• director of boatbuilding
• boatbuilding job skills program manager
• middle school program assistant
• boatbuilding program assistant

Organizational Background

Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool program 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 in New York City and San Francisco. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers and a college counselor to have a profound and lasting impact on participants.

Position Summary

The Director of Boatbuilding coordinates all boatbuilding-related activities and infrastructure across the organization and manages all boatbuilding staff. This includes leading the year-round high school Boatbuilding Youth Development Programs, supporting the boatbuilding and carpentry components of Middle School and Public Programs, managing the sourcing and maintenance of all wooden boatbuilding materials, tools, and equipment, and supervising the maintenance and upkeep of Rocking the Boat's fleet of wooden rowing and sailing boats. The position manages three full-time staff: two Boatbuilding Program Managers and Boat Maintenance Assistant and supports the Program Managers in supervising their respective Program Assistants and apprentices. The Director of Boatbuilding must be an experienced leader with significant staff supervision, shop, and project management skills, a technically proficient wooden boatbuilder, and have program administration experience that supports the successful oversight of a suite of wooden boatbuilding-based youth development programs. The position reports to the Chief Youth Development Officer and is a full-time, exempt position.

Responsibilities

Program Development and Execution

• Ensures the development, planning, management, and implementation of a comprehensive boatbuilding-based youth development and job readiness program
• Oversees two Boatbuilding Program Managers in their respective roles:
  • Student Program Manager --leads an introductory boatbuilding-based youth development program for 9th and 10th graders over three annual semesters
  • Job Skills Program Manager -- leads an advanced boatbuilding-based job readiness program for 11th and 12th graders
• Oversees all program design and delivery in both Student and Job Skills programs, formally incorporating the technical skills and principles of positive youth development codified in Rocking the Boat's boatbuilding curriculum
• Supports the Middle School Program Manager in developing and delivering the Boatbuilding component of the Middle School Program (10 weeks of curriculum in the school year and 1-2 days per week during the 6-week summer semester)
• Supports Public Programs with project preparation and curriculum development for their day-time work with visiting school groups
• Collaborates with other Program staff and the Youth Services team on program development, shared programming, individual participant support, and cross-organizational training opportunities
• Oversees trip planning for day and overnight off-site excursions designed to introduce participants to related professional opportunities; attends relevant day trips and overnight trips including the Wooden Boat Show and the bi-annual Teaching with Small Boats Alliance conference
• Ensures that the Student and Job Skills programs are being continuously monitored and evaluated for successful delivery and optimal participant impact
• Makes certain that all programmatic activities and commitments to dedicated funding sources are met
• In the event of staff vacancies, ensures programmatic continuity

Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety

• Organizes, manages, and maintains Rocking the Boat's shop, tools, and other equipment, including managing purchasing and inventory
• Sources all wooden boatbuilding materials including purchasing and, when possible, arranging for donations of local oak and cedar; this includes coordinating with landowners and portable sawmill operators as well as identifying pre-milled stock
• Oversees asset management of Rocking the Boat's active fleet of 20 wooden rowing boats and six sailboats, two powerboats, and rowing and sailing equipment which includes:
  • Ongoing fleet repair and maintenance
  • Large scale repair and restoration work as needed
  • Preparing boats as necessary for fundraising and other promotional purposes
  • Marketing and any restoration needed to sell or donate boats no longer in use
• Follows, enforces, and ensures boatbuilding staff and participants adhere to safety protocols; continually reviews and improves protocols as necessary

Staff Supervision and Development

• Hires, trains and supervises two Boatbuilding Program Managers and Boat Maintenance Assistant
• Provides ongoing management, training and guidance for the Boatbuilding team and shop safety training for all staff
• Supports the success of the Boatbuilding team in the following ways:
  • Develops systems for managers to track participants' technical skills progression
  • Creates and maintains realistic timelines for project completion
  • Provides team supervision around time management, balancing competing priorities, and maintaining sustainable workloads

Program Administration

• Ensures the Boatbuilding Department maintains accurate participant records including attendance, technical skills development, and other data needed to support program delivery and communicate impact externally
• 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-Organizational Support

