boatbuilding program manager | director of boatbuilding | program assistant job openings

Organizational Background
Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool project for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of over $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across three locations. 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.

Position Summary
The Boatbuilding Program Manager is responsible for running Rocking the Boat’s afterschool and summer Student Boatbuilding Program, working with a group of 16 high school aged students, introducing them to a range of traditional wooden boatbuilding skills through the process of building a wooden rowing or sailing boat from scratch. The Program Manager supervises up to four college-aged Program Assistants and reports to the Chief Program Officer. The position must be a technically skilled woodworked or boatbuilder and a strong group leader able to balance the accomplishment of tangible boatbuilding goals with successful youth development.

Responsibilities
Program Development and Execution: Ensuring the planning and implementation of a comprehensive youth development program in traditional wooden boatbuilding

• Offers engaging and relevant programs to participants centered around the construction of wooden boats
• Implements and improves Rocking the Boat’s Boatbuilding curriculum and works with participants to demonstrate individual achievement through mastering those skills
• Incorporates principals of Positive Youth Development in program planning and delivery
• Recruits program participants in collaboration with other Program Mangers and the Social Worker
• Collaborates with other Program staff and Social Workers on program development, shared
  programming, and training opportunities
• Designs and leads challenging and enriching day and overnight trips for participants
• Collaborates with the Social Work team to support participants’ individual and group social and emotional needs
• Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises designed to assess programmatic success

Staff and Volunteer Supervision and Development: Ensuring that part-time Program Assistants are able to successfully support program activities

• Hires and supervised up to Program Assistants
• Provides ongoing management, technical, safety, and youth development training for Program Assistants

Program Administration: Ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of information and data necessary to deliver successful programs

• Maintains accurate participant records including attendance, technical skill accomplishment, and other information
• Assists in budget development; tracks program budget; sources and purchases needed materials and equipment in a timely manner and within the parameters established in annual budgets; provides prompt and accurate accounting of all expenses

Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety: Ensuring that the physical resources are in place to provide safe and successful programming

• Follows all Rocking the Boat safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues
• Manages and maintains Rocking the Boat’s shop, tools, and materials
• Keeps CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications current (provided by Rocking the Boat)

Cross-Organization Support: Contributing to the promotion and smooth operations of the organization

• Supports the Development Department 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:

• Wooden boatbuilding or relevant woodworking experience
• Experience managing students or supervising employees
• Experience or desire to be involved in community-oriented education programming
• 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
• Spanish language skills a plus

Rocking the Boat offers:

• Full-time salaried position: $60,000-$70,000, commensurate with experience
• Benefits package including Health, Vision, Dental and 401k with 6% employer match
• 38 days paid time off including official holidays (43 after three years)
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to youth development and 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 Matt Hatcher, Chief Program Officer, at matt@rockingtheboat.org with Student Boatbuilding Program Manager as the subject.

Organizational Background
Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool project for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of over $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across three locations. 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.

Position Summary
The Director of Boatbuilding coordinates all boatbuilding-related activities and infrastructure and manages all boatbuilding staff. This includes leading a series of year-round high school Boatbuilding Youth Development Programs, managing all wooden boatbuilding materials, tools, and equipment, and ensuring the regular maintenance and upkeep of Rocking the Boat’s fleet of wooden rowing and sailing boats. The position manages a full-time Boatbuilding Program Manager and Boat Maintenance Assistant, up to four part-time Program Assistants (alumni of the program), and up to 12 active program apprentices. The Director of Boatbuilding must be an experienced staff, shop, and project manager, technically skilled in wooden boatbuilding, and able to successfully teach students to become proficient wooden boatbuilders while integrating youth development methodology. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the position works roughly 12pm to 8pm during the 13 week-long spring and fall semesters and roughly 9am to 5pm throughout the rest of the year.

Responsibilities
Program Development and Execution: Ensuring the development, planning, management, and implementation of a comprehensive boatbuilding-based youth development and job readiness program

• Improves and ensures the successful delivery of the Boatbuilding Program curriculum centered on building and maintaining a fleet of wooden rowing and sailing boats
• Oversees the Boatbuilding Program Manager in recruiting ninth and tenth graders for the Student Boatbuilding Program and ensuring full enrollment of 16 students in each of three annual semesters
• Leads instruction of a Youth Development Boatbuilding Program for high school students
• Supports all boatbuilding-related components of middle school after-school and summer programs and other small group programs throughout the year
• Assesses participants’ individual achievement of a series of technical skills
• Incorporates principles of positive youth development in program planning and delivery
• Collaborates with other Program staff and Social Workers on program development and shared programming and training 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
• Fulfills all programmatic content and schedule commitments to dedicated funding sources 

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 local oak and cedar
• Oversees the maintenance of Rocking the Boat’s wooden rowing and sailing fleet
• Follows, enforces, and ensures boatbuilding staff and participants adhere to safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues 

Staff Supervision and Development: Ensuring that Instructors and Program Assistants are able to successfully support program activities

• Hires, trains and manages a Boatbuilding Program Manager to deliver high school youth development boatbuilding program
• Provides ongoing management, sailing, and safety training for all Boatbuilding staff 

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

• Participates 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 

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience building and repairing traditional wooden boats and managing a shop
• Experience in managing complex, multi-faceted projects
• Experience or interest in working with youth in a non-traditional educational setting
• Experience managing students or supervising employees
• Strong organizational skills and 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 

Rocking the Boat offers:

• Full-time salaried position: $85,000 to $100,000, 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 Drag boats, a replica Herreshoff 12½, and a fleet of modern sailing dinghies and support RIBs
• 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 a detailed cover letter describing how your experience aligns with the role and a resume to Adam Green, Executive Director at adam@rockingtheboat.org with Director of Boatbuilding as the subject.