JOIN ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM FOR A REWARDING MARITIME CAREER! 
Sail around the great state of Alaska while working aboard our beautiful ships! If you love to travel, meet new people or are looking for the perfect opportunity to kick start a career on the water, the Alaska Marine Highway may have the ideal opportunity for you!

Passenger service employees provide professional customer service and ensure the safety for our passengers while performing tasks in the galley, dining room or cafeteria, crew mess, staterooms and public areas aboard the ferries. AMHS offers competitive starting pay, full benefit packages that include paid leave, medical & dental coverage and retirement options, along with opportunities for advancement.

COMPENSATION
Starting pay rate is $15.60 to $20.93 per hour depending on residency and operating region. AMHS offers a progressive pay plan for advancement to higher level positions.

BENEFITS
Vessel positions qualify for number of benefits soon after their official hire (usually in 30 days). The package includes paid leave, medical and dental as well as retirement for qualified employees. Medical benefits can also be extended to an employee’s family. Visit the retirement and benefits page for more information.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

This is a public service position in government sector providing service in maritime environment. As such, strong commitment to safety, customer service and work ethics required. Food service experience and/or culinary education(cooking, table or fast food service etc.) highly preferred. Basic computer skills, especially with using Point-of-Sale systems (computerized cash registers) and Microsoft Office programs desired. Recent graduates and those with desire to build or advance a maritime career strongly encouraged to apply.

DESIRED ABILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

A genuine desire to serve the public

Positive, outgoing, professional attitude

Adaptive to learning new skills and knowledge

Ability to take directions and work within a team

Ability to interpret and follow policy & procedure

Ability to maintain composure & professional demeanor

Adaptive to changes in a progressive work environment

Excellent communications skills: verbal, non-verbal, and written

Strong conflict resolution skills and ability to work within a diverse workforce

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
High School diploma or equivalent
Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
Must be eligible to obtain a TWIC and a MMC
Must be willing to submit to a physical and drug test
Ability to perform any required duties, with or without reasonable accommodation

WORK LOCATIONS

AMHS operates in two distinctive regions. The Southeast (SE) region covers the routes between Bellingham WA and Skagway, AK. The majority of AMHS vessels operate in this region. The other, more remote and small region is the Southwest (SW) which includes the routes between Cordova and Aleutian Chain. The relief pool for the Southwest route is very small in comparison to Southeast. At this time, we are only recruiting for the SE region with Ketchikan and Juneau as the change ports (dispatch locations). Therefore a successful candidate will need to relocate to Southeast Alaska, at least for the first year of their employment and until they became eligible to bid for a permanent position on a vessel and region of their choice.

ASSIGNMENTS & SCHEDULE
AMHS vessel operations is a 24/7 work environment with variable assignments. AMHS dispatch department handles all vessel assignment related matters. In general, you will be assigned to a vessel on a week on/week off schedule, working an average of 84 hours per week. Longer assignments are possible, especially on the Southwest region; however as explained above the SW region has a very small relief pool and therefore is not ideal for new hires. Your daily schedule during your vessel assignments may vary from 8 hours to 12 hours and you may be asked to work split shifts. Onboard department heads delegates your tasks based on the position you were assigned by the Dispatch. You may also be asked to switch/upgrade positions during your assignment(s). Schedules are posted bon a by-weekly basis. Employees must have access to internet to check their emails and a working phone with voice mail activated in order to receive messages from Dispatch and other departments.

LIFE ONBOARD

This is a fast-paced and dynamic work environment with a very diverse workforce. Room and board is provided while on assignment (select vessels only). Crew stays in shared quarters and meals are provided at crew mess on most vessels. AMHS is a substance-free workplace and has a strictly enforced Drug & Alcohol Policy. Failure to adhere our Drug & Alcohol Policy will lead to termination of employment.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
AMHS operations are governed by State, Federal and International maritime regulations, which means that new employees must obtain a number of certifications before they are eligible to work on an AMHS vessel. Obtaining required certifications can take some time depending on the issuing agency. AMHS recruits several months in advance of our busy summer season to allow new hires time to complete the documentation process. Applicants who do not already possess a valid copy of the required certifications must be willing to obtain them at their own expense. Some certifications require US Citizenship or Legal Residency (e.g. TWIC & MMC) and a background check. Failure to provide required certifications prior to official hire will lead to cancellation of the job offer. Below is the list of the certification required prior to official hire:
 

1. TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential): This credential is issued by Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security. The ability to obtain this credential will require a criminal history/background check. The application process takes several weeks and must be started before applying for the MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential). More information is available at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic

    

2. MMC (Merchant Mariner Credential): This credential is issued by National Maritime Center, a division of United States Coast Guard (USCG). Please contact your nearest USCG office for obtaining the MMC or go online the listed website below. There are different versions of the MMC; use the Entry Level application option and ensure you have the Steward (FH) endorsement and Medical Certificate on your MMC. You must possess or apply for TWIC before you can apply for MMC. More information is available at https://www.uscg.mil/nmc/credentials/

    

3. DOT 5 Panel Drug Test: In compliance with the federal regulations (46 CFR Parts 4 and 16; 33 CFR Part 95; and 49 CFR Part 40) as published by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation (DOT) all prospective employees must submit to a pre-employment chemical test for drugs and must receive a negative test result prior to performing employee functions. Please visit National Maritime Center website for more information.

    

4. Alaska Food Worker Card: This card is issued by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Application is available online at http://dec.alaska.gov/

    

5. Training for Alcohol Professionals (TAP): This certification is required for any crew member 21 and older. Information for obtaining this certification is available at https://alaskatap.com/

    

APPLICATION PROCESS
Pursuing a career with AMHS can be a lengthy process; mostly due to time it takes to acquire the required certifications explained above. Recruitment campaigns are designed to bring new hires into our workforce during the times when we need the most help; typically in summer. In general, applicants are not required to provide certifications listed above to apply (open recruitment). However, in order to expedite the on-boarding (pre-employment) process, we may require some or all of these certifications at the time of the application (express recruitment) in times we need help immediately. Posting for open recruitment usually takes place in autumn, to provide adequate time for the prospective candidates to obtain their certifications before attending the new hire orientation, while posting for express recruitment can take place anytime we need to fill positions in speedy fashion. The Steward position is listed through several job outlets however applications are only accepted through the employment page on AMHS website. Since all communications are handled through an online recruitment platform applicants must have a reliable email account that is monitored on a daily basis, including the spam folders.

NEW HIRE ORIENTATION (NHO)
Selected candidates will need to attend and successfully complete the New Hire Orientation (NHO). NHO takes up to a week to complete. The time spent on NHO is paid, and some meals and accommodation (usually onboard one of our vessels) is provided during the NHO. New hires must furnish their own transportation to the training site in Alaska and must secure their own accommodation by the time the NHO is over. Typically, NHO takes place in Ketchikan, AK. Additional information about the new hire orientation will be provided if selected for the position.