Deckhand (Dual Rate)

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Direct Hire Authority, Section 1109; PL, 116-92, dated 12/23/2023 to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Duties

• THIS IS AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE: WK-06: You will be expected to perform all the duties pertinent to the certificate required by the USCG for this position.
• Perform work involved in the maintenance and repair of the deck equipment and general housekeeping on a dredge.
• Handle and fasten hawsers and mooring ropes to piers; handling lines to secure other craft coming alongside the dredge.
• Monitor ropes and repair or renew to include splicing the rope to maintain safe operations.
• Accomplish light rigging such as determining the weight to be lifted and tying it to the crane hook to be lifted safely aboard a sea going vessel such as a Hopper Dredge.
• Wash the deck, chip away paint and rust, putty holes and crevices, apply primer and finish coats. Paint.
• Act as a Deckhand on a small work boat under the supervision of the Boat Operator.
• This is a 24 hour a day job, that call-outs during the middle of the night for repairs or fog related look-out watches are a possibility.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a Deckhand (Dual Rate) without more than normal supervision. You must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), Seafarer Unlimited (AB Unlimited) Endorsement or higher AND a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC). You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials or you may be rated ineligible. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating. IAW NPPR 690-1-530 you may intermittently perform higher paying duties in a dual rate position provided you obtain and maintain appropriate US Coast Guard licenses/certifications. Physical Effort: Work requires moderate physical effort. Lifts and carries equipment and supplies normally up to 45 lbs. and occasionally over 45 lbs. Work requires prolonged standing, walking and climbing, all of which can cause exertion of the lower back. The employee must maintain good lower back physical condition. Incumbent must possess color and depth perception and be able to see by low visibility conditions in order to perform duties. Working Conditions: Exposed to extremes of weather conditions, heat, and noise. There is danger of slippery decks and drowning. Must wear appropriate safety gear and protective clothing as required, and comply with sound safety practices. May be exposed to hot pipes, escaping steam and the effects of acids, solvents, and paint.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/16/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13054210). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.