Vice President of Technical Services

At US Ocean, our success is rooted in our people. Rise to the challenges of marine transportation and logistics.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

Duties and responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Ensure the safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible operation of US Ocean vessels. 

• Provide strategic leadership for all technical operations supporting the Company's fleet. 

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Company's technical management strategy, maintenance philosophy, and asset management programs. 

• Align departmental objectives, priorities, and performance metrics with the Company's strategic goals and mission. 

• Communicate departmental goals, expectations, and performance standards to all Technical Services personnel. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence. 

• Mentor, coach, and develop Technical Services personnel while promoting succession planning and employee development. 

• Participate as a member of Senior Management in strategic planning, environmental initiatives, operational reviews, and business improvement efforts. 

• Prepare long-term capital expenditure forecasts for vessel maintenance and improvements.  

• Monitor expenditures to ensure cost-effective operations while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance. 

• Analyze maintenance costs and identify opportunities for operational savings without compromising reliability or safety. 

• Review financial reports and key performance indicators related to fleet maintenance and operating costs. 

• Maintain technical oversight of all vessel machinery, propulsion systems, auxiliary equipment, electrical systems, and hull structures. 

• Monitor vessel performance data and maintenance trends to identify opportunities for improved reliability and operational efficiency. 

• Review vessel technical reports, inspection findings, defect reports, machinery performance, and maintenance records. 

• Establish maintenance priorities based upon operational risk, regulatory requirements, equipment criticality, and budget considerations. 

• Ensure planned maintenance systems are effectively utilized and maintained across the fleet. 

• Develop standardized maintenance procedures and standard job plans to improve consistency and efficiency. 

• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs. 

• Direct root cause failure investigations and implement corrective actions to reduce repeat equipment failures. 

• Develop long-range asset preservation and lifecycle management strategies. 

• Develop, administer, and monitor annual technical operating budgets. 

• Responsible for maintenance, repair, and vessel operating expenses. 

• Develop long-term dry dock schedules and strategic shipyard planning. 

• Oversee the planning, budgeting, bidding, execution, and close-out of dry dock projects. 

• Prepare technical specifications and work scopes for shipyard periods. 

• Lead dry dock bid evaluations and contractor selection. 

• Negotiate contracts and administer shipyard agreements. 

• Monitor project schedules, budgets, change orders, and contractor performance. 

• Ensure all projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards. 

• Oversee major vessel modifications, retrofits, equipment upgrades, and capital improvement projects. 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable international, federal, state, flag state, port state, and classification society requirements. 

• Support compliance with applicable requirements of: 

• U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 

• International Maritime Organization (IMO) 

• International Safety Management (ISM) Code 

• MARPOL 

• SOLAS 

• Classification Society Rules 

• Company Safety Management System (SMS) 

• Treat health, safety, security, quality, and environmental protection as core organizational values. 

• Participate in environmental planning and establish departmental objectives supporting sustainability initiatives. 

• Work closely with HSSQE to achieve company safety, environmental, and quality goals. 

• Support internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory examinations. 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with shipyards, equipment manufacturers, vendors, and marine service providers. 

• Evaluate vendor performance and technical capabilities. 

• Confirm repair vendors meet all technical, quality, and safety requirements. 

• Review contractor performance during maintenance and repair projects. 

• Negotiate service agreements and technical contracts. 

• Ensure procurement activities comply with Company purchasing policies. 

• Conduct routine vessel visits to monitor fleet condition and provide technical leadership. 

• Promote positive professional relationships with vessel Masters, Chief Engineers, officers, and crews. 

• Convene safety meetings during vessel visits and communicate management priorities. 

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to vessel personnel. 

• Assist vessels with troubleshooting complex mechanical and operational issues. 

• Ensure deficiencies are documented, prioritized, and resolved in a timely manner. 

• Demonstrate visible leadership in promoting a proactive safety culture. 

• Review vessel safety meeting minutes and provide guidance and follow-up as appropriate. 

• Participate in incident investigations involving vessel equipment or technical systems. 

• Support emergency response planning and equipment readiness. 

• Ensure maintenance activities comply with Company safety policies and applicable regulations. 

• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for fleet reliability, maintenance effectiveness, equipment availability, dry dock performance, and budget management. 

• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance processes through technology, predictive maintenance tools, condition monitoring, and data analytics. 

• Lead initiatives that improve vessel reliability, reduce downtime, and optimize lifecycle costs. 

• Support implementation of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and fleet management software enhancements. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veteran/Disabled

US Ocean. Your Mission. Our Momentum.