Adult Program Dock Staff

Reports To: Adult Program Manager(s)

Status: Part-Time Seasonal

Description Last Updated: 3/1/2024

Courageous Sailing

Courageous Sailing is a nonprofit community sailing and youth development organization committed to providing people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to learn, sail, and enjoy the waterfront. We work at two locations in Boston: the Charlestown Navy Yard on Boston Harbor, and the Historic Jamaica Pond boathouse in Jamaica Plain. Our mission is to transform lives through sailing programs that inspire learning, personal growth, and leadership.

Why Courageous? 

Working at Courageous is an opportunity to join a close-knit and diverse community committed to fostering a positive educational environment for staff and participants on and off the water.

Courageous Staff receive paid training and professional development as well as recreational access to our fleet of boats which range from dinghies to mid-size keelboats and cruising boats. 

By joining our team you will make a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of our participants and will be a critical part of fulfilling our mission to get people from all walks of life out on the water. 

Dates/Time: This is a part-time seasonal position, with the potential for weekday, evening, and weekend hours.

Position Overview

Courageous Sailing Dock Staff assists members, instructors, and students on the docks at Courageous sites and upholds high standards for safety and practical seamanship. Dock staff will help patrons depart and arrive safely, ensure boats are properly secured, and provide excellent customer service. Dock staff will also perform regular site maintenance, including but not limited to cleaning, organization, and repairs.

Responsibilities

Participate in and contribute to a safe, engaging, and respectful work environment.

• General:
  • Be proactive
  • Assist patrons in departing and docking at Courageous
  • Prevent accidents on the dock by upholding safety standards
  • Perform dock walks to ensure boats are secured and in good working order
  • Communicate any issues with boats to on-site supervisors 
  • Provide clear, effective, and timely communication with leadership staff
  • Leave Courageous better than you found it

• Safety (minimizing risks while maintaining an approachable and engaging environment for students, members, patrons, and fellow staff members):
  • Comply with and encourage students and members to learn Courageous’ set of sailing safety standards and reiterate their importance whenever possible. 
  • Attend all days of staff training and staff meetings and/or complete online training.*
  • Exercise sound judgment and decision-making. Assess and mitigate foreseeable hazards.
  • Remain up to date on what roles and responsibilities you may take on in the event of an emergency and review our Emergency Action Plan (EAP) with your direct supervisor. 

• Respectability (support and ensure that everyone can be successful):
  • Maintain the Courageous fleet and facilities by completing everyday tasks as discussed in training and documented in daily checklists
  • Reduce and help manage the disposal of waste in and around Boston Harbor
  • Cultivate a kind and inclusive community

• Engagement (maintaining the expectation of individual responsibility for students and members):
  • Build rapport with students, members, and patrons
  • Provide active and engaged feedback to daily questions and interactions
  • Lead, facilitate, and participate in on-land responsibilities for general upkeep of the boathouse during downtime. 

*Job training days are position dependent and vary from position to position. 

Qualifications

• A passion for the water, working with students, or the ability to learn dock skills quickly!
• Can work effectively with a wide variety of age groups and populations from diverse backgrounds, role modeling inclusive behavior and building positive group culture
• Able to communicate clearly and directly
• Comfortable giving and receiving feedback
• Able to build rapport easily with students and colleagues
• Passionate about and dedicated to experiential education for students 
• Sufficiently physically fit to participate in all site and course activities while maintaining ample energy, strength, and focus to aid students
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather
• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under extended periods of stress
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Excellent references
• Willing to authorize a federal background check
• Hold, or are willing to obtain before start date, current First Aid and CPR certification

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $15-18 depending on experience and relevant certifications.