Job Openings
Please note that hiring for Salish Sea Expeditions is on hold.
Please check back for updates. Thank you!
Interested in applying for a position?
1) Review the information and our position descriptions below
2) Submit an application: Salish Sea Expeditions Education Team Application
3) Seasonal Positions: Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@salish.org. Program Manager applications, send cover letter and resume to educationdirector@salish.org.
Returning Salish Sea Expeditions Crew?
1) Complete the Salish Sea Expeditions: Education Team Application for Returning Crew
2) If it’s been more than two years since you’ve worked at Salish Sea Expeditions, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@salish.org. Program Manager applications, send cover letter and resume to educationdirector@salish.org.
Hiring Information
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, Salish Sea Expeditions as part of the Northwest Maritime Center is operating with reduced staff and very limited hours. You can read the news here and watch for updates about our organization. If you’re interested in a position in an upcoming season, please complete the application process outlined above. We’ll be in touch when we resume full operations, hopefully late spring or early summer. Stay well!
- Spring Season (March-June) → Hiring period: November-December
- Summer Season (June-Aug) → Hiring period: November-December
- Fall Season (September-October) → Hiring period: July-August
Compensation: $1500-$3100/month, depending on position and experience
Missed the deadline? Still apply! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered during our second round of hiring to fill any positions as needed.
We accept applications year-round and will keep your application on file if you apply outside of our Hiring Seasons (July/August or November/December). We look forward to hearing from you!
About Us
Salish Sea Expeditions is a nonprofit organization established to provide opportunities for students in grades 5th and beyond to design and conduct real scientific research on the waters of the Salish Sea and within their local watersheds. For over two decades, we have been working with teachers to align our programs with current educational standards and with teacher curriculum. We aim to create a generation of critical thinkers who will collaborate to solve society’s hardest problems.
Mission: To inspire youth to connect with the marine environment through boat-based scientific inquiry and hands-on learning, instilling curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking.
About Our Education Team
To achieve our organizational mission, our Education Director and Program Manager hire nautical and marine scientist educators for our Spring and Fall Seasons to teach in the classroom and deliver our program aboard the sailing vessel Carlyn. Programs range from 1- to 5-days, with multi-day onboard programs involving Pre- and Post-Expedition Sessions with our student scientists and sailors.
Integral to the success of Salish Sea Expeditions and our hands-on, boat-based programs is a crew full of knowledgeable, curious, enthusiastic, and self-motivated educators. There are typically six crew members on all expeditions.
- Captain, Mate & Deckhand: Oversee ship operations and nautical instruction
- Marine Science Educator: Instruct & guide student research efforts
- Program Coordinator: Responsible for oversight of the entire experience, facilitates each trip and assists in the science program.
- Logistics & Galley Coordinator: In charge of planning and preparing meals and coordinating equipment and supplies for both participants and crew during the expeditions.
Professional development opportunities vary from season to season and may include attending conferences and outreach events throughout the area, volunteer opportunities with other scientific research groups, and continuing education classes in the maritime sector. If you’re interested in joining our team, please take a look at our position descriptions below. Each season we may also host additional programs, including Marine Explorers Weekends, Science Under Sail and Educator Expeditions & Workshops.
Salish Sea Expeditions & the Northwest Maritime Center
Salish Sea Expeditions is now part of the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC). While Salish Sea Expeditions will continue doing the things we do best and delivering high quality boat-based educational programming, we have some new & exciting opportunities to offer with both organizations! See Seasonal Positions below for summer employment opportunities with the Northwest Maritime Center. We seek dedicated & dynamic educators who are interested in combining seasonal opportunities and continuing to be apart of the Salish Sea Expeditions/NWMC team. Join us as we offer high quality education programs & expand opportunities fostering curiosity, teamwork and hands-on learning and connecting youth to maritime life & the marine environment.
To see all opportunities offered by the Northwest Maritime Center see- https://nwmaritime.org/
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Year-round Positions
Program Manager
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Program Manager with strong organizational skills to work collaboratively with the Salish Sea Expeditions Managing Director of Education and seasonal staff to create unforgettable, hands-on research experiences for our organization, school and district partners and participants, as well as support the development of our educational programs and seasonal staff.
About the role
Oversee all programmatic and logistic aspects of our educational programs, recruit, hire, and train seasonal staff, develop best practices to manage program and people operations, support professional development of seasonal staff, and build relationships with teachers and student scientists to increase retention and maintain a high caliber of service and safety across all program interactions and communications. Our organizational culture requires an ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and embrace a collaborative spirit where the ‘all hands on deck’ motto is not just reserved for onboard our sailing vessel.
- Program Management & Operations (~50%)
- People Management & Operations (~40%)
- Organizational Support (~10%)
About you
Knowledge & abilities in the following areas
- Supporting and leading staff, balancing a culture of fun, creative, and silly, hands-on science and safety
- Inquiry-based science pedagogy applied to educational program development
- Boat-based and/or experiential education
Experience & qualifications
- Working in a collaborative, growth-oriented environment
- Developing effective program & people operational systems
- 2-3 years leadership experience
- 3-5 years educator experience
- First Aid & CPR Certified by position start date
Complete position description.
