job openings
director of boatbuilding operations
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-year- old 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, year-round 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)
- 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.
director of environmental science and justice
Organizational Background
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 just over $3,000,000, is a hub of youth development programming that serves over 3,000 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.
Position Summary
The Director of Environmental Science and Justice oversees all aspects of the organization’s environmental science projects and serves as the Manager of the after school and summer Environmental Job Skills environmental science-based job readiness program for high school juniors and senior “apprentices.” The position is responsible for designing and developing environmental research, restoration and justice projects and ensuring they are successfully executed across Rocking the Boat’s environmental youth development programing and public programs. The Director must be a technically skilled environmental scientist, an experienced project manager and be able to balance the accomplishment of tangible environmental goals with successful youth development. This position reports to the Senior Director of Programs.
Responsibilities
Program Development and Execution: Planning and implementation of a comprehensive youth development and job readiness program in environmental research, restoration, and advocacy
- Ensures the planning and implementation of a comprehensive environmental research, restoration, and justice-based job readiness program
- Manages up to 12 16- to 18- year-old apprentices, clearly communicating and reinforcing job expectations and holding them accountable to successfully filling them
- Offers engaging and relevant programs to participants built on the requirements of grant-funded environmental work
- Implements Rocking the Boat’s Technical Skills curriculum and works with apprentices to demonstrate individual achievement through mastering those skills
- Guides apprentices in developing a portfolio of their accomplishments in the program for use in post-secondary opportunities
- Collaborates with other Program Directors and Social Workers on program development, shared programming and training opportunities, promoting and delivering college and career exploration activities, and other opportunities
- Works with Environment Student Program Director and Social Work team to identify and interview prospective apprentices
- Ensures the collaborative planning and execution of environmental justice projects with the Student Environmental Program Director and Director of Public Programs
- Develops and leads day and overnight trips designed to introduce participants to professional opportunities
- Conducts evaluation exercises designed to assess programmatic success
Project Management and Administration: Ensuring the timely and successful implementation and accurate preparation of information and data necessary to deliver successful programs
- Manages multiple concurrent environmental research, restoration, and advocacy projects
- Ensures the timely and accurate preparation and delivery of reporting commitments to dedicated funding sources and partner organizations
- Manages scientific partnerships at universities, public agencies, non-profits, and private consultancies; develops and manages contracts/agreements with partners
- Attends relevant academic conferences, webinars and seminars, and technical trainings
- Identifies and researches prospective environmental projects
- Drafts relevant grant proposal content and drafts budgets in collaboration with the Development Department
- Plans and implements all aspects of new environmental science and advocacy projects
- Manages environmental project budgets across the organization; sources and purchases needed materials and equipment within the parameters established in annual budgets; provides timely and accurate accounting of all expenses
- Participates in state or federal required scientific plan and study processes necessary for permitting and responsible data collection activities required by funders
- Serves as organizational lead in writing, applying for and obtaining all necessary city, state and federal project permits
Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety: Ensuring that the physical resources are in place to provide safe and successful programming
- Manages and maintains Rocking the Boat’s boat inventory including wooden rowing craft and other waterfront equipment such as dollies, oars, and PFDs
- Maintains environmental laboratory and equipment
- Follows all Rocking the Boat safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues
Cross-Organization Support:
- Supports the Development Department in fund-raising activities and events 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:
- B.S. in Environmental Science, Ecology, Planning, Engineering, or related ecological field required; M.S. plus three to five years in the field strongly preferred
- Experience supervising employees
- Experience or interest in working with youth in a non-traditional educational setting
- Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, and an ability to work independently
- Experience managing concurrent multifaceted projects
- Valid Driver’s License
- Experience with boats and boat operation preferred
- Willingness to work long days and weekends, as necessary
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 employer match after first year
- 38 days paid time off (including sick and holidays)
- 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 program team 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 Environmental Science and Justice as the subject.
job skills social worker
Organizational Background
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 over $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.
Position Summary
The Job Skills Social Worker works with up to 36 high school 11th and 12th grade apprentices, members of Rocking the Boat’s Boatbuilding, Environmental, and Sailing Job Skills programs. The position helps participants to confidently navigating educational, interpersonal, and family systems by providing individual and group support, collaborating with schools, and making referrals to outside agencies when necessary. The position also acts to support young people in holding what, for many of them is their first job at Rocking the Boat and helping to guide participants through the end of high school and into viable post-secondary college and trade school opportunities.
The Job Skills Social Worker is part of the Social Work team, supervised by the Senior Director of Social Work, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The position collaborates with the Program Directors of the Job Skills Boatbuilding, Environmental, and Sailing Programs to support their shared participants.
