South Street Seaport Museum, located in the heart of the historic seaport district in New York City, preserves and interprets the history of New York as a great port city.
Founded in 1967, the Museum houses an extensive collection of works of art and artifacts, a maritime reference library, exhibition galleries, and education spaces, working 19th-century print shops, and an active fleet of historic vessels that all work to tell the story of “Where New York Begins.” seaportmuseum.org
Job Summary
The Captain of Pioneer is a credentialled mariner who leads crew, staff, and volunteers in
making the 1885 schooner the best programmatic and visibility platform it can be.
Informed by the Museum’s mission and guided by organizational priorities, the captain serves as an
ambassador for the Museum and oversees all operational aspects of this historic 1885
schooner. While Pioneer is the primary role, the Captain serves in a collaborative waterfront and
within the broader museum, working collectively to effect the museum’s public-facing work.
The Captain reports to the Chief Operating Officer and serves as a member of the waterfront
team, composed of museum leadership and waterfront professionals. This team ensures the
safety and care of the Museum’s entire fleet (static and operational vessels) and other
waterfront assets.
The Captain coordinates with colleagues in the waterfront group to ensure maintenance and
refit projects are planned and completed successfully. The Captain works with other internal
teams, including External Affairs (marketing, grants, volunteers, event rentals) and Programs
(visitor experience, public programs/engagement, education, charters) to achieve the
Museum’s goals. The Captain also works with the broader community to help support the
Museum’s mission as needed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Essential functions of the Captain of Pioneer include, but are not limited to, the following:
Year-Round Responsibilities
● Manage Pioneer budget (plan, purchase, reconcile), including coordinate budgets across departments to define operational vs. restoration needs
● Hire, train, and supervise paid and volunteer crew
● Maintain regulatory compliance, including Certificates and Inspections
● Coordinate and develop shipboard programming with other Museum staff across departments eg: volunteer and intern programs, education and public programs and including blogs and virtual programs
● Manage and oversee Sail Training Program
● Develop vessel programs with partner organizations
● Coordinate with Ship Preservation staff to achieve long-term and short-term vessel care
goals for vessel maintenance, including periodic shipyard periods
● Represent the Museum as needed in external events and conferences relevant to
Museum vessel operations and to the Museum’s mission.
Operating Season Responsibilities
● Ensure that the Pioneer is maintained and operated in a legal, seaworthy, and orderly manner.
● Hire, train, and sign off on paid crew
● Manage the schedule of paid crew and volunteer crew
● Work with Volunteer Manager to recruit, train, and engage volunteers
● Develop and improve training materials for Sail Training program
● Manage fueling and black water disposal
● Coordinate routine maintenance
● Plan and execute transits/excursions to other locations for programs and maintenance needs
● Prepare documentation for off-season maintenance projects
● Maintain records on vessel’s operation and activities for internal and external use
Additional Responsibilities
The ideal candidate has proven abilities in the following areas:
Leadership Skills
● Lead and maintain a safe, professional, compliant, and inclusive work environment
● Plan, prepare, and manage large complex budgets
● Hire, Train, Lead, and Supervise large and diverse staff
● Express oneself effectively both verbally and by written word
● Coordinate with other parts of a multifaceted organization to achieve mission goals.
● Effectively interact with the public and industry professionals as a spokesperson for the vessels and the museum as a whole.
Maritime and Ship Husbandry Skills
● Successfully manage vessels with crews with various abilities and experience
● Traditional sail rigging and sailing techniques
● Operate vessels in busy commercial harbors
● Safely maneuver vessels in tight quarters and strong currents
● Plan operations and voyages both local and farther afield, considering, among others factors, weather, currents, and personnel
● Marlinspike seamanship
● Effective Aloft work and safety procedures
● Ship maintenance and repair of steel vessels
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
Applicants must be able to:
● Work effectively outdoors under various conditions, including heat, sun, wind, rain, cold, and darkness.
● Sufficient agility to move safely on the moving deck and in the confined spaces below.
● The ability to haul on lines under strain and to lift 40 poundsTips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.
Compensation/Benefits
The Captain position is a Regular Full-time, year-round Seaport Museum staff position with
PTO, Medical/Dental/Vision benefits, an employee-funded 403b retirement plan, and other
benefits. During the operating season, weekday, evening, and weekend hours are all part of the
work schedule. Two consecutive days off per week are the norm. The starting salary base is
$65,000, but compensation will be commensurate with experience and skill set.
How to Apply:
Email your resume and cover letter with “Pioneer Captain” in the subject line to:
careers@seany.org. Applications without an attached cover letter will not be considered. No
phone calls, please.
South Street Seaport Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. Non-traditional applicants
and/or those with suitable alternatives to the above criteria are encouraged to apply. The
Seaport Museum strongly encourages applications from members of groups underrepresented
in careers related to museums; we seek to foster a collaborative and respectful work
environment with a staff as diverse as New York City and our audience.
The position is open until filled, but applications received no later than Nov 1, 2024 will be given
full and thorough consideration
