Job Title: Bosun
Employed by : Challenge Wales
Accountable to: The Skipper /Board of Trustees
Line Managed by: The Skipper
Essential Checks: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references
Type of Position: Short Term Contract, full time hours.
Start date:10th February.
End Date: 28th March 2025 with potential for extension subject to funding. This role can be salaried or can be suited to a freelance contractor.
Location: Gosport (near Portsmouth)
Salary & Benefits: £23,800 (pro rata with increase in April to £25,400 pro rata). Food (or living allowance) and accommodation (combination of on and off the boat) will be provided during the refit. This is based on full time hours but there is an opportunity for part time hours in some cases.
How to apply: Email your CV and a supporting statement of no more than 2 sides. The supporting statement should include your motivation for applying and why you believe you are a strong candidate, Please also supply two references to: [email protected]
Deadlines: Applications to be received by 25th January 2025. Candidates will be invited to a zoom or face –to – face interview.
Challenge Wales is an award-winning sail training charity, predominantly run by volunteers, based in South Wales and currently operates a 72 foot Challenge Yacht; Challenge Wales providing transformative youth development activities and adult big boat adventures (fundraising voyages). Sailing activity takes places predominantly around the Welsh and South Coast.
Maintenance is a crucial part of the charity’s operations, taking place periodically through the sailing season (planned/proactive and unplanned/reactive) but becoming a core activity between November – March/April when the sail training season ceases. Every year Challenge Wales is surveyed and, usually, undergoes a full lift out every other year which often takes place outside of Wales.
Purpose of the Role:
The Bosun is an important role supporting and assisting the Skipper in maintaining the vessel during its winter refit and ensuring the smooth operation of the vessel.
The Bosun is required to supervise volunteers during any refit/maintenance. The successful candidate will also provide continuity between the charity and the volunteer crew.
Tasks & Responsibilities
You will be involved with:
Assisting the Skipper during the maintenance refit
To perform routine maintenance tasks instructed by the Skipper including cleaning, prepping steel ready for painting, painting, repairs and using relevant equipment e.g needlegun, sander etc. Be able to understand maintenance needs and prioritise accordingly.
To perform maintenance tasks around the refit, instructed by and in conjunction with the Skipper including dismantling of the interior of the vessel (including galley, heads, cabins, tanks) preparing areas for work, re-constructing vessel interior to ensure operating compliance
To delegate tasks to volunteers, in conjunction with the Skipper, ensuring tasks are suited to the volunteers abilities
To manage volunteers with maintenance refit tasks when Skipper is off-site
To respect Challenge Wales property and work safely
Ability to use own initiative and see things that need to be done onboard
Championing the brand and raising the profile of the charity
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.
Personal Specification / Skills and Qualifications
The successful candidate will:
Have good leadership skills and ability to lead and follow instructions in a positive way
Have the ability to work on their own initiative as well as working as part of a team
Have good communication skills
Be physically fit and able to perform manual tasks
Have mechanical/practical skills to handle maintenance (routine and reactive) of the vessel’s equipment
Confident / experience with using a sander, polisher and grinder Attention to detail and quality without compromising time or finances Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities
Have the ability to problem solve and work through issues
Be able to work to strict deadlines and plan workload accordingly and be able to adapt if tasks change
Have a willingness to learn and take on new challenges
Desirable but advantageous
Experience of sailing vessels and their systems
Experience in a similar role
Practical skills in carpentry, mechanics, engineering and electronics
All employees are expected to take responsibility and comply with Challenge Wales’ policies and procedures.
Opportunities to progress to a Watchleader or Mate role may be possible subject to funding being available at the time and qualifications. However, this is not currently guaranteed. Although volunteer opportunities do exist for those wanting to expand their sailing CV.
Further information on Challenge Wales can be found at www.challengewales.org