Employer: Rocking the Boat
Email Address: pascale@rockingtheboat.org
Website: http://www.rockingtheboat.org
Position Title: Director of Boatbuilding Operations
Compensation/Rate: $65,000- $75,000
Location: The Bronx, New York
Position Summary:
Director of Boatbuilding Operations
Job Description
Organizational Background
Rocking the Boat empowers young people to develop the self-confidence to set ambitious goals and gain the skills necessary to achieve them. Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool project for the high-need community of the South Bronx and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of $3,000,000, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 4,000 community members annually. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants. Boats number 54 and 55 are currently under construction on the Rocking the Boat shop floor.
Position Summary
The Director of Boatbuilding Operations leads the afterschool and summer Boatbuilding Job Skills Program and coordinates all wooden boatbuilding-related operations across the organization. This includes managing all wooden boatbuilding materials, tools, and equipment, and ensuring the proper maintenance of Rocking the Boat’s fleet of wooden rowing and sailing boats. The position supervises up to 12 apprentices (16- to 18-yearold graduates of the Student Boatbuilding Program) on a range of boat repair, restoration, and new construction projects forming a comprehensive on-the-job training experience. The Director of Boatbuilding Operations must be technically skilled in woodworking—ideally wooden boatbuilding — and be experienced in shop management and interested in applying those skills to a youth development environment. The ideal candidate has experience managing a small work crew and can balance the accomplishment of tangible boatbuilding and restoration goals with effective youth development practices. The position reports to the Senior Director of Programs and is a full-time, exempt role.
Responsibilities
Program Development and Execution: Ensuring the planning and implementation of a comprehensive youth development and job readiness program in traditional wooden boatbuilding and maintenance
• Offers engaging and relevant programs to youth participants centered on building wooden rowing and
sailing boats and maintaining Rocking the Boat’s wooden rowing and sailing fleet
• Supports all boatbuilding-related Public Programs including components of a middle school after-school
and summer programs and other small group programs throughout the year
• Implements and improves Rocking the Boat’s Boatbuilding curriculum and works with participants to
demonstrate individual achievement through mastering a host of technical skills
• Incorporates principles of positive youth development and social-emotional learning in program planning and delivery
• Collaborates with other Program staff and Social Workers on program development, shared programming, training opportunities, promoting and delivering college and career exploration activities, and other opportunities
• Develops and leads day and overnight trips designed to introduce participants to related professional
opportunities
• Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises designed to assess programmatic success
Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety: Ensuring that the physical resources are in place to provide safe and successful programming
• Organizes, manages, and maintains Rocking the Boat’s shop, tools, and other equipment, including
managing purchasing and inventory
• Sources all wooden boatbuilding materials including locally sourced oak and cedar
• Maintains Rocking the Boat’s wooden rowing and sailing fleet
• Follows and enforces all Rocking the Boat safety protocols and ensures boatbuilding staff adhere to safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues
Program Administration: Ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of information and data necessary to deliver successful programs
• Maintains accurate participant records including attendance, technical, academic, and social-emotional
skill accomplishment and other information
• Supports the Development team with grant proposals, budgeting, and reporting requirements
• Assists in budget development and tracks program budget; sources and purchases needed materials and equipment within the parameters established in annual budgets; provides timely and accurate accounting of all expenses
Cross-Organization Support: Contributing to the promotion and smooth operations of the organization
• Supports the Development team in fundraising activities as requested
• Contributes to the maintenance of shared resources
• Manages program volunteers and hosts visitors
• Participates in other activities as necessary to fulfill the mission of Rocking the Boat
Requirements
• Five to seven years of professional woodworking – and preferably wooden boatbuilding – experience
• Shop and tool management experience
• Experience or interest in working with youth in a non-traditional educational setting
• Experience supervising employees
• Strong organizational skills and an attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic, collaborative team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in basic computer applications
• Willingness to work long days and weekends, as necessary
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be willing to receive full set of vaccinations prior to
employment
Rocking the Boat offers:
• Full-time salaried position: $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience
• Full benefits package including health insurance and 401(k) with 6% employer match after first year
• 38 days paid time off (including sick and holidays)
• Unlimited access to Rocking the Boat’s 3,000 square foot professional grade boatbuilding shop
• Unlimited use of Rocking the Boat’s fleet of over 60 rowing, sailing, and powerboats including student-built
boats such as 20 14- and 17- foot Whitehalls, two gaff-rigged Connecticut River Dragboats, a replica
Herreshoff 12½, and a fleet of modern sailing dinghies and support RIBs
• Opportunities for professional development and training in many areas including: youth development and
curriculum development methodology and practice, CPR/First Aid, New York State Safe Boating certificate,
US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor certification
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to community development and
youth empowerment
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility at Rocking the Boat:
Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes the diversity, equity, inclusion and
accessibility of all applicants and employees. The organization strives not only to accept but to affirm and
celebrate all identities. Race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national
origin, disability, and veteran status are not barriers to employment at Rocking the Boat. Please feel welcome
to communicate any special needs or requirements to be accommodated throughout the hiring process.
To apply:
To apply please send cover letter and resume to Senior Director of Programs Pascale Mevs at
pascale@rockingtheboat.org with Director of Boatbuilding Operations as the subject.