Join Aurora
Interested in joining the crew on Aurora? Please read carefully:
AURORA is a 14-meter rescue boat that has been adapted for use in the Central Mediterranean. It can reach a top speed of 25 knots. This makes it one of the fastest vessels in the civilian search and rescue fleet in the central Mediterranean.
The crew will be on standby near our port of operation in order to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. Each rotation lasts 31 days. The crew of 7 need to be be prepared for a variety of rescue scenarios.
Given the small size of the vessel and crew everyone is expected to help with manoeuvres (e.g. mooring), guest care and basic first aid. Communication needs to be clear and constructive at all times. Working language on board of our ships is English, additional language skills are welcome.
Sea sickness can be a real issue on Aurora, so please consider that when applying.
Desired skills for all crew:
- Medical experience and/or first aid skills
- Nautical experience
- Experience with living together with a small yet diverse group of people
- Experience of work in context of migration or understanding of the Central Mediterranean context
- Previous Search-and-Rescue (SAR) experience
- Experience with crowd management
- Language skills other than English – especially relevant are Italian, French, Arabic, Farsi, Bengali, Tigrinya, Somali, Fula
Below you find a more detailed description of each role, including position specific requirements and desired skills.
Unfortunately we are not able to accept every applicant for a position on board. This usually has to do with the limited space and the special skills needed on board. We would like to ask for your understanding in advance.
We are very happy about all your support!
The following positions are available on Aurora:
Skipper
The skipper is responsible for the safety of the Crew and vessel throughout the operation.
Rescue related decisions are made together with the HoM and our operational land support. Given the small size of the ship and flat hierarchies among the crew, we expect the skipper to support the crew on deck whenever bridge duties allow it. The skipper is also responsible to lead maritime training according to our internal training schedules.
Requirements:
- German SBF See, or equivalent pleasure craft license without limitations of distance from the coast, AND valid Radio Operator’s Certificate
- experience in SAR: at least 2 rotations (not necessarily as Captain) AND/OR experience as skipper on similar crafts (twin engine, no bow thruster)
- Excellent communication and decision-making skills
Particularly desired:
- Fluent Italian
- experience working with volunteers, some of whom with limited nautical experience
Head of Mission
The Head of Mission facilitates communication and working together within the crew.
Together with the skipper they are responsible for relationships with external actors (e.g. other vessels, land structures, coast guard, authorities). The Head of Mission ensures the communication flow between the ship and the organization. The HoM is capable of taking decisions in close cooperation with the support team on land, both by facilitating discussions and by taking the lead when the situation requires it.
They organize the trainings and briefings for the crew, ensure the compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and are responsible for writings reports and documentation after the rescues.
Requirements:
- Experience in facilitating discussions and decision-making processes in teams
- advanced knowledge of the political and operational situation in the central Med, as well as the legal framework of our operations
- strong experience in Search and Rescue (SAR)
Particularly desired:
- Fluent Italian
- basic knowledge and understanding of the structure and decision making processes within Sea-Watch and/or experience with similar standby rescue concepts
- valid Radio Operator’s Certificate and/or experience with SAR related communications
Mechanic
The Mechanic is responsible for maintenance and repairs of the engine. Additionally, they are the 2nd Helmsperson, and might be tasked to manoeuvre the vessel in shifts with the skipper. They also support with deck and guest care work, whenever other duties allow.
Requirements:
- Experience in engine maintenance – ideally similar craft (twin MAN V10 Diesel engine, no bow thruster)
- Experience in SAR (not necessarily as mechanic) AND/OR experience of sailing on small vessels
Particularly desired:
- AEC1 or above, STCW Engine Watchkeeping licence
- Experience with maintenance of Electric Systems (Battery system, engine controls etc)
- German SBF See, or equivalent pleasure craft license without limitations of distance from the coast, and valid Radio Operator’s Certificate
- experience working with volunteers, some of whom with limited nautical experience
Guest Focus
The Guest Focus is the crew member responsible for establishing and maintaining first communication with travellers in distress at sea. They need to have strong crowd management skills and participate in the decision-making together with HOM and Skipper regarding the first assessment on the distress case.
They are responsible for Guestcare, whether people are taken on board Aurora or not, this includes deciding and organizing food and non-food item distribution, as well as sharing basic yet vital information on the basis of our protection principles.
Requirements:
- Experience being responsible for communication, organization and decision-making in similar contexts
- experience with crowd management/ conflict resolution/ mediation
- experience in SAR and/or good knowledge of the context of migration in the Central Mediterranean Sea, the Italian political situation and European migration policies
- good spoken level of French and/or Arabic
Particularly desired:
- Experience with organizing food/NFI distributions
- experience in training and/or coordinating others on crowd management / non-violent communication / asylum matters
Deck/Driver
The “Deck / Driver” acts as main deckhand on board and drives the smaller rescue boat (SIB) which we launch for rescue operations. They should be experienced in mooring operations and line handling. They also support the Skipper in training other crew members on basic line handling and deck work, as well as using SAR equipment. They are the main support for the Guest Focus position.
