Vessel Manager

Historic Ships Vessel Manager

Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center seeks a qualified candidate to manage maintenance, preservation, and restoration activities for its three historic ships: tugboat Arthur Foss (1889), Lightship No. 83(aka “Swiftsure,” 1904) and Halibut fishing vessel Tordenskjold (1911). Stewardship of these vessels is especially important; the Arthur Foss tug and Lightship are National Historic Landmark vessels and the Tordenskjold is being documented for consideration for the National Register of Historic Places. These iconic vessels represent the industries of our waterfront. This position is also key to Northwest Seaport meeting its mission to use the vessels as platforms of service to the community. The vessels potentially provide a broad range of public benefits such as tours, maritime heritage education, and maritime skills training. The vessels also support earned income opportunities critical to the organization. This position ensures safety for staff, volunteers, visitors, and education program participants and supports stewardship of the vessels to support various activities while meeting requirement for historic ship preservation.

Compensation: The compensation includes lodging on an historic ship in the South Lake Union area plus wages of $20/hour. The work schedule will normally be 40 hours/week with compensated time off per year as required by Seattle City ordinances (1 hour per 40 hours worked). Work schedules are flexible and may include occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime. Residence will be on either the tugboat Arthur Foss or F/V Tordenskjold.

Major duties include:

a) Completes maintenance and repairs of the historic ship fleet. Plans and carries out annual multi-year maintenance, preservation and restoration activities.

b) Coordinates with the Board of Directors on vessel safety policies and procedures to promote safety for staff, volunteers, students, and visitors to the NWS historic ship fleet.

c) Readies historic ships, within time and budget constraints, as platforms to support NWS’s annual public service, earned income, and educational programming. Provides feedback during annual planning process regarding any constraints to be considered.

d) Completes necessary actions within time and budget constraints to promote having the F/V Tordenskjold able to get underway for maritime education activities and to attend maritime festivals throughout the Salish Sea.

e) Leads volunteer work parties or trains staff or volunteers who can do so, adhering to organizational policies and procedures.

f) Works with board members (Secretary, Chair of the Vessel Committee, legal) to contract with skilled craftspersons and shipyards to complete planned work.

g) Supports fundraising activities by interacting with potential donors and supports grantwriting by providing information needed for specific grants.

h) Supports coordination with Federal, State, and Local Historic Preservation entities and collaboration with other maritime heritage groups.

Requirement/Qualifications: Applicants must be experienced in ship maintenance/repair, ship building, or ship systems and leading work to complete such duties. The minimum requirement is at least one full year of specialized experience serving as a shipwright or other role addressing making vessels ready for work. Northwest Seaport will evaluate applicants based on scope and breadth of experience, including (1) whether that experience included wooden structural components, (2) historic ships, (3) ship systems maintenance or repair, (4) performing lead/foreman activities or project manager work in construction and maintenance programs, and (5) familiarity with Washington’s shipyards and maintenance facilities. Given the support Northwest Seaport receives through local, state, and federal grants, the applicant should indicate past performance in working to meet deadlines and managing paperwork associated with work activities. We will also consider other experience that aligns with operations of the historic ship fleet. Work must adhere to the appropriate guidelines (e.g., the Secretary of the interior’s Standards for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects, with Guidelines for Applying Standards).

Interested individuals should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least two contacts for references. The cover letter should describe the applicant’s interest in this position, their understanding of the unique challenges experienced by ship-owning maritime heritage organizations, and highlight important experience noted in their resume. Northwest Seaport will accept applications through April 2, 2023. Applications should be submitted electronically to info@nwseaport.orgwith the subject matter “Vessel Manager Application” and your name. We will also accept written applications posted to Northwest Seaport, PO Box 9744, Seattle WA 98109. Applications will be rated and top candidates will be interviewed. Interviews will be arranged directly with finalists. If any finalist cannot interview in person all interviews will occur over a video application. We expect to make an offer by May 1, 2023. Applicants will be informed of any changes to this schedule.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Seattle, WA 98109: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20