Port Officer Trainee

Massachusetts Port Authority; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 3,549,000 - 4,102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work life balance

Supportive culture

Opportunities for growth

Safe, secure work environment

Community impact

Job summary

Massachusetts Port Authority is seeking a Port Officer Trainee to join the Massport Police Department. You will patrol Massport sites, monitor vessel activity, enforce laws, and manage access to facilities, contributing to a safe and secure port environment.

This role offers a clear career path from trainee to officer with academy training and competitive weekly pay, plus opportunities in bike patrol, tactical training, and community outreach.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and eligibility for MA firearm license.

Responsibilities

• Patrol Massport areas and monitor vessel activity to enforce laws and regulations.
• Secure facilities via access control, perimeter inspection, and threat identification.
• Provide first aid, foster partnerships, regulate parking and pedestrian flow.
• Conduct investigations, prepare reports, protect sensitive security information.

Skills

Firearm license

Driver's license

Police training eligibility

First aid awareness

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Massachusetts Port Authority is Going Above and Beyond™ for your career. We are a dynamic organization that connects people and businesses to the global community by air, land, and sea. Our employees are essential in moving planes, cargo, and cruise ships safely, efficiently, and sustainably. We are an economic engine, managing real estate assets where people live, work, and play. Together, the properties we own and operate generate $20 billion for the region’s economy.

The Massport Police Department is committed to delivering exceptional law enforcement and security services across Massachusetts Port Authority facilities, including maritime terminals, parks, and designated areas of the Seaport District. With a steadfast commitment to integrity, professionalism, and respect, our mission is to prevent crime, protect life and property, and ensure public safety and regulatory compliance. In close collaboration with Port Partners and stakeholders, we engage in proactive patrols, specialized units, and community-focused initiatives to support Massport's operational excellence and foster a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all who travel through and work within our facilities.

ABOUT YOU

As a Port Officer Trainee (Bargaining Unit, Local Union No. 170), you are grounded, reliable, and deeply committed to the safety and well-being of others. Guided by a strong moral compass, you consistently act with integrity, even under pressure or uncertainty. By upholding laws and security protocols at high-profile facilities, you work closely with community partners to maintain safety. You’ll become part of a skilled police force dedicated to regulatory compliance and building public trust, with opportunities to specialize in areas like bicycle patrol, tactical training, and community outreach—contributing to a secure and thriving port environment.

What you will do:

• Protect lives and property through patrolling Massport areas, monitoring vessel activity, and enforcing laws, rules, and regulations.
• Secure facilities by managing access control, inspecting perimeters, challenging suspicious behavior, and removing unauthorized individuals.
• Provide crime prevention information, foster community partnerships, administer first aid, and regulate parking and pedestrian flow.
• Conduct investigations, prepare reports, safeguard sensitive security information, and assist with mutual aid operations as needed.

What you offer:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• Valid and current driver's license unrestricted except for corrective lenses and automatic transmission.
• Ability to obtain a Massachusetts License to carry a firearm.
• Ability to attend and successfully complete the firearms training program.
• Ability to qualify with the firearm annually.

Eligibility through one of the following pathways:

• Law Enforcement:

  Successful completion of a Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) certified basic police Recruit Officer Course, the Mass. State Police SSPO Academy, or successful completion of the Massachusetts Bridge Academy (MPTC) and obtained POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) Certification. Those who have completed an out-of-state full-time recruit academy must have 2 years' full time law enforcement experience to be eligible for permanent exemption from the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC).

• Police Academy:

  Candidates must meet the physical fitness standards to attend a police academy, successfully complete all course requirements of said police academy, and obtain POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) Certification in order to be employed.

  Preference will be given to candidates who satisfy one of the following criteria:

  • Military Experience: A minimum of 2 years' Military experience that must include the areas of Military Police/Special Forces, Installation Access Control, or Entry Control Points.
  • Associates or Bachelors Degree: An Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Cybersecurity, or Public Administration preferred.

Compensation

Recruit Officer: $1,000.00 weekly, effective upon your date of hire, while attending the Police Academy. Upon successful completion of the academy and POST Certification, your salary will increase to $1,650.00 weekly.

Port Officer Trainee: $1,650.00 weekly.

Port Officer Trainee/EMT: $1,733.00 weekly.

WHAT WE OFFER

Collaboration with colleagues at all levels of leadership from all different disciplines, from Aviation to Maritime and beyond. Every day is different at Massport and the breadth of our impact on the Massachusetts region through our facilities provides many opportunities for our employees to grow, learn, and explore the many areas of our business. Our business is all about connecting. We support and take pride in the employees that make those connections possible each and every day.

• Work/life balance
• A supportive and inclusive culture
• Opportunities for growth
• Providing safe, healthy, and secure work environment
• Supporting the people and businesses of New England
• Achieving results and having positive impact
• Being good neighbors in the communities we serve
• Protecting the environment