Maritime Operations Specialist

GSD says; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

GSD is inviting applications for the position of Maritime Operations Specialist in Charlotte, N.C. This full-time role involves coordinating logistics for humanitarian missions, ensuring seamless deployments, and traveling internationally to assist communities in crisis. Ideal candidates will have experience in maritime operations and a relevant background in logistics or emergency management.

Benefits

Up to 25 days of accrued vacation

Medical, Dental and Vision coverage

Group Life and AD&D Coverage

Retirement options with company match

Matches on Qualified 529 Plans

Up to 80 hours of annual sick leave

Qualifications

• Three years of relevant experience in maritime coordination, operations support, or logistics.
• Experience supporting field deployments or vessel logistics preferred.
• Certification in project management is desired.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate logistics and support operations for humanitarian missions.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure operational readiness.
• Maintain awareness of operational schedules and crew rosters.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Familiarity with maritime operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marine operations, logistics, emergency management, or a related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Airtable

Job description

*** Unable to provide sponsorship at this time. Only considering persons eligible to work in the United States.

Global Support and Development is seeking to hire a Maritime Operations Specialist within our Operations and Planning section. The position is full-time and located at HQ in Charlotte, N.C.

Ready to get underway in a career that's anything buy ordinary? Ever dreamed of a job where your office might be a ship, your travel itinerary includes diverse international locations, and your daily work directly impacts communities in crisis? At Global Support and Development (GSD), we're not just offering a job; we're inviting you to join a mission.

We're on the lookout for a Maritime Operations Specialist to be the operational heartbeat of our vital Humanitarian Vessel. This isn't your typical 9-to-5; it's a chance to truly make waves by coordinating complex logistics, ensuring seamless deployments, and bridging the critical gap between our land-based headquarters and our life-saving maritime operations.

If you're a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a dynamic environment and is eager to contribute to rapid response and disaster preparedness, then grab your passport – this Charlotte-based role comes with exciting international travel and the profound satisfaction of knowing your work helps build resilience across the Caribbean, Central America, and South Pacific.

GSD offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Up to 25 days of accrued vacation
• Up to 80 hours of annual sick leave
• Up to 80 hours of Military Pay and 30 Days Differential
• Medical, Dental and Vision (GSD covers monthly premium)
• Group Life and AD&D Coverage (GSD covers monthly premium)
• Retirement (Pre and Post Tax Options) and a Company Match
• Matches on Qualified 529 Plans
• Up to 14 Paid Holidays

Want to know more? Read below for additional responsibilities and qualifications.

1. Maintain awareness of HV status, crew rosters, GSD staff travel, and operational schedule alignment between Maritime Department and the Operations and Plans Department;
2. Coordinate the embarkation and support of GSD staff, mission teams, and partners aboard the HV;
3. Support readiness processes including tracking vessel capabilities, onboarding checklists, and internal preparedness tasks;
4. Collaborate with Logistics, Medical, Security, and Maritime departments to ensure all necessary inputs are integrated into operational planning;
5. Update and manage schedule deconfliction within the GOS and daily ops syncs;
6. Participate in routine planning syncs and report out maritime-related risks, constraints, and upcoming activities;
7. Contribute to documentation of SOPs and process improvements related to HV coordination;
8. Prompt and action GSD’s core values of accountability, humility, and integrity in all work we conduct;
9. Promote good stewardship of financial and other resources to achieve maximum benefit to those impacted by disaster or at risk of impact; and
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Experience:

• Three (3) years of relevant experience in maritime coordination, operations support, or logistics; and
• Experience supporting field deployments, readiness activities, or vessel logistics preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marine operations, logistics, emergency management, or a related field; or
• Equivalent experience and training.

Professional Licenses/Certifications:

• Certification in project management is desired.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Familiarity with maritime operations or vessel-based deployment coordination;
• Strong organizational and time management skills - ability to manage evolving schedules;
• Ability to work across departments and support multiple concurrent planning processes;
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and collaboration tools such as Airtable or dashboard platforms;
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills; and
• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• At this time, GSD is not offering sponsorship and is only accepting applications from persons eligible to work in the United States; and
• Routine domestic and international travel up to 40% is required.

GSD prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of all of our staff members. All employees are expected to follow strict safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required and adherence to safety regulations (maritime, and other), to mitigate risks.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and North Carolina state law, GSD will provide reasonable accommodation for a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship or a direct threat to the health and/or safety of the individual or others.

