Location: Operating from Gosport, but sailing around the UK and near-continent

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Salary: £27,600 gross per annum

Closing Date: 3 April 2025

Are you someone with cooking or catering experience who is looking for a unique offshore experience?

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a vibrant and growing charity, delivering life-changing nautical adventure for young people, to give them the best possible head start in life.  We also provide personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society.  Working with our staff, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a vision and five-year strategy to take us forward and further improve the astounding contribution already made through our work to the lives of thousands of young people and seafarers, while fully supporting our volunteers who are vital to our success.

We are currently looking for a Cook-Coxswain to join our team.

About the role

We are seeking to appoint a Cook-Coxswain to one of our 24 metre power training vessels which operates out from Gosport, in Hampshire.  The vessel undertakes 6-day voyages around the coastal waters of the UK and near continent for up to 12 Cadets (aged from between 12-18 years of age).  Applicants should have the requisite experience and ability to cook for up to 18 people,  together with the ordering and management of food stores.  In the Coxswain part of the role, you will be also be responsible, in conjunction with the First Lieutenant, for management of the ship’s routine with key responsibility for Cadet administration, morale, safeguarding, welfare and discipline.

Catering experience and knowledge of working with young people are essential requirements for the role, as well as qualifications in food hygiene, first aid and a RYA Level 2 powerboat (though this could be learnt on the job for the right candidate). Good communication skills and a high level of emotional intelligence will also be required.

Applicants should also either hold a current Seafarer Medical Certificate or be willing to obtain one.  The ability to work effectively with young people as well as the permanent and relief crew members is essential. Ship system familiarisation, child safeguarding and any necessary sea safety training will be given to the successful applicant.

The particular demands of seagoing employment requires the incumbent to be available for duty for prolonged periods and working hours necessarily need to be very flexible.  Although overtime will not be recognised, the working and rest hours for the role will be within the confines of the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.  The uncertain nature of the working hours are recognised by the holiday arrangements afforded.

For an informal discussion about the role of Cook-Coxswain role on board our power vessels, please contact MSSC's Offshore Office on 07798675147.

Applications should consist of a completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form, both available from the website. You may submit your CV in support of your application, but the appropriate application form must be completed if you wish to be considered for these roles.

Responsibilities 

• To plan menus and order victualing supplies in order to provide the cadets and adult staff with a well-balanced and nutritious diet (taking into account specialist diets and allergies).
• The preparation and cooking of food.
• To have custody and control of onboard stocks of food and medical supplies.
• To organise and run arrangements for serving of food, preparation and clearing away of dining areas, the ship’s galley and pantry.  This will involve close supervision of cadets as they undertake domestic mess duties.
• To operate and oversee a structured deep cleaning routine for all areas that fall under the responsibility of the Cook/Coxswain, especially the Galley, Pantry, food stores and other associated catering spaces. 
• To assist in the cleaning stations below decks, in conjunction with the First Lieutenant.
• To be ship’s Helm as required.
• To be helm of the ship's tender as required.
• To be the ship’s principal First Aider.
• To lead the completion of joining/leaving paperwork for visiting personnel.
• To maintain cadet discipline on board.
• To look after the welfare, safeguarding and pastoral needs of the cadet crew.
• To assist with husbandry and other general maintenance tasks.

Other duties

To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, should not normally exceed those expected of an employee at that level.

Benefits 

• 104 days annual leave per annum, 84 individual days during the sailing season and 20 working days during the
• winter refit period.
• Life assurance (4x salary) for those that join the charity’s pension scheme.
• Private medical insurance.
• Pension (employer contribution up to 10%).
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling.
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.
• National staff conference: All employees come together once a year to reflect on the past year and celebrate success at our offsite staff conference. This is a great opportunity to listen to employees' views, and for employees to network, share information and socialise.

For further information, please download the Recruitment Pack. 

If you are interested in this unique and highly rewarding Cook-Coxswain vacancy, please apply now!

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo a criminal record check.