• 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 dynamic shop environment
• Experience in managing complex, multi-faceted projects
• Experience or interest in working with youth in a non-traditional educational setting
• Experience managing and 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: $90,000 - 100,000, commensurate with experience
• Benefits package including Health, Vision, Dental and 401k with 6% employer match after first year of employment
• Paid Time Off
  • Vacation: 23 days; increase to 28 days after three years
  • NYS Sick and Safe Time: 40 hours
  • Holidays: 10 days
• Compensatory time for work on weekends, holidays, and overnight trips
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to staff well-being, sustainable work practices, and a workplace culture that values open communication and staff perspective

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Rocking the Boat

Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging 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

Please send a cover letter and resume to Ali Abate, Chief Youth Development Officer at

ali@rockingtheboat.org with "Director of Boatbuilding" as the subject.

Organizational Background

Rocking the Boat began as an afterschool boatbuilding program 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 $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across three locations in New York City and San Francisco. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers and a college counselor to have a profound and lasting impact on participants.

Position Summary

The Boatbuilding Job Skills Program Manager is responsible for leading Rocking the Boat’s afterschool and summer job readiness boatbuilding program for high school juniors and seniors. The Boatbuilding Job Skills Program Manager must be an experienced wooden boatbuilder or woodworker and a skilled youth development professional who can effectively teach boatbuilding techniques while integrating positive youth development practices. The position is a full-time, exempt role, works in parallel to the Boatbuilding Student Program Manager, and reports to the Director of Boatbuilding.

Responsibilities

Program Planning and Delivery

• Supervises up to 12 paid high school juniors and seniors in an intermediate-level, boatbuilding job readiness apprenticeship program over three annual semesters
• Develops weekly lesson plans and delivers Rocking the Boat’s wooden boat construction- and restoration-based Boatbuilding Job Skills youth development and technical curriculum to apprentices
• Collaboratively delivers workplace training to apprentices at the beginning of each semester
• Establishes professional expectations and holds apprentices accountable in fulfilling those expectations
• Collaborates with the Youth Services team to address apprentices’ social-emotional, academic, and post-secondary planning needs
• In collaboration with the Director of Boatbuilding:
• Helps plan and lead between two and three day-long and two multi-day overnight trips annually
• Develops opportunities for Boatbuilding apprentices to explore the trade of wooden boatbuilding and carpentry, making external connections with wood shops, boat shops and other craftspeople
• Build opportunities for apprentices to teach Middle School Program students during their boatbuilding modules

Supervision and Staff Development

• Hires and supervises up to 12 Job Skills Apprentices, managing their transition from the Student Program to the Job Skills Program in 11th grade
• Assists with their onboarding and introduces them to the “world of work”
• Provides ongoing management, technical, safety, and youth development training
• Carries out one-on-one check-ins with apprentices at least once per semester to reflect on their growth, track progress and set goals
• Administers a performance evaluation to each apprentice at the end of each semester

Program Administration

• Maintains accurate participant records including attendance, technical skills development, and other data needed to support program delivery and communicate impact externally
• Manages apprentices' hours according to budget; reviews and approves apprentice time sheets in advance of bi-weekly payroll
• 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

Maintaining Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety

• Works collaboratively with the Boatbuilding team to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of:
  • boatbuilding shop, tools, equipment, and materials; and
  • Rocking the Boat’s active fleet of 28 wooden rowing, sailing, and power boats
• Follows all Rocking the Boat safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues
• Keeps CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications current (provided by Rocking the Boat)

Cross-Organizational Support

• Participates in fundraising 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

• Demonstrable experience building and repairing traditional wooden boats
• Experience or interest in working with youth in a non-traditional educational setting
• 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 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: $60,000-70,000, commensurate with experience
• Benefits package including Health, Vision, Dental and 401k with 6% employer match after 1 year of employment
• Paid Time Off
  • Vacation: 23 days; increase to 28 days after three years
  • NYS Sick and Safe Time: 40 hours
  • Holidays: 10 days
• Compensatory time for work on weekends, holidays, and overnight trips
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to staff well-being, sustainable work practices, and a workplace culture that values open communication and staff perspective

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Rocking the Boat:

Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging 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

Please send a cover letter and resume to Ali Abate, Chief Youth Development Officer at ali@rockingtheboat.org with “Boatbuilding Job Skills Program Manager” as the subject.