AMHS - Steward

State of Alaska; Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 32,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid leave

Job summary

Alaska Marine Highway System is seeking a Steward to ensure a safe, welcoming experience for passengers aboard Alaska State Ferries. You will assist in galley, dining areas, staterooms, and public spaces while upholding high standards of service and safety across Alaska’s coastal routes.

Expect a dynamic, 24/7 marine work environment with two-week rotations, benefiting from health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave as part of AMHS staffing.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• MMC and TWIC required within six months of hire.
• Alaska residency may be considered for eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, welcoming passenger experience aboard AMHS.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and ensure passenger safety.
• Perform galley, dining room, crew mess, staterooms, and public areas duties aboard ferries.

Skills

Food Service

Customer Service

Computer Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Physical Strength

Education

High school diploma

Job description

ATTENTION ALL ALASKA RESIDENTS!

Set sail on a career where your office is on the Alaska coastline and every day brings new scenery and new people. As a Steward with the Alaska Marine Highway System, you’ll be part of the crew that keeps communities connected while delivering a great experience to every passenger onboard.

Salary Schedules for Probationary Steward are as follows:

Southwest (SW) Route:
Resident: $27.78 / hourly (OT Eligible)
Non-Resident: $23.28 / hourly (OT Eligible)

Southeast (SE) Route:
Resident: $30.22 / hourly (OT Eligible)
Non-Resident: $25.27 / hourly (OT Eligible)

Once Probation is complete, salary schedules are as follows:

Southwest (SW) Route:
Resident: $30.52 / hourly (OT Eligible)
Non-Resident: $26.52 / hourly (OT Eligible)

Southeast (SE) Route:
Resident: $33.23 / hourly (OT Eligible)
Non-Resident: $28.84 / hourly (OT Eligible)

What you will be doing:

As a Steward, you will help create a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for our passengers aboard Alaska State Ferries in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. You will provide exceptional customer service and help ensure safety of our passengers and fellow crew members while performing tasks in the galley, dining room or cafeteria, crew/officer mess, staterooms, and public areas aboard the ferries.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a vital part of the State of Alaska’s transportation network, connecting coastal communities that are not accessible by road. As part of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, AMHS plays a critical role in keeping Alaska moving, supporting residents, businesses, and visitors through safe and reliable marine service.

Our mission is to provide essential transportation services that strengthen Alaska’s communities, promote economic opportunity, and ensure safe, efficient travel across the state’s coastal regions.

At AMHS, our culture is built on teamwork, service, and pride in what we do. Life at sea requires a strong commitment to safety, accountability, and supporting one another in a dynamic, 24/7 environment. We value employees who are adaptable, hardworking, and dedicated to serving the public. Whether working behind the scenes or directly with passengers, every crew member contributes to delivering a positive and professional experience onboard.

The benefits of joining our team:

Joining the Alaska Marine Highway System offers more than just a job -it’s an opportunity to be part of something that truly connects Alaska.

As a Steward, you will:

• Travel throughout the beautiful and diverse State of Alaska, experiencing coastal communities and scenery few people get to see…
• Be part of a system that Alaskans rely on every day, building meaningful connections with your shipmates, passengers, and local communities…
• Receive State of Alaska benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave…
• Build a long-term career with opportunities for training, skills development, and workforce advancement

This is a unique opportunity to earn a living while exploring Alaska, developing your skills, and being part of a team that keeps our communities connected.

The working environment you can expect:

Working aboard AMHS means operating in a dynamic, fast-paced marine environment across Alaska’s coastal routes, where schedules, locations, and crew rotations are driven by vessel operations.

The Alaska Marine Highway System operates across two distinct service regions. The Southeast (SE) route serves communities between Bellingham, Washington, and Skagway, Alaska, and is the primary operating area for most vessels. The Southwest (SW) route serves more remote communities between Cordova and the Aleutian Chain and has a smaller relief pool.

AMHS vessel operations run 24/7, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Employees are typically assigned to 2 week-on/week-off rotation, working an average of 84 hours per week while onboard. Daily schedules may range from 8 to 12 hours and can include split shifts. Crew stays in shared quarters and meals are provided at the crew and officers’ mess. Vessel assignments are managed by dispatch, and daily duties are directed by vessel supervisors. Flexibility is essential, as vessels, schedules, and duties may vary by assignment.

