OCEAN - Public Health Officer

Viking; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Viking is seeking a Public Health Officer to lead infection prevention and public health practices aboard our cruise vessels. You will train crew, oversee disease surveillance, COVID-19/ILI/AGE responses, and collaborate with Hotel, Medical, Deck, and Engine teams to maintain strict health standards.

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s in Public Health or related field with 4–5 years of public health and shipboard experience, fluency in English, and strong leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or related field required.
• Minimum 4–5 years of Public Health, Infection Prevention and Vessel sanitation experience.
• Shipboard leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead shipboard Public Health compliance, training, and verification of SOPs.
• Oversee disease surveillance, infection prevention and water safety program areas.
• Coordinate with Hotel, Medical, Deck & Engine departments and report to Captain.

Skills

Public Health Leadership

Infection Prevention

Shipboard Operations

Data Reporting

English Fluency

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Onboard Sea Care EHR

Job description

Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a global leader in experiential travel with a fleet of more than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Executive Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans five years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure —no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications.

A VIKING LEADERSHIP ROLE

PURPOSE OF POSITION

• The Public Health Officer ensures smooth, efficient, and compliant operations from all Public Health related aspects with Hotel, Medical and Deck & Engine Departments
• It is your responsibility to lead all Public Health related actions onboard, in cooperation with other departments on the vessel to maintain the highest Public Health Standards
• The Public Health Officer has the primary function of leading, training, oversight, implementation, and verification of compliance and applications, in the process of maintaining Public Health and Safety Standards, Protocols and Procedures Onboard

Your Responsibilities

General

• Drive shipboard compliance and commitment to the highest Public Health standards in the areas of Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Infectious illnesses, Food Safety, Potable & Recreational Water Safety, and Integrated Pest Management through structured audits, training, and effective communication
• Oversee compliance with the ship’s COVID-19 Response Plan and report findings to the Captain onboard and Fleet Public Health Manager ashore
• Train our current Public Health Crew onboard continuously to ensure world-class Public Health operations
• In collaboration with ship Leadership, ensure that preparations for USPH (US arrivals) are thoroughly completed to exceed standards measured by the Inspections

Onboard Infection Prevention Control System Committee Operations

• Responsible for professional and effective Cross-functional IPCS Committee operations, required meeting preparations, Minutes of the Meetings, reporting this duty directly to Captain onboard who is the Chair of the Onboard IPCS (Infection Prevention and Control) and Committee

Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control

• Oversee the implementation and monitor compliance with shipboard prevention and control activities at all response levels including for COVID-19, AGE (Acute Gastro Enteritis), ILI (Influenza-like Illness) and other communicable diseases, but specific to the updated Covid-19 Manual
• Provides regular reports to shipboard and shoreside leadership outlining illness status and operational preparedness and response, during Elevated illness response levels

Onboard Operations Development related to Public Health

• Manage and lead assigned Public Health related deployment projects onboard
• Function as an asset and provide support to individual process owners, for all other areas of Public Health compliance

Galley-Food, Beverage, And Restaurant Operation

• Oversee the cleaning schedule for food handling areas and verify its functionality
• Review and oversee: Cooling Potentially Hazardous Food; Time and Temperature control system; Transportation and Protection of Food; Cooking process; Thawing; Storage and Arrangement; Temperature monitoring; Allergens; Calibration Management; Chemical Management; cleaning and maintenance; Chemical management and storage; Beer lines sanitation; Food protection; Waste disposal/handling

Housekeeping/Public Areas

• Oversee the correct and safe storage, par levels, condition and use of all infection control related PPE, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and other supplies and related equipment, and that all crew always wear the appropriate and task specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required for their duties onboard
• Oversee and review: Cabin cleaning; Bedbug inspection; Steward Lockers/Pantry Maintenance; Temperature monitoring; Shower head disinfection; Hit squad teams (cleaning and management process); Outbreak emergency lockers; Protein spills (acknowledgement records); Rarely used water outlet maintenance; Restroom maintenance good working order; and Solution levels (dispensing units)

Integrated Pest Management

• Oversee the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program implementation and compliance onboard the vessel and ensure Departmental inspections are conducted and recorded appropriately
• Act as the main contact point in any IPM related matters with our selected IPM Partner

SPA, Medical And Onboard Laboratories

Oversee Medical Cleaning/Sanitation/Sterilization/Waste management; Close contact tracing; Communicable diseases (SeaCare monitoring); Communicable disease questionnaires (AGE, ARI, ILI, CLI); Hand checks