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Seasonal Positions: Spring & Fall
- Captain
- Mate / Nautical Educator
- Deckhand / Nautical Educator
- Program Coordinator
- Marine Science Educator
- Logistics & Galley Coordinator
Seasonal Positions: Summer
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Captain
Captain’s duties include, but are not limited to, directing and training sailing staff, science staff, and 5th-12th grade students in safe operation of the vessel and her systems as well as maintaining the vessel in a safe, operational condition of readiness, including directing others in maintenance and repair, and facilitating the education program and community on board. The Captain works directly with the Mate and Deckhand in order to implement nautical curriculum as well as part of a 6 crew onboard the vessel during expeditions. The Captain works directly with the Program Coordinator and other crew members to plan the timing, daily flow, and destinations of the expedition.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Mate / Nautical Educator
Mate duties include, but are not limited to: instructing and overseeing staff students in proper vessel operation, presenting nautical science topics both in the classroom and on the vessel, and teaching a variety of sailing + navigation classes while underway. The Mate directly supports the Captain and works as a team with the Captain and Deckhand in order to ensure a safe environment on the vessel and to address any maintenance of the vessel that is necessary.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Deckhand / Nautical Educator
Deckhand duties include, but are not limited to: instructing and overseeing students in proper vessel operation, presenting nautical science topics both in the classroom and on the vessel, and teaching a variety of sailing + navigation classes while underway. The Deckhand directly supports the Captain and Mate as necessary in regards to the safety needs and management of the vessel.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Program Coordinator
The Program Coordinator is responsible for the overall experience of an expedition. Pre-expedition and office duties may include managing paperwork to prepare for the trips, coordinating with other staff for expedition prep, general maintenance of scientific equipment and program development as necessary. The Program Coordinator will also work with other staff to help students in their classroom to design their marine research project. Primary responsibilities aboard the sailing vessel are to oversee onboard program operations, collaborate with the Captain and other crew members to facilitate meetings to plan the timing, daily flow, and destinations of the expedition, and to assist the Marine Scientist in the implementation of the science program. The Program Coordinator will be one member of a 6-person team.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Marine Science Educator
The Marine Science Educator is responsible for assisting students in developing their research project in the classroom as well as collecting and analyzing oceanographic data onboard the vessel. Pre-expedition duties may include preparing materials in the office to prepare for the trips, assisting in food and supply packing, logistical projects, general maintenance of scientific equipment and program development as necessary. Primary responsibilities aboard the sailing vessel are to instruct and supervise 5th-12th grade students (up to 14 at a time) who are creating a sampling plan and itinerary, deploying science equipment, analyzing data, and synthesizing results.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Logistics & Galley Coordinator
The Logistics & Galley Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating pre-trip and day-to-day food and supply details for 3-5 day research expeditions and 1 day programs aboard the vessel. This position will be split with approximately 30% of time in the office and 70% onboard the vessel. Salish Sea Expeditions works with groups of 5th-12th grade students. Trips range from 3-5 Day Expeditions(overnight) as well as 1-Day programs. The Logistics & Galley Coordinator is one member of the six-person Education Team, working together to deliver quality inquiry-based and hands on marine science research programs. All crew members aboard the vessel participate in all shipboard duties: vessel operations, line handling, docking, anchor watch, cleaning, etc.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Summer Program Coordinator
The Summer Program Coordinator supports the day-to-day operations of the Summer Programs, both Adult and Youth programs. This position will directly supervise the Youth Summer Program and provide logistical and administrative support for the Adult summer programs. Each day will be filled with a variety of tasks from administrative, to working with staff, to answering parent questions, to boat cleaning and maintenance.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Summer Instructor, Messing About in Boats
The Summer Instructor is responsible for teaching the program, Messing About in Boats, under the guidance of the Summer Lead Instructor. Messing About in Boats offers a multitude of ways for kids aged 5 to 10 years to experience maritime life in a fun, hands-on way. Instructors are expected to be strong leaders and an outstanding role model for the participants.
Complete job description. Application requirements below.
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Interested in applying for a position?
1) Review our position descriptions
2) Submit an application: Salish Sea Expeditions Education Staff Application
3) Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@salish.org
Returning Salish Sea Expeditions Crew?
1) Complete the Salish Sea Expeditions: Education Staff Application for Returning Crew
2) If it’s been more than two years since you’ve worked at Salish Sea Expeditions, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@salish.org
Boat-based Programs
The Salish Sea Expeditions boat-based programs are drug and tobacco free. If offered a position, a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug test will be required. During employment with Salish Sea Expeditions and the Northwest Maritime Center, boat-based program employees will be enrolled in a random drug testing program through the Maritime Consortium
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salish Sea Expeditions and the Northwest Maritime Center does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
