Damage Control Officer — Lead Shipboard Readiness

Sealift Command; United States; Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment incentive

Job summary

Sealift Command is seeking a Damage Control Officer (CIVMAR) to train, inspect, and advise on damage control across MSC vessels worldwide. Responsibilities include developing training materials, conducting courses, and supporting readiness with shipboard drills and investigations.

The role requires extensive maritime credentials and the ability to sail 30–45 days per year, with a recruitment incentive for eligible selectees.

Qualifications

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Willing to sail 30–45 days annually.
• Candidates must meet federal and maritime credential requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop/revise training instructions and guides for damage control.
• Conduct training courses, participate in afloat training teams.
• Inspect ships, perform casualty investigations, and write reports.
• Provide technical advice on damage control issues and maintain facilities.

Job description

Announcement opens continuously from 10/01/2026, with periodic cut-offs.

Average Annual Salary: $182,014 + up to a $11,418 BONUS

This is the average annual salary not the base pay featured in the job opportunity announcement. All calculations include CIVMAR total take-home pay (including overtime, penalty, etc.).

DUTIES

A recruitment incentive is authorized for eligible selectees and requires a service agreement. Please visit: https://sealiftcommand.com/recruitment-bonus for details. Incentive is paid as a lump sum at the beginning of employment with the Command. Mixed Work Schedule, VEOA candidates and Annuitants selected for employment are not eligible for recruitment incentives.

The Damage Control Officer is a Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) employed by the Navy to serve the Military Sealift Command (MSC) onboard naval auxiliaries and hybrid-maned warships worldwide, in peace and war. MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations. MSC provides on time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, in contested or uncontested environments.

Damage Control Officers (DCOs) conduct training based upon MSC and USCG training requirements, ship drills, ship inspections and/or casualty investigations for the MSC civil service marine workforce. They may be assigned to a MSC training center, field site, or on an Afloat Training Team. Duties include, but are not limited to developing/revising training instructions, guides, etc.; participating/conducting training courses; participating in or assisting afloat training teams; acting as safety supervisor during field exercises, conducting inspections and drills aboard ships; writing instructional, investigation and/or inspection reports with recommendations; providing technical advice on damage control issues; and/or maintaining and repairing school facilities and equipment as necessary. DCOs also represent MSC interests at conferences germane to MSC training and readiness. DCOs report to a Damage Control Leader. Candidates selected required to sail 30-45 days on annual basis during high relief request seasons and mission contingencies. When assigned to a ship, DCO comes under the administrative supervision of the ship’s Master.

Masters and Department heads may add to these duties to clarify specific shipboard tasks.

Everything in this Position Description is considered to be an essential function of this position. Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:Must be a United States citizen of at least 18 years of age and possess and maintain:

• U.S. Regular Passport (also referred to as a tourist or blue passport) with minimum of ten (10) months of expiration date.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration.
• United States Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner’s Credential (MMC), with a minimum of ten months remaining of expiration date.
• United States Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Certificate without any Limitations/Restrictions, with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration date.

Position Specific Requirements:• Applicants must possess credentials that will allow them to serve in seagoing positions, minimally, as either Chief Mate or First Assistant Engineer aboard MSC CIVMAR manned vessels. Therefore, each must have a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as:• Master or Chief Mate (Any Gross Tons upon Oceans) or Chief Engineer or First Assistant Engineer (Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine vessels of Any Horsepower).• STCW Certificate that should accompany the Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC).• Able Seafarer - Deckor• Able Seafarer - Engine

Applicants with an Engineer's license must also possess at Universal EPA Ozone Depleting Substances certificate. Applicants with a Deck license must also possess a current Radar Observer endorsement.

Although not required for consideration, candidates that hold Tankerman PIC (person in charge)/DL (dangerous liquids), or the appropriate Towing credentials as specified in 46 CFR 15.805(a)(5), Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR), possess credentials or certificates demonstrating proficiency with unusual and technical shipboard operations systems and programs such as Dynamic Positioning (DP) Systems, salvage operations, cable operations, command ship operations, or foreign naval auxiliary operations shall provide that information on the Application form.