Ena Ship Keeper / Boatswain

• Full-time, Ongoing, APS Level 5 position
• Attractive employee benefits including 15.4% superannuation
• Australia’s leading museum located waterside in beautiful Darling Harbour

The Australian National Maritime Museum is seeking an experienced and dynamic Ship Keeper/Boatswain (Ena) to join our Fleet team in this full-time ongoing position.

As one of Sydney’s most visited museums, the Australian National Maritime Museum shares our national maritime story across Australia and the world, online, onsite and through research, presentations and travelling exhibitions, and provides must-visit museum experiences that delight and inspire.

We connect our visitors with the oceans and waterways that are the heartbeat of who we are. From deep time to modern Australian and beyond, we explore our past, our present and future as an island nation shaped by sea, offering a sustainable and cohesive vision for the future.

The Museum welcomes over 2.5 million local, interstate, and international visitors annually, and is supported by a thriving and passionate staff, membership, volunteer and education base. Find out more at sea.museum

As a part of the Fleet team, the Ena Ship Keeper / Boatswain works to ensure the vessel is maintained to the highest standard, is functioning safely and efficiently. The position is responsible for delivering high quality customer service to all guests and visitors at the Museum to ensure accurate information is given on board the vessels to provide a welcoming and informed experience.

This position has particular responsibility for the historic steam yacht, Ena, but is also responsible for the maintenance of the floating and sailing vessels and will assist in the management of other vessels in the museum's heritage fleet as required. 

The role of Ship's Boatswain is a key position in maintaining the Ena’s seaworthiness through ongoing repairs and maintenance, and is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the ship. While the vessel is at sea, the Ship Keeper / Boatswain is responsible for preparation and ongoing management of the deck and crew, as per the master’s intentions.

High level overview of accountabilities:

• Maintain the bright-work and varnished surfaces of historic steam yacht Ena.
• Prepare and operate the Museum vessels during opening hours to allow for public attendance. This comprises of unlocking each ship, switching on relevant lights, general ship keeping duties as well as ship husbandry and securing.
• Work with the Front of House and Public Engagement teams to support visitor tours that are effectively integrated with the overall visitor experience. Maintain smooth movement of visitors through the vessels and liaise with the volunteers and FOH team to safely maximise visitor numbers on board.
• Efficient face-to-face assistance and support for visitor groups, on-board contractors and authorised visitors such as Film and Media groups to ensure a positive experience for them.
• Maintain records of all maintenance tasks undertaken including details relating to measurements and processes employed to complete task.
• When at sea, perform the role as Boatswain as per the ship's Standing Orders when required.
• Facilitate orderly evacuation of visitors in the event of emergencies on board.
• Monitor vessel guides and undertake the coordination and training of volunteers assisting in vessel maintenance including the monitoring of their safety.

Selection Criteria:

Essential

• Experience in the maintenance and detailing of high asset value vessels and the effective monitoring of their condition and safety systems.
• Monitoring and supervision of contractors working on board vessels, assist in the planning of vessel dockings and on water work projects, share progress reports with line managers and adapt timeframes to enable vessel operation.
• Experience in managing the deck of commercial vessels, leading deck crew and wait staff in deck work and service to an accepted high standard
• Experience in the supervision of Volunteers in processes such as varnishing and application of paint systems to a very high standard of presentation. 
• Well-developed communication skills with the capacity to understand the environmental and safety issues that exist on-board an operating vessel and the necessary precautions to take (MARPOL).
• Demonstrated ability working in a team environment, reading ship layouts and systems drawings.
• Experience working in a customer focused environment with the ability to deliver a high standard of work whilst representing the Museum.
• Boat licence.

Desireable

• Qualified and knowledgeable in the field of ship systems and safety equipment as well as working in a marine environment with particular experience using metals, coatings or timber trades.
• General Purpose Hand (GPH) qualification.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in heritage vessel maintenance.
• Experience working in a cultural or customer service institution and an understanding of operations and presentations of major public attraction.
• Knowledge or appreciation of Maritime history.

If you are ready for that next step, please apply by addressing the selection criteria, providing a Cover Letter and CV.

Applications Close: 5pm AEST, Friday 31 May 2024. No Applications will be accepted by mail or email. 

Selection for this position will be made on the basis of relative merit which will be assessed against each item of the selection criteria. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered for short listing by the Selection Committee. As part of the selection process the selection committee may invite candidates to undertake psychometric test, you should advise the selection committee if you have any special needs. Psychometric tests may be used as the initial short-listing test or later in the selection process. Some tests are very short while others may take one or more hours.

This position is open to all eligible members of the community, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability and people from every cultural and linguistic background. To be an eligible member of the community, you must be an Australian citizen. Applications may be accepted from Australian permanent residents who are in the process of acquiring Australian citizenship.