1st Mate / 1st Lieutenant

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a charity offering nautical adventure and sail training to young people. It is looking for a 1st Lieutenant to act as officer of the watch and second in command of the power vessel TS John Jerwood, operating from Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. This is a full-time, fixed-term post until 30 September 2027, with the vessel sailing around the UK and near continent between March and November.

The role:

• Act as Officer of the Watch and be ready to take command of the vessel
• Support the Commanding Officer in delivering sail training to cadets aged 12 to 18
• Initiate and deliver adult and cadet training programmes
• Run the ship's routine, with regard to hours of work, rest and mealtimes
• Act as Training Officer and Safety Officer, and part of the emergency response team for first aid and firefighting
• Maintain the upper deck, seamanship and sea survival equipment and the tender
• Coordinate ship husbandry and support winter maintenance
• Manage crew, trainees and passengers onboard in line with the vessel's certification

What's on offer:

• 104 days annual leave (84 days in the sailing season and 20 weekdays in winter maintenance)
• Pension with employer contribution up to 10%
• Life assurance at 4x salary for pension members
• Private medical insurance
• Wellbeing portal and employee assistance programme with counselling
• Annual learning and development opportunities and a national staff conference

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Coastal (Power), or Master 200 for up to 24m with commercial endorsement
• Demonstrable experience and confidence to take command in the Commanding Officer's absence
• Ability to gain and maintain an ENG1 medical certificate
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• MCA approved First Aid certificate
• Radio Operators Certificate
• Radar training or equivalent knowledge and experience
• Enhanced criminal record check and safeguarding training required