The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) invites candidates to apply for the Director of Marine Operations position. We seek an individual with a management and programmatic vision to advance the use of MBARI’s state-of-the art sea-going assets, including the R/V David Packard (arriving November 2023), R/V Rachel Carson, R/V Paragon, MARS deep-sea cabled observatory, and fleet of remotely operated and autonomous systems.
More information about MBARI and its current research and staff is available here.
Founded in 1987 by the late David Packard, MBARI is dedicated to merging science, engineering, and marine operations for the purpose of developing new instruments, methods, and systems for advancing scientific research in the ocean. Located in Moss Landing, California, the heart of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, MBARI offers ready access to the open ocean and deep sea. Ongoing research programs range across autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicle systems, control technologies, ocean physics, chemistry, geology, biology, ocean instrumentation, and information management. MBARI hosts approximately 200 employees, with shore facilities that include state-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories, manufacturing and electrical fabrication shops, and dock facilities for MBARI vessels.
MBARI enjoys cooperative relationships with a host of neighboring academic and government institutions, including Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, the University of California at Santa Cruz, the Naval Postgraduate School, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, California State University Monterey Bay, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, offering many opportunities for collaborative research and education. Our partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium also provides unique opportunities for public outreach and for engaging resource managers as well as policy makers.
Required Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and minimum 10 years demonstrated success in marine operations management is required. Must hold a Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC). Qualified as a Designated Person Ashore (DPA) in support of International Safety Management Code program, and a Company Security Officer as part of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Experience with export control measures is desired. The successful candidate must possess excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills. An ability to exercise fiscal financial responsibility, including developing and managing budgets, as well as managing resources, such as staffing and scheduling needs, is required.
The successful candidate must also have a track record of working collaboratively in a high paced, multi-activity environment, serving as a mentor for Marine Operations staff and supervisors, and effectively working with diverse groups of people. The Director of Marine Operations reports to MBARI’s President/CEO.
