Seasonal Captain (April – Early October)
This position is perfect for those passionate about maritime education and adventure. As Captain, you’ll engage with participants of all ages—from elementary students to adult learners—throughout multiple seasons. In spring and fall, you’ll lead school programs focused on maritime skills and team-building, both on land and water. During summer, you’ll teach adult sailing classes on keelboats, enjoying the best sailing weather of the year. The Captain will also help with youth camps, taking students out on various vessels.
Programs involve a variety of vessels, including 26-foot historic longboats, keelboats, and small craft, as well as onshore activities at Northwest Maritime. You’ll be responsible for vessel safety, gear management, and participant well-being, fostering a safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment. Captains are role models who lead by example, emphasizing teamwork, clear communication, and superior experiential learning.
If you've got a go-getter attitude, and are ready to dive in and help when needed, then you're our kind of teammate. If creating a vibrant, inclusive, and safe learning atmosphere is your superpower, and you know how to switch seamlessly between leading a group and partnering with the crew, then we want you. Do you have clear communication, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to ebb and flow gracefully through dynamic situations? Join us! We work hard and have fun, each day is a new opportunity to do or see something cool!
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Teach maritime skills on water and on land in a hands-on and engaging way to elementary, middle, and high school students, and adults.
- Work collaboratively with Managers, students, and other Instructors in delivering a high quality maritime learning experience.
- Support the training and maritime skill development of program teaching staff.
- Ensure and maintain an emotionally and physically safe, fun and educational environment for all participants.
- Be accountable for inventory and proper usage of all NWM gear.
- Complete required documentation, reporting and paperwork in a timely manner.
- Work with the Programs Operations Coordinator to support logistics and maintenance needs of the program gear and boats.
- Adhere to all Safety and Risk Management Protocols.
- Ensure safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the US Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and Northwest Maritime Standard Operating Procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
While this position’s primary responsibility is facilitating learning experiences aboard NWM vessels, the Captain position will work as part of the NWM team to ensure smooth operations for the organization as a whole. This could include providing information to visitors to NWM and helping out in projects and events that require all-hands-on-deck, to helping tie up a vessel coming into our dock because you happen to be standing there. We all pitch in for the heavy lifting now and then—sometimes this is metaphoric; occasionally we all have to actually help lift something heavy.