Responsibilities:
Counseling & Group Work
- Revising biopsychosocial evaluations with all incoming apprentices
- Providing short-term goal-oriented counseling to participants and making necessary referrals
- Supporting personal growth through setting individual goals at the beginning of each semester
- Intervening during crises and mediating conflict
- Organizing and running two to three dynamic groups based on student interest and need each semester; past groups have focused on relationships, stress management, decision making, self-advocacy, and identity
- Participating with apprentices in boatbuilding, sailing, and environmental science programs both on and off site
- Engaging schools, families, and other systems to best support each student
- Offer participants life skills training opportunities in areas such as personal financial management, health and healthcare, and civic engagement
- Organize and lead at least two to three dynamic social-emotional groups for each participant based on participant interest and need each semester; past groups have focused on transitions, decision making, self-advocacy, and identity
- Manage personal crises and make referrals to other supports when necessary
- Engage schools, families, and other systems in supporting apprentices on a regular basis
Post-Secondary Support
- Collaborate with Alumni Coordinator to co-lead workshops for apprentices and families that focus on topics that support preparation for college, trade school, and other post-secondary opportunities
- Work individually with apprentices throughout the year to explore post-high school options and plan next steps
- Work with families to address and resolve individual academic and financial issues causing barriers to college enrollment
Job Readiness Support
- Support apprentices in obtaining working papers and completing employment documents
- Provide resume and cover letter writing support
- Introduce apprentices to a variety of career options
- Collaborate with Program staff in leading tri-annual pre-semester orientations
Trips & Events
- Attending single- and multiple-day trips, including multiple annual overnight and camping trips
- Supporting Program Directors in planning and organizing trips
- Collaborate with Alumni Coordinator a week of local daytrips to New York City and regional colleges during spring break and a four-day overnight trip to New York State colleges for juniors during their February break
- Planning and co-facilitating (with the Social Worker) three Friday “Chat n’ Chew” workshops each fall and spring semester featuring experts who can speak to topics relevant to Rocking the Boat’s youth population
- Collaborating with the entire Social Work Team to lead fall and spring semester Family Nights
- Leading up to five work place visits each summer
Program Administration
- Update participant information as it changes, collect all relevant personal and academic data, and record all interactions in a Salesforce database
- Assist Development staff in sharing student data and anecdotes of programmatic successes or challenges for reports and proposals
Intern Supervision
- Supervise and support an MSW intern
Qualifications
Required
- Registration as a Licensed Master (LMSW)
- A strong commitment to youth development, social justice, and anti-racist practice
- Highly developed organizational skills and an ability to work independently
- Willingness to work in a non-traditional clinical setting
- SIFI certified or desire to become SIFI certified
- Excellent communication and database skills
- All Rocking the Boat employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be willing to receive full set of vaccinations prior to employment.
Preferred
- Spanish language skills
- Valid NYS driver’s license with a clean driving record
- Registration as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Experience working with high school-aged youth, preferably in New York City
- Commitment to experiential learning and non-traditional clinical social work practice
- Approaches the work through a youth development, social justice, and anti-racist practice lens
- Strong organizational skills and an ability to work independently
- Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team of non-social workers
- SIFI certification or desire to become SIFI certified
Rocking the Boat offers
- Full-time salaried position: $55,000-$65,000 commensurate with experience
- Full benefits package including health insurance and 401(k) with up to 6% employer match after first year
- 38 days paid time off (including sick and holidays)
- Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to youth development
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. Candidates should 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 highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications along with a current resume to Xiomara Ayala, Senior Director of Social Work at xiomara@rockingtheboat.org with Job Skills Social Worker as the subject.
sailing program manager
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 after-school 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 counseling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants. Rocking the Boat became an accredited U.S. Sailing Community Sailing Center in 2018.
Position Summary
The Sailing Program Manager is responsible for working with the Director of Sailing to lead Rocking the Boat’s afterschool and summer sailing programs for high school students new to the sport. The Sailing Program Manager must be an experienced sailing instructor able to successfully teach students to become proficient sailors while integrating youth development methodology. The position reports to the Director of Sailing and is a full-time, exempt role.
Responsibilities
Program Delivery: Ensuring the successful implementation of a youth sailing program
- Collaboratively plans and delivers an engaging and relevant program to sailing participants
- Incorporates principals of positive youth development in program planning and delivery
- Implements Rocking the Boat’s Technical Skills curriculum and works with participants to
demonstrate individual achievement through mastering those skills - Collaborates with the Social Work team to address participants’ needs
- Supports Director of Sailing in developing opportunities for Rocking the Boat youth sailors to sail and race both internally and with other young people
- Helps plan and lead day-long and overnight trips
- Helps lead sailing programs for local schools and community groups
- Participates in monitoring and evaluation designed to assess programmatic success
- Delivers all programmatic content on schedule to dedicated funding sources
Community Outreach and Relations: Develop and foster strong working relationships within the sailing and youth development communities
- Maintains strong relationships with the local sailing community and plans relevant field trips for participants
- Works collaboratively with Director of Sailing and other relevant members of staff to recruit ninth and tenth graders for the Student Sailing Program to maintain a full enrollment in each of three annual semesters
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, evaluations, and other data
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
- In coordination with Director of Sailing, organizes Safe Powerboating Certification and US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat certification for appropriate staff
- Works with the Sailing Program team to manage and maintain all of Rocking the Boat’s sailing
program inventory and shared resources as needed
Cross-Organization Support: Contributing to the promotion and smooth operations of the organization
- Participation in fund-raising activities as requested
- Contributes to the maintenance of shared resources
- Contributes to management of program volunteers and hosts visitors
- Participates in other activities as necessary to fulfill the mission of Rocking the Boat
Qualifications
- US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor
- NY State Boating Safety Certificate or equivalent powerboat driving certificate
- Experience managing sailing education programs; race coach experience a plus
- Experience or desire to be involved in community-oriented education programming
- Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, and an ability to work independently
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office computer applications
- Valid driver’s license
- Willingness to work long days, weekends, and some overnights, as necessary
Rocking the Boat offers
- Full-time salaried position: $50,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience
- Full benefits package including health insurance and 401(k) with employer match after first year
- Generous paid time off
- 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. Candidates should 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 juanpablo@rockingtheboat.org with Sailing Program Manager as the subject.