These working conditions and physical demands are described to provide a clear understanding of the nature of the role, including the essential deployment responsibilities that may be necessary, to ensure that potential candidates are well-prepared for the challenging and demanding nature of the duties and realities of disaster response work. GSD is not able to reasonably predict when or whether it will become necessary to deploy an employee in this position for disaster response work. Such decisions are made as circumstances arise to meet organizational needs, and employees in this role are therefore expected to be able to fulfill disaster response work responsibilities.

Working Conditions During Non-Deployment Periods

• Work is performed in an office setting and is generally sedentary, but may involve movement (e.g., walking, standing or otherwise being mobile throughout the office) for brief periods of time;
• Ability to use hands, reach, and independently lift and move items weighing up to 20pounds, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects;
• Ability to bend and stoop;
• Ability to sit and view a computer screen for extended periods of time;
• Ability to demonstrate manual dexterity to operate computer and other office equipment;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others.

Working Conditions During Deployment Periods (Including Rapid Response)

• May be regularly exposed to and required to work in varying outdoor weather conditions, including extreme heat or cold, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events;
• May be required to engage in irregular travel and / or work schedules, which may include extended hours exceeding 8 or 12 hours in a day for prolonged periods outside of the control of the individual;
• While wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which is required and provided by GSD:
  • Work may be conducted near moving mechanical parts, which could include exposure to loud noises;
  • Work may be conducted near and include potential exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals; or
  • Work may be conducted in areas that include exposure to the risk of electrical shock or vibration.
• Ability to obtain necessary travel documents and fulfill any other travel requirements (including an active passport, visa requirements, vaccinations, etc.);
• This role may include deployments to support natural disaster response efforts within hazardous, dynamic, and unstable environments (economically/environmentally) in pre- and post- disaster scenarios, which could include, among other conditions: lack of access to medical care, exposure to critical incidents (including severe injury, death, traumatic encounters, and/or mental strain), and uncommon sleeping arrangements (i.e. not in a hotel, could include close living quarters and cohabitation);
• GSD’s nutritional environment contains milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat products. Ability to make dietary accommodations may be limited. Potential exposure to food borne allergens; and
• Employees may be required for this role to work upon our Humanitarian Vessel for up to 30 consecutive days. The vessel’s working environment entails performing in conditions inherent to vessel travel, including but not limited to: steep and narrow stairs and living spaces, close quarters including cohabitation, sharp surfaces, metal gangways and ladders, heavy doors, European-type plugs and wiring (220-240v, 60Hz) which cannot support all American appliances, in addition to bright and flashing lights, loud noises, nuts and shellfish exposure, poor weather, movements which can trigger motion sickness, and / or limited access to hospital / definitive care. This setting involves various sea conditions, including but not limited to rough seas, adverse weather, and potential for sea sickness.

Physical Demands During Non-Deployment Periods

• Ability to perform work indoors in an office environment;
• Ability to work a varied schedule to complete projects and meet deadlines in response to changing demands;
• Ability to travel to attend meetings, industry or professional association conferences and stay overnight as required.

Physical Demands During Deployment Periods

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for up to 50% of the time;
• Ability to regularly engage in manual dexterity;
• [FOR VESSEL] Essential physical requirements (depending on job description requirements) may also include climbing, balancing, reaching or stretching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling;
• Ability to frequently move lift, push, pull, carry items weighing up to 20 pounds for various needs;
• Ability to observe details at a close range (within a few feet of the observer), and the ability to communicate information and ideas so that others will understand (must also be able to exchange accurate information in these situations);
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description reflects an assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Other duties and tasks may be assigned to this job at GSD’s discretion.

Work Authorization Requirements: GSD participates in E-verify, an internet-based system that allows employers to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Our participation in E-Verify is in compliance with federal law and is limited to the use of E-Verify for employment eligibility verification only. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9.

This job description is a summary rather than a detailed list of the duties performed. The essential functions, knowledge, skills, and working conditions may change along with business needs. This job description does not constitute a contract between employer and employee as employment is at will. Global Support and Development provides reasonable accommodations to assist qualified individuals in order to perform the essential functions their job requires.

GSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and embraces all candidates regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), nation of origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military/veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

GSD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all candidate selections.