Sea-Watch is looking for a Search and Rescue Coordinator & Head of Mission

(40h/week)

Sea-Watch e.V. is a non-profit initiative dedicated to the civil sea rescue of people on the move. In view of the humanitarian disaster in the central Mediterranean Sea-Watch provides emergency aid, demands and at the same time forces the rescue by the responsible European institutions and publicly stands up for legal escape routes. We are politically and religiously independent and are financed exclusively by donations.

The Operational Coordination department is looking for a new team member to fill the role of SARCO/HOM (f/m/d) with 40 hours per week from July 2025 onwards. The position is initially limited to 12 months with wish to extend. The position is both land-based and ship-based with a rotation between the roles of Search and Rescue Coordinator (SARCO) on land and Head of Mission (HOM) on board the Sea-Watch 5. Our rotation model foresees the person on this position to

  • work one rotation (around 4-7 weeks) as a SARCO from shore,
  • followed by one rotation as a HOM on board the Sea-Watch 5, and then 
  • one rotation off.

SAR Coordinator Role

As SARCO, you are our focal point on shore and ensure smooth operations. You support and advise the Head of Mission and captain on board with tactical and strategic operational decisions, and liaise with relevant departments during active operations. During non-operational times, the SARCO works on general related structural, technical and strategic topics in Sea-Watch in close collaboration with other departments and organizations.

Head of Mission Role

As Head of Mission (HOM), your role is to lead Sea-Watch operations and crew during a mission, coordinate Search and Rescue activities and communication between departments on the ship, and represent the organization Sea-Watch e.V. on board the ship. You work closely with the Captain and SARCO, while maintaining distinct responsibilities. The HOM is accountable for all mission-related decisions, while the master carries the legal responsibility and makes respective decisions on board.

We are looking for someone with both coordination and practical experience in SAR, and rescue operations. We offer you a motivated, agile and driven team with a can-do attitude always ready to support and share your tasks within a highly active and engaged organization.

Your tasks:

When covering a rotation as SARCO:

  • Organize operational briefings and debriefings

  • Support the HOM during their entire deployment

  • Focal point for the Sea-Watch 5 when the team is at sea (on call around the clock)

  • Liaise with relevant departments on operational topics

  • Facilitate mission alignment and information exchange

Within your rotation free time/long term SARCO tasks:

  • Liaise with relevant departments on long term operational topics (e.g. areas of operation, trends in migration routes, tactical setup etc.)

  • Take care of the rescue setup in a tactical approach, coordinate with relevant departments on operational needs, technical and regulatory requirements

  • Further develop relevant SOPs (standard operating procedures) and incorporate learnings and developments in the SOP’s

When covering a rotation as Head of Mission:

  • Work closely with the SARCO during mission preparation to develop briefings, trainings and watch-keeping schedules

  • Ensure that all mandatory trainings, briefings and drills take place successfully prior to departure

  • Confirm mission readiness, while developing and preparing contingencies in the event of equipment, vessel or mission crew irregularities

  • Overall focal point for crew on board for mission related topics and tasks

  • Oversee and support other crew members in managing their responsibilities according to their positions on board

  • Lead the team, maintain crew morale and ensure well-being

  • Manage conflicts and engage in team-building exercises to boost operational readiness

Your profile:

  • SAR experience: Extensive and preferably recent SAR experience in the central Mediterranean Sea on a ship comparable in size to Sea-Watch 5 (minimum 2 seagoing missions, crew size > 20), ideally in a leadership position

  • Teamwork: Patience and resilience with the ability to reach good decisions in a constantly evolving environment, and during emergency situations

  • Diplomacy and leadership: Cooperative and constructive approach to decision-making with different teams, groups and departments

  • Organization: Able to prioritize & delegate, and act decisively in a fast-paced setting

  • Flexibility: Navigate operational challenges and long working shift (night) hours with flexibility and proactivity

  • Information: Well-informed about the latest developments in the central Mediterranean, Libya, Tunisia, Italy and on EU level

  • Travel: Willing to travel regularly (to meetings or ships) during SARCO deployment to Italy and Spain up to 3 times a year and to spend 6 weeks on board at a time

  • Health: Physical fitness and mental resilience

  • Languages: Excellent English language skills

  • Safety: Basic nautical skills (for rescue operations) and functioning knowledge of all positions on board Sea-Watch 5

  • Organizational alignment: Strong understanding of the vision and goals of Sea-Watch e.V

Desired skills/certifications:

  • You have sailed on board a Sea-Watch vessel within the last 24 months or spend several months at sea on board a comparable rescue vessel

  • (STCW) Basic Safety Certificate

  • Medical fitness certificate

  • Watch-keeping license

We offer you:

  • Dynamic working environment

  • Insights into the work of an NGO in sea rescue

  • Independent work and the creative freedom to help shape our operations

  • A position with a workload of 40 hours per week

  • Place of work in the Berlin office/home office and in the current port/on board

  • Salary: 3,400 Euro (employee gross*) under a German contract or a seafarer contract

  • The position is initially limited for a year with the wish for extension

Are you interested?

Then we’re looking forward to receive your application and your answer to our questions:

Please send your application documents with CV, letter of motivation in which you touch upon the following questions including contact details for two references and relevant certificates in one pdf document: application@sea-watch.org

Deadline to submit the application is Monday 19th of May.

1) What’s your previous SAR experience, with who, in what position?

2) What did you learn in your time with SAR?

3) In what sort of teams did you work before and in what role were you? What experience do you have in moderating groups/teams, streamlining different interests?

4) What other experience do you think would help you in a position as SARCO that you would like to tell us about?

5) How would you describe your leadership style? What limitations are you aware of that are inherent to this style and how do you mitigate those?

 

Please refrain from submitting a photo of your application and information about your marital status.

As we are committed to an inclusive society without racism, we welcome any application, regardless of gender, age, cultural and social background, religion or sexual orientation. In case of equal qualification, we favour applications from women*, LGBTQI*, BIPoC, people with disabilities, people with migration experience and people from other underrepresented groups. Should you feel addressed here, we invite you to provide relevant information on this in your application. 

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*From January 1, 2024, we have a new salary model that allows for various supplements to the basic salary and takes into account family needs and personal disability. In addition, the salary increases by 3% with every year of service. In addition, there is the possibility of supplements due to previous relevant professional experience based on internal criteria, a maximum of 5 years can be recognized here, a supplement of 3% per year of previous experience is possible.