WHO WE ARE
Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Captain is responsible for the overall safety of the vessel and overseeing all crew and operations on the vessel to which they are assigned. Maritime safety and protection of the marine environment must be the Master’s primary concern in all situations. The Master is directly responsible for all actions and procedures on board which may affect the interests of the Company, for adherence to regulations of the USCG, SOLAS and other international conventions and requirements, and for compliance with laws of US and foreign countries
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Supervisory:
- Directly supervises all employees in the following positions: Chief Engineer, Chief Mate, 2nd Mate, 3rd Mate, and Hotel Manager. Indirectly supervises all crew assigned to the vessel.
- Liaises with EL to provide the best expedition experience to the guests.
- Monitors and counsels work performance throughout the year, and conducts written performance evaluations. Ensures that other officers complete the same.
- Coaches, disciplines, and/or terminates crew as necessary in a timely and appropriate manner, seeking the guidance and support of Human Resources as needed.
- Maintains professional demeanor with guests, crew, staff, agents, officials, and the public.
- Assists in the training and development of all direct reports. Also assists in the training of any new or relief Captain.
- Conducts daily informal meetings with the HM, EL, CE, CM to map the day’s operations/activities and guest welfare.
- Conducts weekly informational meetings with the staff, officers and crew.
- Responds in a timely manner to all concerns, complaints, and allegations, and conducts investigations as necessary. Notifies Fleet Management of potentially escalating problems.
Administrative:
- Distributes all information to and from officers, crew, staff, guests, and the Seattle and New York offices.
- With the Purser, prepares customs and immigration paperwork and personally attends the meetings with officials to clear the vessel.
- Oversees all reporting of vessel incidents (hull, crew, staff, guest).
- Through the Officers, oversees the management, operation, maintenance and repair of the vessel.
- Through the Officers, oversees all accounting reports, payroll, inventory and requisitions.
Watch Duty:
- Performs bridge navigation and deck watch as needed, especially in challenging navigational transits and harbor limits. Determines geographical position of the ship, using all available means such as GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, depth sounders, etc.
- Records necessary entries in navigation and radio logs.
- Handles the vessel in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route, in close quarters and open sea conditions.
- Acts as Radio Officer to handle ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and radio telephone calls en route and dockside.
- Navigates vessel to ensure avoidance of marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, shallow waters, etc. using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys.
- Assigns and directs deckhands to lookout and helm duties as needed.
- Completes pilotage logs for trips completed in Alaska, British Columbia, and on the Columbia and Snake Rivers to meet pilotage requirements and stand watch unsupervised.
Small Boat Operations:
- Drives inflatable boats as necessary.
- Oversees and assists with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats.
Safety and Security:
- Oversees safety briefings for guests and coordinates with the Chief Mate for on-board instructive drills for guests, staff and crew.
- Ensures vessel compliance to company safety and pollution prevention policies and procedures and requests supervisory assistance/guidance when necessary.
- Conducts periodic inspections to ensure that crew and guests observe regulations pertaining to safe vessel operation.
- Oversees the security of the vessel both at sea and at dock; ensures gangway watch is posted at all times while at dock.
- Coordinates off-ship emergency medical aid. Assists the Chief Mate in administering first aid treatment and in documenting medical incident reports.
- Oversees all drug and alcohol testing as required by the U.S. Coast Guard and Company policy.
- Prepares the vessel for and attends all U.S. Coast Guard annual drydocks and other inspections as required.
- Participates in company and shore-side training as required by the company.
- Maintains familiarity and compliance with the ISM and ISPS Code and requirements as well as USCG, Transport Canada, and Health Canada Requirements.
- Ensures compliance with the company Safety Management System including Emergency Response activities.
Guest/ Public Relations:
- Hosts various social functions on board, such as the Captain's Welcome Aboard and Farewell Nights, as well as participates in guest activities such as re-caps, barbeques, dining with guests, etc.
- Ensures that Lindblad Expeditions maintains a positive image with all local agents, officials, and area residents.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Minimum 5 years experience as either Captain or Chief Mate on passenger-carrying vessels.
- Experience operating port-to-port between Southeast Alaska, the Snake and Columbia Rivers, the Gulf of California, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama (including the Panama Canal) is preferred.
- Ability to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations.
- Familiarity with various communication equipment, such as cell phones, satellite phones, email, SSB, VHF, SAT-C, GMDSS.
- Excellent crisis management skills; works well under pressure, and acts quickly and decisively using sound judgement.
- Supervisory experience in maritime environment required. Additional supervisory oversight of hotel operations strongly preferred.
- Proficient user of computer systems, with the ability to utilize MS software applications in a Windows operating system.
- Ability to troubleshoot, act quickly with confidence, and make sound decisions while exercising good judgement.
Communication Skills:
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively present both sensitive information in one-on-one situations, and comfort with public speaking in group situations.
- Excellent written English language skills, with the ability to prepare professional documents and reports in a timely manner.
- Additional Spanish language skills preferred.
- Good customer service skills: able to maintain a professional demeanor at all times, ability to use necessary levels of tact and courtesy.
Licenses, Certificates, Registrations:
- Minimum USCG Master 500 GRT Near Coastal and Master Less Than 3,000 GT STCW Endorsement required.
- Current USCG Medical Card per STCW expiration date (2 years)
- Current First Aid/CPR/AED certification required.
- Valid TWIC card required.
- Valid US Passport required.
- STCW Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) Certification required.
- STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) within last 5 years required.
- STCW Vessel Security Officer (VSO) Certificate required.
- STCW Bridge Resource Management (BRM) required.
- STCW Medical Person in Charge (MedPIC) required.
- STCW Crowd Management (CM) required.
- STCW Crisis Management and Human Behavior (CMHB)required.
- STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other than Fast Rescue Boat (PSC) required.
- Radar Observer (RO) endorsement required.
- GMDSS license required.
- ECDIS endorsement required.
- ARPA endorsement required.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) Specimen Collector required.
- ECDIS Type-Specific Training provided.
WORK SCHEDULE
The Captain works approximately 12 hours per day of varied hours; approximately 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off, rotational schedule.
Employment is contingent on the following:
- In compliance with U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, 46 CFR Parts 4, 5, and 16, you will be required to undergo the following drug tests: post-offer prior to start date, random, reasonable cause, and serious marine incident per US Federal guidelines.
- Pre-offer background check; employment is contingent upon the results of this screening.
- Post-offer physical examination; your employment is dependent upon being determined fit for sea duty.
Continued employment is dependent upon consent to and passing these tests.
Lindblad Expeditions continues to highly recommend that all new hires be up to date with all vaccines prior to the first day of employment and getting boosted annually when eligible, including those vaccines that protect against COVID-19. All crew must still comply with all country-specific vaccination requirements.
Communication Skills
Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos. Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee will also be required to write and type. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The physical demands per position are described in the Job Analysis sheet and are available to all applicants upon request.
COMPENSATION STATEMENT
Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.
Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.