Maintenance And Air Treatment

• Oversee together with the individual heads of departments all the facilities and equipment cleanliness & maintenance issues to ensure compliance with applicable Public Health standards: Galley, Food & Beverage, Restaurants and Bars, Housekeeping, Public areas, Medical Center, and Onboard Laboratory
• Oversee the HVAC System maintenance and disinfection, filter exchanges and replacement sanitation procedures conducted

Potable Water And Recreational Water Facilities

• Review and oversee Potable Water Facilities: Monthly water sampling; Potable Water Bunkering/Analysis; Quarterly Water Testing/Analysis via external providers; Water production procedures; Relevant Systems maintenance (Tanks/Pipes); Cross connection plans
• Review and Oversee Recreational Water Facilities: Biofilm removal; Chemistry Maintenance monitoring; System maintenance and disinfection (hair restrainer, filter inspection, drain covers); Super chlorination; Fecal Incident halogenation/discharge and Flow maintenance and work with both the Hotel and Technical Departments onboard to implement corrective actions and/or close the facilities when values are out of range

Provisions Operations And Waste Management

• Periodically monitor and inspect all loading in coordination with the provision team from the pier to ship ensuring that all items are of the highest quality and at the proper temperature, and oversee that all receiving parties onboard, conduct their incoming shipment for pest inspections, prior to boarding
• Oversee the garbage segregation on the vessel under IMO, Annex V of MARPOL regulation and integrated as per Viking’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Public Health Trainings Onboard

• Work with the Fleet Public Health Manager/Trainer to improve and standardize Viking Public Health Academy concept and training contents
• In conjunction with all relevant Department Heads, continuously train onboard Public Health Supervisors, Kitchen Stewards and Viking Crew on Sanitation and Public Health topics and retain all necessary training records

Inspections, Audits and Non-Conformity Handling

• Prepare the vessel for all External Audits in cooperation with our Audit Partner(s), other Public Health related Partners as well as Viking internal functions and aid internal and external auditors during public health audits
• Conduct, plan and execute Public Health related Internal Audits and possible Corrective Actions documentation, follow-up, and implementation activities to verify compliance with applicable requirements

Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures

• Assist Fleet Public Health Manager to centrally govern, manage changes and developments for the main Public Health related Manuals ( COVID-19 Operations Manual & Response Plan , OPRP, Health and Sanitation Manual, General Water Safety Plan, etc.)
• Oversee coordinated implementation of any new Public Health related protocols or processes on board, ensuring all Department Heads are well versed with their Public Health roles and responsibilities.

Service Provider Management

• Responsible for Operational Management of selected Public Health Service Provider Accounts Onboard, (Inventory levels of PPE, Sanitation Chemicals, PH responses Related Hardware, Water Testing, etc.)

This document describes the primary activities, duties, and responsibilities of this position. Your manager or supervisor may assign additional duties and responsibilities to you.

Your Profile

Education

• A required minimum of 4 - 5 years of experience in Public Health, Infection Prevention and Control and Vessel sanitation as Public Health Officer onboard a Cruise Vessel
• A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Public Health, Environmental Health, Biological Sciences, or closely related field is required

Experience

• A strong background around Public Health in all relevant areas is required. This includes Infection Prevention and Control, Waste Management, Sanitation, Food safety, Potable Water Safety, IPM, Recreational Water Safety, Microbiology, Manual and Mechanical ware washing, Housekeeping, Provision Operations and Onboard Outbreak Control Coordination
• Attendance of the USPH Vessel Sanitation Program seminar with certification, Infection Control Certification, SHIPSAN certification and IPM certification are preferred
• Shipboard experience is required
• An advanced knowledge of International Public Health Regulations is required
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• An effective leader with passion and vision to optimize Public Health Principles onboard
• Strong multi-tasking, organizational planning, and problem-solving skills, flexible, stress resistant, committed team player with strong administration skills are preferred
• Comfortable presenting to small and large groups
• Strong verbal and written communication as well as interpersonal skills to develop trusting relationships
• Fluent in English - the ability to speak additional languages is an advantage
• Meet all physical requirements, including the ability to participate in emergency life-saving drills and required training

Technical Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint etc.
• Experience with Onboard Sea Care electronic healthcare record platform preferred

GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS

• Implement Standard Operating Procedures & STAR Service Standards within the department.
• Ensure appropriate appearance and clothing according to the updated Grooming Standards.
• The company reserves the right to change/extend this job description, if necessary, at any point of time during her/his employment.

Position: Public Health Officer

Onboard Supervisor: Captain

Shoreside Supervisor: Public Health Management

DISCLAIMER

As part of any recruitment process, Viking collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. We are committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection obligations. If you would like to find out more about how your information will be used, please view the privacy notice on our careers page.