DECK HAND

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago's Department of Water Management is seeking a Deck Hand to support tugboat operations, mooring, and routine maintenance on a city-owned vessel. This on-site role involves assisting with line handling, passenger support, fueling and equipment tasks.

Applicants must have at least three years of deckhand experience, a Merchant Mariner's Document with Able Bodied Seaman-Unlimited endorsement, and be able to perform physically demanding work. Work hours typically 0600–1430.

Qualifications

• Three years of work experience as a deckhand or crew member assisting in the operation and maintenance of a tugboat, tow boat or vessel.

Responsibilities

• Under supervision, provides manual support to assist in the operation and maintenance of a city-owned tugboat.
• Handles lines to moor vessel, tie up vessel during docking and departing operations, and to rig towing lines.
• Guides the vessel away from dock and ensures that lines are properly stowed.
• Loads and unloads supplies, materials, equipment, to and from vessels; operates a forklift as needed.
• Assists passengers boarding and departing the vessel and to the water intake cribs.
• Connects and disconnects fuel hoses and electrical lines.
• Secures the tugboat to barge for the purpose of towing and ensures barge is secured to the dock before tugboat is released.
• Signals and guides the Marine Pilot for the purpose of ensuring the safe and effective movement of the vessel during barge moves.
• Stands steering watches and lookout watches while underway.
• Assists the Marine Engineer during fuel transfer operations and in maintenance of the vessel's engine and equipment.
• Operates, maintains and repairs tugboat equipment (e.g., winches, cranes) and uses hand tools to splice and repair cables and ropes.
• Performs general housekeeping and maintenance functions (e.g., washes deck, paints superstructure, polishes metal).
• Assists Tugboat Coordinator with ice mitigation and removal.
• Instructs passengers on safe boating practices and procedures (e.g., location of survival suits, life jackets, fire extinguishers).
• Assists with buoy deployment and retrieval operations, as required.

Job description

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

DECK HAND

Job Number: 418985

Deck Hand, PR

DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT

Bureau of Water Supply - Pumping

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $45.57 p/h

These positions are open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with

Operating Engineers Local 150 (Deck Hands) (BARGAINING UNIT #19)

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Under supervision, provides manual support to assist in the operation and maintenance of a city-owned tugboat.
• Handles lines to moor vessel, tie up vessel during docking and departing operations, and to rig towing lines.
• Guides the vessel away from dock and ensures that lines are properly stowed.
• Loads and unloads supplies, materials, equipment, to and from vessels; operates a forklift as needed.
• Assists passengers boarding and departing the vessel and to the water intake cribs.
• Connects and disconnects fuel hoses and electrical lines.
• Secures the tugboat to barge for the purpose of towing and ensures barge is secured to the dock before tugboat is released.
• Signals and guides the Marine Pilot for the purpose of ensuring the safe and effective movement of the vessel during barge moves.
• Stands steering watches and lookout watches while underway.
• Assists the Marine Engineer during fuel transfer operations and in maintenance of the vessel's engine and equipment.
• Operates, maintains and repairs tugboat equipment (e.g., winches, cranes) and uses hand tools to splice and repair cables and ropes.
• Performs general housekeeping and maintenance functions (e.g., washes deck, paints superstructure, polishes metal).
• Assists Tugboat Coordinator with ice mitigation and removal.
• Instructs passengers on safe boating practices and procedures (e.g., location of survival suits, life jackets, fire extinguishers).
• Assists with buoy deployment and retrieval operations, as required.
• Cools bridge mechanisms by spraying them with cold water in hot weather to facilitate their operation, as required.
• Performs related duties as required.

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to positions within the class.

Location: Bureau of Water Supply- Pumping - 1000 East Ohio

Hours: 0600 - 1430 (On call as needed)

Days Off: Saturday and Sunday (On call as needed)
Lunch: hour.

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of work experience as a deckhand or crew member assisting in the operation and maintenance of a tugboat, tow boat or vessel.

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) with Able Bodied Seaman-Unlimited endorsement issued by the United States Coast Guard.

Assignments involving the operation of a forklift require positions to be trained and evaluated by the employer prior to the assignment, as required under OSHA standards administered by the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to extreme outdoor weather conditions (e.g., lake exposure).
• Exposure to loud noise, fumes or dust, oily or wet environment.

EQUIPMENT

• Communication equipment (e.g., two-way radio, dispatch communications equipment, multi-channel system).
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., hard hat, shoes, glasses, gloves, vest, pads).
• Handheld tools.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Heavy lifting and carrying (ranging from 75 to 100 pounds).
• Ability to walk and stand for extended or continuous periods of time.
• Ability to move one's hands and arms to grasp or manipulate objects.
• Ability to climb staircases, ladders, and/or step stools.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires an applicant to successfully complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the interview, will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio‑Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting

Sep 18, 2026, 5:00:00 AM

Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Oct 3, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

BU: 19

Salary: $45.57

Pay Basis: Yearly