disaster environments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Develop, implement, and execute plans, processes, and projects in support of organizational strategy and Maritime Department Sub-Strategy, maximizing efficient use of resources and ensuring shared vision;
2. Support the professional development and growth of direct reports;
3. Supports GSD’s mission in leading the management, planning, execution and assessment of Maritime Access Team activities throughout the GSD operating area linked to Program Development, Outreach, Capacity Strengthening, and Disaster Response objectives. Activities include diving and light salvage operations, underwater (bathymetric) data collection, aerial port survey operational support, port infrastructure assessments, and data analysis leading to product creation;
4. Support critical decision-making processes, to include identifying issues and driving problem-solving, especially in resource-constrained and time-sensitive contexts;
5. Develop and implement programs, SOPs, and projects for partner and community led Maritime Access Team engagements;
6. Lead the development of a comprehensive Maritime Access Team training curriculum and provide instruction to improve knowledge and skills of individuals and teams;
7. Maintains remote, domestic, and international equipment caches, and equipment maintenance, in cooperation with Maritime and GSD Logistics Departments;
8. Support a safety and risk awareness culture within GSD and a commitment to ethical and responsible disaster response practices at all times;
9. Operational Risk Owner for management of Risk To Life for diving operations;
10. Support budgetary planning, control, and analysis for the Maritime Access Team;
11. Prompt and action GSD’s core values of accountability, humility, and integrity in all work we conduct;
12. Promote good stewardship of financial and other resources to achieve maximum benefit to those impacted by disaster or at risk of impact; and
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required Experience:

• Five (5) or more years of relevant management experience in maritime operations;
• Five (5) or more years of experience operating within a safe system of diving (e.g. U.S. Navy Dive Manual);

• Three (3) or more years experience operating SONAR and/or bathymetric data collection technologies;
• Three (3) years experience leading dive salvage, preferably in an international context; and
• Demonstrable experience developing programs and teams.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Oceanography, Ocean Engineering, Civil Engineering with a focus in maritime infrastructure, or relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and experience from the maritime sector.

Professional Licenses/Certifications:

• Public Safety, Commercial Diver qualification or equivalent;
• Dive Salvage certification;
• Commercial dive physical required (within 30 days of hire);
• Complete Specialist Crew training including a Seafarers Medical examination, or possess an ENG 1 certification (preferred, within 6 months of hire);
• DMT / EMT Certificate (desirable, or willing to obtain within 1 year of hire); and
• Certification in project management (desirable).

Knowledge/Skills:

• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams to produce quality results within challenging timeframes and ongoing change;
• Program oversight and management, development of programmatic policy, procedure, and guidelines;
• Proven ability to think creatively in applying innovative solutions to complex and novel operational problems;
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously under pressure;
• Commercial or Military diving experience and thorough understanding of the US Navy Dive Manual;
• Training and experience in light salvage diving operations;
• Training and experience in sonar systems;
• Basic small-boat handling skills;
• Training and experience in field communications systems such as satellite, handheld, and global positioning systems (GPS);
• Basic emergency or disaster response knowledge;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to rapidly shift tasks;
• Experience working and/or traveling domestically and internationally; and
• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French desired. 

GSD prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of all of our staff members. All employees are expected to follow strict safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required and adherence to safety regulations (maritime, and other), to mitigate risks. 

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and North Carolina state law, GSD will provide reasonable accommodation for a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship or a direct threat to the health and/or safety of the individual or others. 

These working conditions and physical demands are described to provide a clear understanding of the challenging and demanding nature of the role, to ensure that potential candidates are well-prepared for the challenging and demanding nature of the duties and realities of disaster response work. 

Working Conditions

• May be regularly exposed to and required to work in varying outdoor weather conditions, including extreme heat or cold, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events; 
• May be required to engage in irregular travel and / or work schedules, which may include extended hours exceeding 8 hours in a day, including holidays/weekends/evenings, and overnight travel requirements;
• While wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) some of which is required and may be provided by GSD: 
  • Work may be conducted near moving mechanical parts, which could include exposure to loud noises;
  • Work may be conducted near and include potential exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals; or 
  • Work may be conducted in areas that include exposure to the risk of electrical shock or vibration.
• Ability to obtain necessary travel documents and fulfill any other travel requirements (including an active passport, visa requirements, vaccinations, etc.);
• This role may include deployments to support natural disaster response efforts within hazardous environments (economically/environmentally) in pre and post disaster scenarios which could include, among other conditions: lack of access to medical care, exposure to critical incidents (including severe injury, death, traumatic encounters, and/or mental strain), and uncommon sleeping arrangements (i.e. not in a hotel, could include close living quarters and cohabitation);  
• GSD’s nutritional environment contains milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat products. Ability to make dietary accommodations may be limited. Potential exposure to food borne allergens; 
• Employees may be required for this role to work upon our humanitarian vessel for up to 30 consecutive days. The vessel’s working environment entails performing in conditions inherent to vessel travel, including but not limited to: steep and narrow stairs and living spaces, close quarters including cohabitation, sharp surfaces, metal gangways and ladders, heavy doors, European-type plugs and wiring (220-240v, 60Hz) which cannot support all American appliances, in addition to bright and flashing lights, loud noises, nuts and shellfish exposure, poor weather, movements which can trigger motion sickness, and / or limited access to hospital / definitive care. This setting involves various sea conditions, including but not limited to rough seas, adverse weather, and potential for sea sickness;
• At this time, GSD is not offering sponsorship and is only accepting applications from persons eligible to work in the United States; and 
• Routine domestic and international travel up to 30% is required

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for 50% of the time;
• Ability to regularly engage in manual dexterity; 
• [FOR VESSEL] Essential physical requirements (depending on job description requirements) may also include climbing, balancing, reaching or stretching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling; 
• Ability to frequently carry materials  weighing up to XX pounds for various needs;
• Ability to observe details at a close range (within a few feet of the observer), and the ability to communicate information and ideas so that others will understand (must also be able to exchange accurate information in these situations); 
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description reflects an assignment of essential functions.  It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  Other duties and tasks may be assigned to this job at GSD’s discretion.

Work Authorization Requirements: GSD participates in E-verify, an internet-based system that allows employers to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Our participation in E-Verify is in compliance with federal law and is limited to the use of E-Verify for employment eligibility verification only. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. 

BENEFITS: 

You'll get..

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Premiums 100% covered by GSD for employee, employee spouse, employee family
• Basic Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability Insurance: Fully covered by GSD
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA): Up to $4,000 in total annually for employee 2 or more family members
• Voluntary Life Insurance: Options available at reasonable group rates
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): All employees are eligible for an annual accrual (up to 5 weeks of PTO per year) 
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks paid by GSD 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Career Development Opportunities 
• 401(k): GSD will match up to 6% of base salary for all employees ages 21 . Employees are eligible to begin contributing after 1 pay cycle, and the company match will go into effect immediately after employee begins contributing 
• Additional Perks! 

This job description is a summary rather than a detailed list of the duties performed.  The essential functions, knowledge, skills, and working conditions may change along with business needs.  This job description does not constitute a contract between employer and employee as employment is at will.  Global Support and Development provides reasonable accommodations to assist qualified individuals in order to perform the essential functions their job requires.

GSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and embraces all candidates regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), nation of origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military/veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. GSD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all candidate selections. GSD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all candidate selections.

Salary : $4,000 - $150,046