Crew change locations are as follows:

Southeast (SE):Ketchikan, Juneau

Southwest (SW):Homer, Valdez

All vessel employees, as Merchant Mariners, are subject to a wide spectrum of State, Federal, and International Maritime regulations. As a state employee, you will be a "public agent" who is trusted by the State of Alaska to conduct their job with the highest level of ethics while serving the public. AMHS is a Drug and Alcohol-Free workplace and has a strictly enforced Drug & Alcohol Policy.

Who we are looking for:

To be successful in this position, the selected applicant will possess the following core competencies:

• Food Service:Knowledge of preparing and serving food for consumption.
• Customer Service:Anticipatesand meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
• Computer Skills:Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
• Physical Strength and Agility:Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.

To view the general description and example of duties for Stewards at AMHS, please go to the following link: Steward | Class Specifications

Required Qualifications for Application:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• High school diploma (or equivalent)

Conditional Qualifications

The following qualifications are not required at the time of application but must be obtained within six (6) months of the job offer date as a condition of employment. Employment may not begin until all qualifications below have been obtained.

• Valid U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued Merchant Mariner’s Credential (MMC)
• Valid Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC)(color copy)
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an Alaska Food Worker Card.
• If over the age of 21, must be eligible to obtain and maintain an Alcohol Server Training (TAPS Card)
• Current DOT Drug Test (within the last 6 months)

Preferred Qualifications

Applicants may begin work without the qualifications listed below; however, work assignments may be limited to specific vessels, watch assignments, or duties until the required qualifications are obtained:

• Emergency Medical Response Training
• Lifeboatman Training and/or Endorsement

**NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY**

ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY

Please be sure to check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (Upon final hire offer)

Employees are required to hold and maintain several maritime and service industry certifications before they can be dispatched to work onboard our ships. Applicants selected for hire will receive a conditional offeroutlining all required certifications and timelines. Required documents are not needed at the time of offer.

Candidates will have up to six (6)months to obtain and submit all required credentials. Some certifications require US Citizenship or Legal Residency and a background check. Cost associated with these documents is prospective hire’s responsibility. Once all documents are submitted and verified, a final offer will be issued, including start date and dispatch details. Our onboarding team will be available for general inquiries during this time. Below is the list of the certifications required for the entry level stewards:

• TWIC(Transportation Worker Identification Credential): Please be aware - this position requires the applicant (at their expense) to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) in compliance with federal regulations pertaining to certain maritime port facilities. All terminal and vessel employees are required to obtain a TWIC in order to work in certain restricted areas of the terminals. Information about the TWIC can be found on the TWIC information web site link, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), or call the TWIC help desk at 1-800-799-8362. If you are selected for the position, you will be required to immediately enroll/apply for the required TWIC card. The applicant selected for the position must have their TWIC card in hand in order to be unescorted within a restricted or secure area of the terminal facility.
• MMC(Merchant Mariner Credential): This position requires a MMC with Steward (FH) endorsement and Medical Certificate issued by the Division of National Maritime Center, United States Coast Guard (USCG). Please contact your nearest USCG office to obtain the MMC or go online at National Maritime Center (CG-NMC) for additional information.
• DOT 5-Panel Drug Test:Selected Candidates must comply with AMHS Drug & Alcohol Policy and procedures and cannot start work in the position until Management Services or designee has received confirmation of the proposed appointee passing the required Pre-Employment drug test within 6 months prior to new hire orientation. Test must be completed by a USCG authorized drug testing facility. **If you have recently obtained your MMC, D&A Test results should be included in your MMC documents**
• Alaska Food Worker Card:This card is issued by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Application is available online at Food Worker Cards | AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation
• Alcohol Server Training (TAP or TIPS):This certification is required for any crew member 21 and older. Information for obtaining this certification is available at Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported, and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or [phone] in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

For specific information about this position, please contact the hiring manager at the following:

Name:Makayln Ashbaker

Phone:[phone]
Email: [e-mail]