Organizational Background
Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool project 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. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants.
Position Summary
The Boatbuilding Program Manager is responsible for running Rocking the Boat’s afterschool and summer Student Boatbuilding Program, working with a group of 16 ninth and tenth grade students, introducing them to a range of traditional wooden boatbuilding skills through the process of building a wooden rowing or sailing boat from scratch. This role requires a technically skilled woodworker or boatbuilder and a strong group leader able to balance the instruction of tangible boatbuilding goals with successful youth development methodology. The position is a full-time, exempt role and reports to the Director of Boatbuilding. The Program Manager supervises up to four Program Assistants and works with other members of the Boatbuilding Operations team.
Responsibilities
Program Delivery
- Offers engaging and relevant programs to participants centered around the construction of wooden boats
- Implements and improves Rocking the Boat’s Technical Skills curriculum and works with participants to demonstrate individual achievement through mastering those skills
- Incorporates principals of Positive Youth Development in program planning and delivery
- Recruits program participants in collaboration with other Program Mangers and communicates with applicants and families
- Collaborates with other Program staff and the Youth Services team to address and support participants’ individual and group social-emotional needs
- Helps plan and lead day-long and overnight trips
- Participates in program evaluation by executing surveys designed to assess programmatic success
- Assesses participant progress and helps identify students to apply for the Job Skills Apprenticeship Program when they have reached the appropriate level of skill advancement
- Delivers all programmatic content on schedule to dedicated funding sources
Supervision and Staff Development
- Hires and supervises up to four (4) Program Assistants
- Provides ongoing management, technical, safety, and youth development training for Program Assistants
Program Administration
- Track and provide reports on program data deliverables including attendance, technical skill
accomplishment, evaluations, and anecdotal/qualitative program reports
- 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
Program Facilities, Equipment, and Safety
- Follows all Rocking the Boat safety protocols; identifies and corrects any safety issues
- Manages and maintains Rocking the Boat’s shop, tools, and materials
- Keeps CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications current (provided by Rocking the Boat)
Cross-Organizational Support
- Participation 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
Requirements
- Wooden boatbuilding or relevant woodworking experience
- Experience managing students or supervising employees
- Experience or desire to be involved in community-oriented education programming
- 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
- Spanish language skills a plus
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 youth development and a culture of empowerment
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Rocking the Boat
Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in all organizational initiatives and for all members of the community. 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. Candidates should feel welcome to communicate any special needs or requirements to be accommodated throughout the hiring process.
To apply
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Leland Gibson, Director of Boatbuilding, at [email protected] with Boatbuilding Program Manager as the subject.
