Dockmaster

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

PORT 32/Acme Marinas in Charleston, SC seeks a Dockmaster to greet captains, oversee docking operations, and maintain a safe, clean marina environment. You will manage dockage reservations, coordinate vessel movements, and support marina events with a strong focus on guest service and safety.

The role requires hands-on marina experience, the ability to work in a fast-paced setting, and a commitment to regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication and guest service
• Experience or familiarity with marina operations and safety practices
• Ability to multitask and manage vessel docking processes

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist captains, crew, customers, and visitors professionally
• Coordinate safe docking/undocking of vessels and manage slip assignments
• Process dockage reservations via phone, app, and email
• Ensure marina rules and safety procedures are followed
• Assist with training dock/yard staff and coordinating events

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Marina operations

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Headquartered in Charleston, SC, PORT 32/Acme Marinas owns and operates seventeen high-profile marinas. We are dedicated to elevating the boating experience and has spent over a decade in some of the country’s most popular waterfront destinations taking marinas to a higher level. At PORT 32/Acme Marinas, we believe that a marina is more than a place to store your boat. It’s the launch point for your next great adventure, your most relaxing escape, or your newest sporting discovery. We are focused on excellence and positioned for high growth as a company. We seek intellectually honest, highly motivated, and dynamic individuals who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to their work.

About the Role

The Dockmaster serves as the ambassador for the marina and is the first person with whom a customer will interact. The Dockmaster is responsible for the safe mooring of vessels, general operation of the docks, assisting boaters, and maintaining a safe and clean environment throughout the harbor and marina facilities. The Dockmaster provides a high level of customer service and supports the member’s experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Greet and assist captains, crew members, customers, guests, and visitors in a professional, friendly, and accommodating manner.
• Coordinate and oversee the safe and efficient docking and undocking of vessels, including directing yachts entering and departing the marina.
• Process, manage, and modify dockage reservations via phone, mobile applications, and email.
• Determine slip availability and vessel placement while maximizing marina occupancy, revenue potential, and vessel turnover.
• Evaluate the specific requirements and circumstances of each vessel, including vessel dimensions, beam, draft, shore power requirements, service needs, guest activity, events, and length of stay.
• Collect and maintain required dockage agreements, vessel documentation, and insurance information.
• Generate transient dockage billing and ensure accurate processing of applicable charges.
• Assist yacht captains and crew with shore power, dockage needs, and other marina services.
• Ensure customers, guests, tenants, and visiting clientele comply with established marina rules, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain availability and effective communication with marina staff and customers as operational needs require, including during peak periods.
• Assist the Marina Manager with training, scheduling, supervising, and directing dock and boatyard personnel, including training on company policies, operational procedures, emergency procedures, safety practices, and equipment operation.
• Coordinate and assist with vessel haulouts, launches, dry-stack operations, and boatyard layout and vessel placement.
• Safely operate, or supervise the operation of, forklifts, boat-handling equipment, and other machinery used to haul, launch, move, store, and dry-dock vessels.
• Maintain dry-stack, dock, boatyard, and vessel-storage areas in a safe, organized, clean, and operationally efficient condition.
• Understand and ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing marina and boatyard operations, including requirements of agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, OSHA, EPA, Fire Department, Department of Labor, and other applicable regulatory authorities.
• Maintain professional working relationships with regulatory agency representatives, vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Promote and enforce a strong culture of safety for employees, customers, guests, tenants, contractors, and visitors.
• Ensure incidents, accidents, injuries, and workers’ compensation matters are documented and reported accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with company procedures.
• Oversee and assist with maintenance activities throughout the marina and boatyard to ensure facilities, docks, grounds, and equipment are maintained at a safe, functional, clean, and aesthetically appropriate standard.
• Safeguard marina assets, equipment, funds, receipts, inventory, and other company property through appropriate operational and financial controls.
• Manage or assist with fuel dock and ship store operations, including ordering, inventory control, merchandising, and daily operations.
• Follow and enforce established accounting procedures for closing and balancing cash registers, credit-card transactions, miscellaneous receipts, petty cash, and other marina funds.
• Assist the Marina Manager with the planning, coordination, marketing, and execution of marina events and identify opportunities to enhance the customer experience, promote the marina, and maximize its revenue potential.
• Maintain familiarity with the yachting and marina industry and demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to multitask, prioritize large amounts of information, remain organized and detail-oriented, and perform effectively in a fast-paced marina and boatyard environment.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Marina Manager.

Technical and Physical Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• 2-5 years’ marina experience preferred
• Ability to work safely around the water
• Must be able to swim
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Knowledge of dock construction and repair preferred
• Knowledge of basic power tools preferred

Minimum Soft Skills Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service and an understanding of customers’ needs
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills while working both independently and within a team context
• Organizational skills are a must
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize and work unsupervised
• Eager to engage in a growing, fast paced, and industry-leading company

Port 32/Acme Marinas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.