Job Description

Overview

UIC Bowhead Transport LLC is seeking a Marine Transportation Project Manager to provide management, leadership, and oversight of marine transportation projects and related operations. This position directs, coordinates, and exercises functional authority within assigned areas of responsibility for the planning, organization, execution, control, integration, and completion of marine transportation projects.

Work is performed with minimal supervision, with consultation from the General Manager on initial project assignments, significant operational matters, and situations requiring departure from standard practices. The Marine Transportation Project Manager is responsible for coordinating vessel operations, cargo movements, field personnel, vendors, subcontractors, customers, ports, terminals, and other project participants to ensure safe and efficient project execution.

The position is responsible for ensuring customer requirements are consistently met while maintaining UIC Bowhead Transport LLC’s standards for safety, quality, professionalism, and operational performance. Each assigned project is expected to be completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, within established budget parameters, and in accordance with contractual and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

Essential functions will include:

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, coaching, and support to marine operations and project personnel.
• Delegate responsibilities as appropriate while maintaining overall accountability for assigned projects.
• Oversee and coordinate marine transportation projects, including vessel movements, cargo operations, mobilization, demobilization, loading and unloading activities, and port or terminal operations.
• Manage multiple marine transportation projects concurrently and serve as UIC Bowhead Transport LLC’s primary point of contact for assigned projects, daily operations, and customer communication.
• Maintain regular communication with customers to provide project updates and ensure expectations, schedules, and contractual requirements are met or exceeded.
• Coordinate with vessel captains, port captains, operations personnel, cargo teams, terminal personnel, vendors, subcontractors, and customers to ensure efficient project execution.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, voyage plans, cargo movement schedules, and operational timelines.
• Coordinate vessel availability, crew requirements, equipment, transportation, lodging, supplies, and other logistical needs associated with assigned projects.
• Review project scope, cargo requirements, vessel capabilities, port restrictions, weather considerations, and logistical requirements prior to project execution.
• Monitor vessel and cargo operations to identify potential scheduling conflicts, operational delays, equipment limitations, weather impacts, or other project risks.
• Anticipate operational challenges and develop contingency plans to minimize delays and impacts to customers.
• Recommend contract modifications, operational changes, and efficiency improvements as needed.
• Monitor project budgets, costs, commitments, and financial trends to ensure projects remain within approved parameters.
• Review project cost data and communicate budget status, concerns, and potential overruns to the General Manager.
• Coordinate and lead project meetings to review operational status, vessel schedules, cargo requirements, project scope, timelines, budgets, and outstanding action items.
• Respond to off-hours calls and communications as necessary to support vessel operations, customer needs, schedule changes, emergencies, or other priority operational matters.
• Provide regular project and operational updates to the General Manager and other company leadership as required.
• Prepare and maintain project documentation, including daily operational reports, voyage or cargo updates, weekly progress reports, project status summaries, and final project reports.
• Review customer billing and supporting documentation for assigned projects to ensure accuracy prior to invoicing.
• Review vendor and subcontractor invoices for accuracy, appropriate project coding, and completion of services.
• Review vendor and subcontractor proposals, quotes, and bids to ensure they meet project and contractual requirements.
• Coordinate with accounting and administrative personnel to ensure project expenses, purchase orders, invoices, and supporting documentation are properly assigned and processed.
• Maintain accurate project records to support job costing, customer billing, contract compliance, and financial reporting.
• Ensure marine operations are conducted in accordance with company safety policies, applicable regulatory requirements, customer requirements, and established operating procedures.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure personnel understand and comply with applicable safety expectations.
• Coordinate with ports, terminals, agents, customers, regulatory agencies, and other external parties as necessary to support marine transportation operations.
• Participate in home office, operational, customer, and field meetings as required.
• Travel to vessels, ports, terminals, remote communities, and project locations as necessary.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support marine transportation and business operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of marine transportation, vessel operations, cargo logistics, project coordination, and operational planning.
• Ability to identify operational problems, gather and analyze relevant information, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions in a timely manner.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, vessels, customers, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, vessel crews, management, vendors, subcontractors, and regulatory representatives.
• Ability to remain professional and effective in fast-paced environments where vessel schedules, weather, cargo requirements, and customer priorities may change with limited notice.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively within diverse cultural environments, including rural and remote Alaska communities.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, and accountability in operational and financial decision-making.
• Ability to think strategically, evaluate operational and commercial risks, and develop solutions aligned with organizational and customer objectives.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to establish productive working relationships across office, vessel, and field operations.
• Ability to make timely decisions and provide direction during changing operational conditions.
• Resourcefulness and adaptability in resolving transportation, vessel, cargo, equipment, personnel, and logistical challenges.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in marine transportation, marine operations, logistics, project management, cargo operations, or a related field, with demonstrated experience managing multiple projects or operational activities.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management experience with the ability to organize, coordinate, and direct multiple phases of marine transportation projects.
• Knowledge of marine transportation operations, including vessel scheduling, cargo movement, logistics, port operations, and project coordination.
• Experience coordinating personnel, vendors, subcontractors, customers, and other operational stakeholders.
• Understanding of vessel and cargo operational requirements, including loading, unloading, mobilization, and transportation logistics.
• Experience implementing and supporting company safety programs and complying with applicable marine and workplace safety requirements.
• Ability to prepare financial projections, monitor project budgets, review job costs, and interpret project financial data.
• Knowledge of project scheduling, logistics, budgeting, cost control, and resource planning.
• Ability to identify operational risks and develop effective solutions to minimize project delays and cost impacts.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing.
• Ability to travel to remote project locations, ports, terminals, and vessels as required.
• Ability and willingness to work extended or irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, when necessary to support vessel schedules and marine operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in marine cargo transportation, tug and barge operations, or vessel operations.
• Experience managing marine transportation projects in Alaska and remote or rural locations.
• Experience coordinating oversized, heavy, containerized, breakbulk, or specialized cargo.
• Experience working directly with vessel captains, port captains, cargo operations personnel, terminal operators, and marine customers.
• Familiarity with U.S. Coast Guard requirements and other applicable marine transportation regulations.
• Experience with government contracts, government-funded transportation projects, or public-sector customers.
• Experience with marine project estimating, job costing, customer billing, and contract administration.
• Experience coordinating vessel charters and commercial marine transportation projects.
• Familiarity with project management, scheduling, vessel tracking, or transportation management software.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Ability to spend extended periods traveling between offices, ports, terminals, vessels, docks, and project locations.
• Ability to safely access marine terminals, docks, barges, vessels, and other operational areas as required.
• Ability to work in outdoor marine environments and varying weather conditions when visiting project sites.
• Frequent use of computers, including reading from screens and entering data using a keyboard or other input devices.
• Frequent requirement to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear while performing job duties.
• Ability to maintain focus and make sound decisions in fast-paced operational environments where schedules and priorities may change quickly.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in a combination of office, marine terminal, port, dock, vessel, and field environments.
• Field work may involve exposure to moderate to high noise levels, moving equipment, vessel operations, cargo handling activities, uneven walking surfaces, and changing weather conditions.
• Travel to remote Alaska locations may be required.
• Work schedules may vary based on vessel movements, cargo operations, weather, customer requirements, and project schedules.
• Evening, weekend, and off-hours availability may occasionally be required to support marine transportation operations.