Youth Program Head Instructor

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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.

In the Courageous Sailing Summer Youth Program, sailing is the platform for youth aged 8-18 to develop leadership skills, gain confidence, explore Boston Harbor, and delve into hands-on science.

Our instructors are skilled sailors who act as role models to their students and function well as a team. We teach on a variety of boats including Rhodes 19s, RS Quests, RS Ventures, J80s, 420s, and Lasers. Please find the descriptions of each step below (more detailed descriptions on our website), for all which we are hiring head sailing instructors and sailing instructors.

• Swim Sail Science is a five-week summer program for Boston children that blends academic support with sailing lessons, swimming instruction, and hands-on marine and physical science. Instructors sail in each boat. 
• Step 1 is a one-week basic sailing course offered to children ages 8 and up. Students are introduced to sailing theory and gain sailing experience in Boston Harbor. Instructors sail in each boat. 
• Step 2 is a three-week intensive beginner sailing course that takes place over three weeks and provides an in-depth introduction to sailing, theory, and boat handling. Instructors sail in each boat.
• Step 3 is a three-week intermediate sailing course for children age 10 and up. Students learn to sail more independently in Rhodes 19s without instructors consistently in the boat. Instructor supervision is provided from a motorboat.
• Step 4 is a three-week introduction to dinghy course. Students experience sailing capsizable boats, RS Quests, for the first time. Instructor supervision is provided from a motorboat.
• Step 5 is a three-week advanced dinghy course. Students learn the basics of racing in 420s and Lasers. Instructor supervision is provided from a motorboat.

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 of all walks of life out on the water. 

Dates/Time: This is a Full time summer position, 8:00 am to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday

Job Description: Courageous is looking for Head Instructors to lead teams of students and sailing instructors in the Courageous Summer Youth Program. Head Instructors work at either of our Sites and report to the Site Director.

Responsibilities

General:

• Build rapport with students
• Model best practices for more junior staff members
• Provide active and engaged supervision to students and staff both on-land and on-the-water
• Teach and encourage students’ learning of sailing concepts using curriculum provided
• Lead, facilitate, and participate in on-land activities during down time and/or when sailing is not feasible
• Maintain the Courageous fleet and facilities by completing everyday tasks as discussed in training and documented in chore checklists

Management and Supervision:

• Schedule and hold regular meetings with supervisees to check in on work projects and give clear and direct feedback to staff that leads to staff growth
• At least once per season, hold performance reviews with each employee to exchange job performance feedback
• Supervise staff and oversee programming in a way that reduces risk

Professionalism:

• Attend all days of mandatory training and/or complete online training
• Be proactive and communicative. Provide clear, effective and timely communication with supervisors and staff. Ask questions if the scope or intention of work is unclear, express concerns when they come up, give feedback regularly to peers and supervisors, and help facilitate positive change

Safety and Risk Management:

• Create a safe place for participants to learn and make mistakes by clearly establishing limits and boundaries for participant behavior and independence 
• Comply with Courageous safety standards and policies on and off the water and teach participants how to do the same
• Model safe, respectful, and responsible behavior to participants and peers at all times. 
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making. Treat safety as the highest priority 
• Leave Courageous better than you found it. Treat Courageous property with respect. Maintain the cleanliness and functionality of workspace and tools

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Cultivate a kind and inclusive community where everyone at Courageous can feel like they belong

Qualifications

At Courageous Sailing, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Certification, equivalent or more advanced
• 2-3 years sailing instruction experience
• 1-2 years powerboat experience
• Completion of NASBLA-approved safety boat course through the MA Environmental Police and/or through the US Sailing Level I certification course
• 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, directly, and calmly at all times 
• Comfortable giving and receiving feedback to and from peers, participants, and supervisors
• Able to build rapport easily with participants and coworkers
• Passionate about experiential education for youth from all backgrounds
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Willing to authorize a federal background check
• Hold, or are willing to obtain before start date, current First Aid and CPR certification
• Three references

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $18-21/hour  depending on experience and relevant certifications. 

2023 Mandatory Dates:

• Senior Staff Training: June 17th-21st
• All Staff Training: June 24th- 28th
• Regular Season : Monday-Friday, from Monday, July 1st – Friday, August 9th
• End of Season Staff Day: Monday, August 12th
• Additional work is available before and after these dates from mid-April through mid-September. Staff may work other jobs at Courageous within different departments (ex. Adult Programs, Maintenance) during non-youth program time.