Employment Opportunities

Below is a brief description of this position. However, the descriptions should be regarded as outlines for basic responsibilities and the duties of each position and not as parameters for defining a crew's job.

TBC's philosophy is that the entire crew works together as a team to accomplish the task of operating a safe, enjoyable and well-maintained ship. NO CREWMEMBER IS ABOVE ANY WORK NEEDING TO BE DONE TO MEET THIS OVERALL GOAL.

All crewmembers are required to be certified in CPR, First Aid, and all necessary STCW requirements for international voyages. All crew are to be trained and drilled in emergency procedures as assigned by their supervisor.

NATURALIST/GUIDE

Naturalist serves primarily as guest activity coordinator, natural history interpreter and excursion guide. Naturalist is responsible for offering formal presentations to guests according to their interests, as well as informal narrations whenever whales, dolphins, or other wildlife are sighted from the deck. Must perform a variety of other duties not directly related to primary naturalist job, as requested by the Captain. Naturalist reports to the Captain.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Guest activity coordinator and guide (45%): Works with the Captain and First Mate to coordinate all off-vessel guest activities. The Forest Service has established limits on group sizes in many locations, so Naturalist must know and apply group size restrictions in order to help design shore-going activities that stay within the limits. After mealtimes during cruises, meets with guests and helps to organize them for next day's off-vessel excursions. Guides guests on a wide variety of excursions, including sport fishing, hiking, bird watching, plant identification, and beachcombing.
  
  
• Educational program development and implementation (35%): Organizes and maintains materials for formal presentations and informal discussions on natural history. Other crewmembers may contribute to educational programs on board according to their knowledge and ability, but Naturalist will be in charge of the overall effort. Vessels are equipped with slide projectors, and Naturalists are expected to assemble their own slides for conducting slide shows. Maintains Natural History Log, specimen collections/displays and other learning aids during cruises. Maintains on-board Natural History library.
  
  
• Deck duties (15%): Communicates with First Mate and assists deck crew with normal maintenance and improvement projects such as painting/varnishing, splicing lines, handling and cleaning sport caught fish, and wash-down chores. Participates in skiff and kayak launching and retrieval. When vessel comes alongside the dock, or when skiffs approach or depart the boarding areas, passes lines according to need or direction of First Mate. Assists with luggage handling in port.
  
  
• In-port transportation coordinator (5%): Coordinates with the Captain, ensuring satisfactory and timely arrangements are made for passenger embarkation and disembarkation. May need to work with outside transportation vendors to help ensure their full cooperation in the transfer of guests and luggage to various destinations. Whenever necessary, escorts guests to hotels and airports.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Should have a broad knowledge of the geography, geology, flora and fauna, marine biology, climate, history (including pioneer and native American history), and current issues of Southeast Alaska.
  
  
• Minimum education should include natural history or life science courses studied at the university level, however, practical work experience in the specialized field of natural history education may substitute.
  
  
• Requires the ability to communicate well with large groups, and should have the ability to design and conduct interesting and educational presentations on technical matters to people with little or no background in the area under discussion.
  
  
• Writing skills require the ability to write text designed to communicate technical information.
  
  
• Interpersonal skills require the ability to regularly deal with people of different ages and differing physical abilities both aboard ship and during shore excursions. Patience and thoughtfulness while addressing the particular needs of guests is essential.
  
  
• Must be capable of demonstrating proficiency in the safe and effective handling and discharging of shotguns or rifles, which are required equipment on all shore excursions where there may be risk of encounters with aggressive bears.

GENERAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Crew sign-on to a vessel for entire four to five month operating season, and must be physically capable of maintaining rigorous work schedules consisting of twelve to fourteen-hour days over much of this time. Most of The Boat Company's cruises of eight-day duration, and at the end of each cruise there is an 18 - 20 hour turn-around period in port before the beginning of the next trip. Crew are not obligated to leave the vessel during this time and continue to have full access to their quarters on board.

Physical demands generally include frequent bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, pulling/pushing, grasping, and the passing or receiving of numerous different sized objects weighing up to 100 pounds in weight while loading ships stores. When heavy or awkward items are being moved, personnel should use lifting devices such as cranes or chain falls, or seek assistance from other personnel. When an object is too heavy or too awkward for one person to move safely, it is the responsibility of the individual to obtain assistance as necessary.

Must be capable of boarding and exiting a vessel without physical assistance by climbing up or down dock ladder or vessel boarding steps. Must be capable of climbing into or out of a skiff from dock or boarding area without assistance in all weather conditions. Must be able to climb or descend one or more sets of steep stairs or vertical ladders both inside and outside the vessel in all weather conditions. Must have the ability to climb an eight-foot vertical ladder and fit through a 28-inch wide hatch.

Must have hearing, vision, and vocal abilities that allows performance of duties safely when aboard vessel, aboard skiffs, and on shore. Must be capable of hearing alarms and signals from the vessel. In addition, must be able to communicate with vessel or other crewmembers by radio.

Must be capable of performing the duties listed in the vessel Station Bill (copy provided upon request). Must be able to don a life vest or jacket and/or survival suit without assistance. Must be capable of working and living on board a vessel for the tour of duties duration and without having access to hospital services, prescription medications, or medical treatment except for first aid assistance and/or treatment at local area clinics, if available.

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