Job Description

Overall purpose of the job:

We are seeking Skippers for our well-established Pembrokeshire Islands wildlife and sightseeing trips, operating as part of our company.  Pembrokeshire’s offshore islands are famous for their incredible natural beauty and fantastic array of wildlife, both above and below the surface and we have been operating boat trips to explore this offshore wonderland for over 40 years. We are extremely proud to be able to share this very special place with visitors from all over the world.

You will be responsible for all aspects of running trips on our vessels. This includes taking care of the vessel itself with all routine maintenance and checks, taking responsibility for passengers throughout the duration of their trip and for giving customers an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Good people and communication skills are essential.

The Vessel

We operate 5 passenger vessels of various sizes:

- ‘Dale Princess’ – 50 seat passenger vessel – the official Skomer Island landing boat, acting as a daily ferry and cruise boat to and around Skomer and Skokholm Islands.

- ‘Lady Helen’ – 50 seat passenger vessel – sister ship and stand by vessel to the Dale Princess, also operating daily cruises throughout the busy times of the season.

- ‘Two Brothers’ – 40 seat passenger vessel – operates river cruises and private charters on within the Cleddau Estuary and Milford Haven Waterway.

- ‘Skomer Explorer’ – 12 seat RIB – operates our high-speed Sea Safaris around the islands and further offshore.

- ‘Dale Nelson’ – 12 seat motor cruiser – operates private charter trips and offshore adventures.

We also operate a small fleet of commercial vessels and all our vessels are used in a multi role capacity.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

· Skipper vessels. As a skipper you will usually have a ‘main’ vessel but may be required to operate other vessels as and when required.

· Taking care of the vessel itself ensuring all routine maintenance, reporting and monitoring requirements are fulfilled.

· Take responsibility for passengers throughout the duration of their trip and give customers an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Good people and communication skills are essential.

· Responsible for navigation and passage planning, leading the crew, and safety of passengers.

· Prepare vessels for trips in conjunction with the crew and supervisors.

· Greet passengers and ensure appropriate briefings are given before departure.

· Maintain and manage the vessel to a clean standard, jointly with all crew.

· As part of the crew participate fully in the domestic and social aspects of the survey.

· Ensure that passengers are treated respectfully and contribute to their overall experience.

· Represent the company in a positive way at all times.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Salary: Dependent on experience.

Contract: Full-time and part time, permanent and temporary positions available.

Hours of work: Vary depending on role.

Starting date and probationary period: Candidate is required to start March 2020 onwards. The

position is subject to satisfactory performance during the initial three-month probationary period.

Key Criteria

Qualifications and Training

- RYA/MCA Powerboat Advanced Commercially Endorsed ticket or above

- Medical certificate (i.e. ML5 or ENG1)

- RYA or MCA approved First Aid certificate

- Full UK driving licence and access to vehicle

- MCA Boatmaster Licence

Work Experience

- Previous experience working as skipper or first mate on passenger and/or commercial vessels.

- Experience on a variety of craft.

- Experience working in a customer facing role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work in a team.

- Self-motivated, organised and self-reliant.

- Excellent boat-handling abilities with experience in tidal waters.

- Awareness of marine ecosystems, and safe and ethical wildlife interaction.

Technical Skills

- Proven experience of boat maintenance.

- Practical experience with basic engineering and problem solving.

- Experience in marine engineering.

Job Circumstances

- Enthusiasm for working with a wide variety of people, of all ages and backgrounds.

- Flexible approach to working hours.

Part-time hours: 40 per week

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Permanent

Experience:

• Skipper: 1 year (Required)

Work remotely:

• No

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