Commercial Fisheries and Marina Manager

The Commercial Fisheries & Marina Manager is a newly established senior-level role. This position leads the Ventura Port District's Marina Department with a focus on supporting commercial fishing operations at Ventura Harbor Village. The role combines cross-functional leadership in marina operations, tenant and vendor management, infrastructure oversight, and fisheries advocacy. The Manager serves as a key liaison with stakeholders and is responsible for lease and slip agreements, offloading coordination, and strategic planning to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. This position requires a proactive, fiscally responsible, and knowledgeable professional with strong organizational leadership and a deep understanding of the commercial fishing industry to ensure the Ventura Harbor remains a vital, accessible port for fisheries.

Primary duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Managing daily operations of the Marina Department with a focus on commercial fisheries.

• Overseeing the Ventura Harbor Village Commercial Marina, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
• Coordinating fish offloading logistics and related infrastructure support.
• Developing and executing short- and long-term strategic goals to support commercial fisheries.
• Leading the development, implementation, and monitoring of marina and fisheries-related capital improvement projects.
• Advocating for the interests of the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors locally, regionally, and statewide.
• Preparing and presenting reports, budgets, and recommendations to the General Manager and Board of Commissioners.
• Ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, permits, and environmental standards.

Procurement of Services

• Initiating and managing contracts for maintenance and repair of marina and fisheries infrastructure.
• Overseeing vendor relationships, including competitive bidding, negotiations, and performance evaluations.
• Ensuring procurement procedures comply with District policies and public agency requirements.
• Coordinating with consultants and contractors on infrastructure development and repair projects.

Tenant Relations

• Acting as primary liaison with commercial fishery tenants and commercial vessel operators.
• Negotiating and managing slip agreements, leases, and license agreements.
• Responding to and resolving tenant concerns and operational issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Fostering strong working relationships with stakeholders to promote collaborative harbor use.

Financial Responsibilities

• Developing and managing department budgets, including revenue forecasting and expenditure tracking.
• Overseeing billing and collections for commercial slips and lease agreements.
• Ensuring proper financial reporting and record-keeping practices are in place and adhered to.
• Recommending rate adjustments and capital improvement investments to the General Manager.

The District is seeking an empowered, involved, and inclusive leader to serve as the Commercial Fisheries & Marina Manager. The ideal candidate will be a bridge builder - someone who values being public facing while also mentoring and developing staff within the organization. The incumbent must have experience with property management of marinas; demonstrated experience working with or within the commercial fishing or maritime industry is strongly desired. This individual will bring comprehensive expertise in marina and harbor operations, with strong knowledge of marina infrastructure, environmental regulations, and project management. The ideal candidate is well versed in property, facility, and vendor oversight. This role includes overseeing several exciting new capital projects focused on advancing commercial fishing and aquaculture initiatives. It will be imperative for this person to effectively navigate organizational needs, including budget constraints, stakeholder input, and strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strength in staff supervision and mentorship, while excelling at managing multiple complex projects with accuracy and a commitment to meeting deadlines. Equally important is the ability to foster a collaborative environment and a workplace culture that values teamwork, open communication, and input from all team members. The successful candidate will also bring a strong ability to build productive relationships with community members, partner agencies, and vendors.  

Clear and effective communication across diverse audiences is essential, as is the ability to respond swiftly and thoughtfully in emergency situations. Experience navigating the public budgeting process and a balanced, solution-oriented approach to conflict resolution and stakeholder collaboration will be key to long-term success in this role. Qualified candidates will possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Major coursework in business administration, marine operations, public administration or a closely related field. A Master's degree is desirable. A minimum of five (5) years in a management level role, preferably in harbor, marina, or public agency operations; accompanied with five (5) years of experience in property or facility maintenance management; and five (5) years supervising staff in an operations, maintenance, or property management capacity. Certification in marina management, facilities management, or public procurement is a plus. A valid California Driver’s License is required.

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• Ventura Port District

• 8058642741