Position: Skipper/First Mate or First Mate for immediate start.
Salary: £25,792pa – £27,352pa, depending on experience. Will be paid £29,915pa equivalent during weeks as Skipper.
Rota: Typically, 3 weeks on and one week’s relief in rotation.
Main place of work: Greenock, Fairlie Quay, place may vary due to programme requirements.
Minimum qualifications: Yachtmaster Offshore (commercial endorsed) and Clear PVG Check. A successful candidate will be required to complete the relevant OYT Scotland assessment if not already held, (depending on experience).
Accommodation: Provided during the winter refit period (usually November – March)
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland are looking for a permanent Skipper/ First Mate to help to deliver adventurous youth work voyages for the young people who sail onboard. Although ideally, we would wish to hire someone who can cover both roles, we will consider taking on a First Mate only.
Skipper/First Mate:
As well as fulfilling the role of a First Mate (below) a First Mate / Skipper would be required to take command and safely operate the Trust’s vessels to the highest standards of sailing expertise for 1 – 2 weeks during their rotation. For those weeks they will be paid in line with the skippers’ salary.
Candidates should have experience working on large sail training yachts with young people from diverse backgrounds and all necessary skills and qualifications for the role.
The successful candidate must be passionate about the training and development of both young people and volunteers who are the core of the Trust’s activities. You will be expected to maintain the appropriate and professional behaviours, culture and expertise, while ensuring to deliver challenges and fun within youth work activities both ashore and at sea.
As well as proactively completing regular maintenance to the vessels you will also be required to take part in the annual maintenance of the vessels in their refit period.
First mate:
The ideal candidate will have a background in sailing larger vessels and experience working with young people would be advantageous.
The successful candidate will form part of a key team that ensures our voyages continue to deliver a challenging yet safe, fun and supportive environment tailored to young people’s needs. At OYT Scotland, we believe young people should be empowered to make decisions and to take responsibility, while being encouraged to participate fully by the staff team on board.
As part of the first mate’s role you will be expected to help maintain OYT Scotland vessels to a safe and seaworthy condition at all times and, under the Skippers’ guidance, ensure routine maintenance and checks are carried out as per the on-board maintenance schedules and they would also be required to support the skipper with completing the annual refit onboard one or both vessels.
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland is an award-winning charity, delivering life-changing youth work voyages at sea for young people from all backgrounds aged 12-25 aboard its sail training vessels – Alba Explorer, a 72ft challenge yacht and Alba Venturer, a 70ft Oyster built specifically for sail training. As part of this role you will be expected to sail on both vessels.
As a floating outdoor education centre, OYT Scotland prides itself on its record of high quality and life changing youth work delivered through the medium of sailing.
A can do, positive attitude is what we look for. A positive attitude lifts all the people around you and we thrive on a happy, successful workplace. The successful candidate will be a team player, as due to OYT Scotland being a small organisation, there are times when it’s all hands-on deck, and everyone is expected to do whatever is necessary to ‘get the job done’.
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
Permanent Skipper/First Mate – Person Specification
| Attributes | Essential | Desirable |
| Qualifications | RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (practical) with Commercial Endorsement MCA Eng1 RYA First Aid certificate Clear PVG Check | RYA powerboat level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate Cruising instructor |
| Experience | Pass or hold an OYT Scotland Skipper assessment prior to sailing Experience skippering a range of large vessels. Knowledge of Safety Management Systems Maintenance experience Can follow procedures for carrying out emergency drills. Safeguarding qualifications or evidence of training | Experience of skippering and Instructing young people and staff on sail training vessels. Experience of supporting & developing young people and volunteers Experience in, or a comprehensive understanding of, work with young people and the impacts and outcomes of youth work. |
| Skills /Abilities | Leadership skills and ability to direct staff, volunteers and young people with clarity and in a positive manner Ability to work in a small team to help to deliver a diverse sail training programme. Ability to consistently work at a high standard. Passion for work with young people and sailing Present themselves professionally at all times. A commitment to doing the best for young people from diverse social & cultural backgrounds | An understanding of and commitment to the history, values and ethos of OYT Scotland |
| Personal skills, values & behaviours | Able to manage, support and develop young people and volunteers in order for them to achieve their objectives Happy to spend extended periods living and working on board a sail training vessel in shared accommodation Able to interact socially with young people and volunteers in a positive and appropriate way Ability to work as part of a team – motivating, influencing and supporting others Willingness to actively listen to others, actively share information and have the ability to express oneself clearly | Experience in successfully managing and resolving conflict |
| Other | Willingness and ability to travel across Scotland and occasionally the UK. Able to undertake regular evening and weekend commitments Willingness to participate in training (where relevant) |
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
Permenant First Mate – Person Specification
| Attributes | Essential | Desirable |
| Qualifications | RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (practical) with Commercial Endorsement MCA Eng1 RYA First Aid certificate Clear PVG Check | RYA powerboat level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate Cruising instructor |
| Experience | Pass or hold an OYT Scotland first mate assessment prior to sailing Experience working on a range of vessels. Knowledge of Safety Management Systems Maintenance experience Can follow procedures for carrying out emergency drills. | Experience of Instructing young people and staff on sail training vessels. Experience of supporting & developing young people and volunteers Experience in, or a comprehensive understanding of, work with young people and the impacts and outcomes of youth work. Safeguarding qualifications or evidence of training |
| Skills /Abilities | Leadership skills and ability to direct staff, volunteers and young people with clarity and in a positive manner Ability to work in a small team to help to deliver a diverse sail training programme. Ability to consistently work at a high standard. Passion for work with young people and sailing Present themselves professionally at all times. A commitment to doing the best for young people from diverse social & cultural backgrounds | An understanding of and commitment to the history, values and ethos of OYT Scotland |
| Personal skills, values & behaviours | Able to manage, support and develop young people and volunteers in order for them to achieve their objectives Happy to spend extended periods living and working on board a sail training vessel in shared accommodation Able to interact socially with young people and volunteers in a positive and appropriate way Ability to work as part of a team – motivating, influencing and supporting others Willingness to actively listen to others, actively share information and have the ability to express oneself clearly | Experience in successfully managing and resolving conflict |
| Other | Willingness and ability to travel across Scotland and occasionally the UK. Able to undertake regular evening and weekend commitments Willingness to participate in training (where relevant) |
If you require more information, please email peta.koczy@oytscotland.org.uk.
Closing date: 30th March 2022. Interviews TBC.
To apply, please send a CV, supporting letter and details of the role you wish to apply for to –peta.koczy@oytscotland.org.uk