Port Director - Boston Harbor City Cruises

Hornblower Group; Hingham (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornblower Group’s City Cruises US division seeks a Port Director to oversee vessel operations, safety, and performance for assigned services. The role reports to the Director of Marine Operations and partners with the General Manager and engineers to maintain schedule adherence, budgets, and compliance across a fleet of ferries.

You will manage vessel crews, coordinate with port staff, ensure crisis plans and drills, and maintain fleet readiness for high‑speed ferries and government contracts.

Qualifications

• Master 100 Ton Near Coastal license required or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years as a maritime manager.
• Strong focus on safety and teamwork with the ability to lead crews.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for contracted ferry service guidelines and vessel performance.
• Work with General Manager and Director of Marine Operations to set goals and budgets.
• Ensure vessels are operated efficiently while considering sales, repairs, and maintenance.
• Coordinate inter-department communications for vessel tasking.
• Monitor weather impacts and notify service changes as needed.
• Lead safety meetings and drills and support crisis management.

Skills

Safety leadership

Teamwork

Effective communication

Problem solving

Crew management

Maritime operations

Safety programs

Education

Master 100 Ton Near Coastal

Tools

FCC Marine Radio Operators Permit

TWIC

Job description

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems. Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfront logistics and management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’s additional corporate offices reside in San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit hornblowercorp.com.

Position Summary

The Port Director reports directly to the Director of Marine Operations and is responsible for all aspects of their division-based vessels and any future services that originate and/or terminate at their location. The Port Director will oversee their individual managers for their respective vessel operations.

Operations

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serving as the primary contact for all guidelines of contracted ferry services which includes:
• Vessel Schedules and performance.
• Commuter issues and complaints.
• Daily weekly and monthly compliance reporting.
• Works with the General Manager and the Director of Marine Operations to develop department goals according to company guidelines, including detailing weekly/monthly budget reviews and identifying and resolving potential budgetary issues.
• Ensuring that all vessels are being utilized efficiently according to the needs of each service while being cognizant of sales, budgetary, repairs, and maintenance impacts.
• Establishes effective communications between departments to assist in the coordination of vessel tasking.
• Monitor forecasted weather conditions that could impact vessel services.
• Assist the Operations Managers with measures to mitigate impacts, and ensure proper notifications are sent for any service changes.

Safety And Maintenance

• Assists in the execution of the companies’ safety program by leading and participating in safety meetings, safety & security drills, and exercises.
• Ensures strict compliance with the Crisis Management Plan.
• Ensuring that all vessel drills are conducted and logged in accordance with USCG and the companies’ requirements.
• Assists the Director of Marine Operations and the Chief Port Engineer with preparing detailed plans of significant repairs, maintenance, and capital projects, including timelines, work hours, contingencies, and frequent revisions throughout the execution period.
• Report 60 days in advance any upcoming inspections and certification renewals to the Director of Marine Operations, Port Captain, and Chief Port Engineer, and schedule inspection dates with the USCG.
• Oversees the conditions of their service vessels, docks, and pier.
• Collaborate with the Port Captain to conduct audits of all incident/accident reports and, pursuant to findings, submit “lessons learned” as bulletin order items to be incorporated with ongoing onboard crew training.
• Ensures that all accident reports are completed promptly and accurately.

People Management

• Works to ensure compliance with all company policies.
• Ensures that Operations Managers are meeting company standards based on their individual job descriptions and areas of responsibility.
• Work with the Director of Marine Operations and Human Resources Department to help handle and resolve personnel issues.
• Set and maintain a schedule of captain crew performance evaluations, including regular ride‑along observations, one‑on‑one conversations, and safety reviews while considering manager recommendations.
• Partners with Human Resources and Talent Acquisitions to recruit, hire, train, and retain all staff within the port.
• Additional job duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master 100 Ton Near Coastal.
• Minimum 5 years with 100T Near Coastal with a satisfactory record.
• 5 years as a manager in the maritime industry.
• Valid TWIC, First Aid, and CPR.
• FCC Marine Radio Operators Permit.
• Strong focus on safety and teamwork with the ability to establish & maintain effective professional relationships and build a positive team.
• Experience with high-speed catamarans a plus.
• Detailed working knowledge of all ships’ systems and their proper maintenance.
• Prior experience working with government/municipal contracts is a plus.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems while prioritizing tasks in order of importance.
• Ability to maintain calm and take control in various situations.
• Effective communication skills to direct crew, keep passengers safe, and relay pertinent information.
• Ability to lift fifty (50) pounds.Crisis Management Training.
• Must be able to effectively understand and convey written and verbal information to coworkers and guests.
• Maintain uniform and personal grooming in compliance with appearance standards.
• Will be required to be available for work nights, weekends and on all major holidays.

#CityCruisesUS

The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.