Skipper; 72-ft Sail Training Vessel - Cardiff, United Kingdom - Challenge Wales

Description

About us

Challenge Wales is a small, innovative, fun outdoor education charity that is based near Cardiff, South Wales. Activities take Challenge Wales | Wales' Tall Ship around Wales, UK and overseas including Spain and Portugal.

We are now looking for a Skipper who is able to start in June 2023 and are happy to offer a seasonal position OR a long term position to cover the off-season (Winter) period.

Purpose of the Role:

The main purpose of the Skipper is to be responsible for the safe operation and navigation of primarily _Challenge Wales | Wales' Tall Ship_ (Challenge 72) and co-ordinate routine safety checks, maintenance, repair and upkeep of the vessel in conjunction with the CEO.

This role may also sail on another yacht of the Challenge Wales charity if required. The post-holder will deliver instruction and motivate young people. The majority of the role is working with young people with a small proportion being adult fundraising trips/corporate experiences.

The Skipper is responsible for the overall day to day running of the vessel, its safety, SMS compliance, operational efficiency and delivering a fun and exciting voyage.

Voyages range from one-day accredited voyages to five days trips based around the DofE Gold Residential or John Muir Environmental Award.

Some voyages may be longer if they are delivery trips to overseas ports or Tall Ships or Small Ships Racing.

Due to the seasonal nature of the organisation and its activities, and the type(s) of contract we are able to offer, the responsibilities role has been split into Summer (seasonal) activities and Winter (off-season).

Tasks & Responsibilities - for Summer (seasonal)

Your responsibilities include:

• Leading the Mate, volunteer crew and voyage crew on each voyage
• Working with young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve RYA qualifications, DofE Gold Residential award, John Muir Award, Agored Cymru accreditation and soft skills development.
• Manage all aspects of the assigned vessels operation
• Execute and plan the voyage schedule and passage plans and input into future voyagesInput to the Training Committee regarding content of training
• Conduct onboard RYA training, help volunteer crew progress through their competency logs and conduct personnel assessments/crew performance monitoring
• Ensure all crew are aware of and follow our HSE procedures
• If there are any incidents or near misses, undertake initial investigations and report them to the CEO
• Induction and training of any professional marine staff hired on temporary or permanent contract
• Review and input to proposed crew / mate / skipper allocations to voyages
• Able to be professional and commercially & personally sensitive at all times (both on and off the vessel) acting with tact and diplomacy
• Advise on suitability of personnel to serve as volunteers at different levels of competence
• Manage safety, discipline, morale and welfare of volunteers, trainees and clients
• Victualling the vessel within budget and following Challenge Wales' financial and purchasing procedures
• Responsible for safety and cleanliness of Challenge Wales and the maintenance and husbandry of hull, machinery, mast, sails, standing & running rigging, electrical and mechanical systems and safety equipment, both above and below decks during the sail training season.

Brief and supervise any contractors

• Work with the Challenge Wales Office team and Youth Development Officer on the voyage programme, providing input and ideas to ensure the best outcomes for the voyage are realised and deliver the voyage programme.
• Ability to deal with unexpected and planned issues which might be encountered on a sailing vessel at sea, e.g. repairs, maintenance, electrical (AC & DC), plumbing systems/bilge systems, generator, diesel engine, sail repairs
• Maintain records of expenditure
• Maintain relationships with suppliers and marinas
• Ensure guests, staff and volunteers operate in line with Challenge Wales safeguarding and other policies.
• Report any safeguarding issues to the Safeguarding Officer.
• Championing the brand and raising the profile of the charity
• Bringing your own ideas to the charity and voyage schedule to help Challenge Wales grow, and continue to innovate.

The above list is not intended to be comprehensive but the post-holder will be expected to be flexible in carrying out tasks related to their role.

Tasks & Responsibilities - for Winter (Off-season)
There may be a few tasks that roll over from Summer, but the majority of Winter is envisaged carrying out the following tasks which are office-based and boat-based:

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Maintenance & Coding:

• Carry out winter maintenance including:
• Scheduled maintenance
• Preventative maintenance
• Corrective maintenance
• Improvement upgrades
• Carry out all necessary Small Commercial Vessel coding activities
• Coordinate maintenance/coding volunteers
• Secure volunteers for maintenance/coding activities Polices and