Lead Skipper

About the roleTo lead and manage a team of skippers and crew in operating a safe and professional scheduled boat service taking passengers on and off Brownsea Island daily, throughout the year. Working as part of the wider hotel management team delivering a great guest experience, ensuring safe operating procedures are adhered to at all times.

• Contract type  - This position is a permanent contract

• Working pattern  - Various full-time hours required including early’s, evenings and overnight cover on a rota basis

• Location- This role is based at our Brownsea Island Hotel with live in accommodation available

Key Responsibilities: 

● Be the Designated Person (DPA) accountable for the compliance and safe operation of the boat operation.

● Be the primary contact with the relevant authorities and organisations, including the MCA, MMO, Poole Harbour Commissioner, National Trust, DWT, Emergency planning group.

● Own, review and update the Domestic Safety Management Plan (DSM) ensuring effective communication, training and understanding to all relevant Partners. 

● Ensure that all duty holders are trained and suitably knowledgeable with a clear understanding of collective accountability when undertaking their role.

● Manage and develop a team of Skippers and Crew, ensuring all operating procedures and schedules are adhered to at all times.

● Work alongside the National Trust operation where shared resources and support are required to maintain the shared boat service on and off the island.

● Ensuring all boat inspections, survey’s, licences and certificates are kept current and booked and planned for as required.

● Ensure all audits are conducted as required and do not lapse.

● Ensure that all Codes, restrictions, and local rules and regulations are adhered to and that any changes or updates are effectively communicated to all.

● Manage and plan the rota’s and ensure sufficient cover is in place at all times, day and night (including out of hours on call service). Ensuring compliance with Working Time Regulations for hours worked and breaks.

● Act as Duty Manager (including overnight cover) for the Castle Operation as required, and actively be involved in the wider operation as part of the management team.

● Ensure all legislative requirements are met and understood by all.

● PPE is always worn and is maintained.

● All recordings and records to be kept up to date and readily available for inspection.

● Minimise maintenance costs through PPM schedules and regular servicing of the boats and equipment. 

● Partners training records to be monitored regularly and kept up to date.

● Risk Assessments and actions to be reviewed and acted on without delay. 

● Understand and apply targets to maximise fuel economy and other related costs in operating the boats.

● Support the wider operation with delivery of guest luggage, hotel supplies, and contractors/visitors as required.

● Act in accordance with the Partnership’s purpose and  democratic principles, constructively participating in  co-ownership, and demonstrating to customers and  each other that it is a better way of doing business. Share your knowledge, experiences, ideas and opinions to improve the Partnership, speaking honestly and frequently.

● Invest in your personal and professional development  to achieve your potential, by doing more, doing better, or doing differently. Continuously engage with and actively contribute to your Profession

● Appreciate what different life experiences bring to  the Partnership and the value this adds to unbiased  and smarter decision making..

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Good Communication and planning

• Thrives in an outdoor environment

• Guest service and experience is priority

• Works well under pressure

• Can do attitude and flexible to change

• Strong practical knowledge and mindset

• Can deal confidently with a high level of responsibility and accountability

• Can deliver and manage all procedures and practices required

• Continuous improvement mindset

• Physically fit and hands on approach

• Conversant in all related safety and compliance areas

• Can command authority

• Can train and develop a team

• MCA Boatmasters license to operate a class V passenger vessel in category C waters.

• Proven record of relevant boat operating experience

• Willing to gain additional qualifications appropriate to the role.

Desirable skills/experience you may have 

● Designated Person Ashore qualification

● First Aid trained

● Management experience 

About Brownsea Castle

Working on an island, living in a castle with red squirrels at your window sounds like a fantasy but due to the wonderful and unique Brownsea Castle this could be your reality.

It’s our place by the sea, our island getaway across beautiful Poole Harbour offering an escape to our Partners with history and nature in abundance. Guests stay on the National Trust run island in the amazing Tudor castle, set amongst 17 acres of private grounds with stunning Italian gardens and a dedicated beach offering relaxation and beautiful nature walks.

If you are looking for a hotel with a difference, this could be it. You’ll be surrounded by a team of passionate and dedicated hospitality Partners who give our guests the best experience possible. What is different about our guests though is that they are Partners with their friends and family.

As co-owners in the business, you’ll see this difference in the way your teammates and you approach your job and carry out your responsibilities. With all of the island to explore or using any of the facilities on offer; a croquet lawn, children's play area, badminton, football, cricket, fishing, archery and frisbee golf you can guarantee that our guests will be hungry and looking to recharge with the fantastic food offering we give them.

Boats: We have our own private boat service from Poole Quay and Salterns Marina to get Partners to and from work, these boats run approximately once an hour between 7am - 11pm. Castello Boat berths in the Marina at Poole and Enterprise at Salterns .

Car parking: Parking for Poole can be found on BCP Council car park information page - https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/parking/find-a-car-park/quay-visitors-mult... and for Salterns marina there is on road parking on Dorset lakes road, the marina is permit parking only.

Buses: Buses from Salterns stop at 7pm and all staff are required to cover late night shifts beyond the bus times.

#SM1

About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.