Requirements:
- RYA Powerboat level 2 (equivalent or above) and SIB/RHIB driving skills
- experience of sailing, helm or deck work on small vessels
- experience in SAR (ideally but not necessarily as part of RHIB team) AND/OR experience with crowd management / conflict resolution/ mediation
Particularly desired:
- Experience in maintenance of outboard engines
- good spoken level of French and/or Arabic
- experience with team work, activism with people on the move, food/NFI distributions
Medic
The Medic on board is responsible for having an overview and providing the best care to people in distress at sea. They are the only medic on board. medical facilities and care on board of Aurora are limited to first aid and emergency response. The person must be confident in triage, constant medical assessments, and quick decision-making.
The medic is also responsible to write short medical reports for handovers to other vessel or authorities, and also provide basic medical training for other crew members
Requirements:
- Medical Doctor
- two or more years of experience as medical professional
- experience in SAR AND/OR experience working in context with limited capacities and need for prompt, autonomous and responsible decision-making
Particularly desired:
- Good spoken level of French and/or Arabic and/or Italian
- experience of sailing/ deck work on small vessels
- experience with crowd management / conflict resolution/ mediation
Join the Sea-Watch 5
More than 20 volunteers work on board our Sea-Watch 5. Each operation, including preparation and follow-up, lasts between 6 – 7,5 weeks. To be able to carry out our operations, we need people with special and very different skills. On these pages, you will find detailed information about the different tasks on board.
If you want to apply for a position on a Sea-Watch operation, you should be able to imagine living and working for 6 – 7,5 weeks in a confined space, in stressful situations and with many unknown and very different people.
Unfortunately we are not able to accept every applicant for a position on board. This usually has to do with the limited space and the special skills needed on board. We would like to ask for your understanding in advance.
We are very happy about all your support!
The following positions are available on the Sea-Watch 5:
Master
Applications are currently closed for Master position!
The master has the responsibility for handling the ship. You are responsible for the ship’s administration (bunkering, crew-lists, customs clearance, detailed operational documentation, daily reports and statistics). Together with the Head of Mission, you will prepare the (documentation for) disembarkation of guests.
As master you will handle the ship in harbour and during SAR-operations. Together with 1st and 2nd officer you will introduce the crew to the bridge and watch system. Together you will train the crew in using the bridge equipment, show the crew how to handle ropes and how to communicate over the radio. You will provide the crew with trainings in emergency situations (e.g. what to do in case of fire, POB, ingress of water, unwanted visitors).
Profile
-
Valid Certificate of Competence Master on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more (STCW A-II/2, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
Valid General Operator’s Certificate GMDSS (STCW A-IV/2, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
Citizenship of an EU member state
-
Ability to cooperate well within a team and work closely with the Head of Mission
-
Ability to provide training and supervision to others
-
Ability to delegate tasks
-
Excellent communication skills
-
Excellent English language skills
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom will have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Italian language skills
1st Officer
Applications are currently closed for the 1st Officer position.
As a 1st officer you will support the master on the bridge. During SAR operations you are responsible for communication between deck and bridge. You coordinate the rescue activities on deck in close cooperation with the deck manager and you pass relevant information on to the bridge. You will work independently as one of the navigators of the ship and you will prepare the watch plan. Together with the master you will familiarise the crew with the bridge and the watch system, train the crew in using the bridge equipment, radio communication and rope handling. Together with the 2nd officer you arrange regular safety drills for situations like fire, POB, ingress of water and unwanted visitors.
Profile
-
Valid Certificate of Competence as Chief Mate on ships between 500 and 3000 gross tonnage or more (STCW A-II/2, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
valid General Operator’s Certificate GMDSS (STCW A-IV/2, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
good English language skills
-
Willingness to part take in the watch-plan (24h/d shift work)
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom will have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Italian language skills
2nd Officer
Applications are currently closed for the 2nd Officer position.
The 2nd officer will work closely together with the master and the 1st officer and will be working independently as one of the navigators of the ship and be part of the watch shifts. You will be responsible for all safety equipment on board. Together with the 1st officer you will organise regular safety drills. Furthermore, you will work closely with the rest of crew during SAR operations by supporting the master with log keeping and external communication on the bridge.
Profile
-
Valid Certificate of Competence as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more (STCW A-II/1, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
valid General Operators Certificate GMDSS (STCW A-IV/2, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
Good English language skills
-
Willingness to part take in the watch-plan (24h/d shift work)
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom will have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
- Italian language skills
Chief Engineer
As chief engineer you will be responsible for the engine room. You will oversee the maintenance and repairs of the main engines, generators, pumps and compressors. You are responsible for and work with the Engine Maintenance System. You will work with, support and manage the 2nd and 3rd engineer, and work closely with the Head of Operations and the technical ship manager. During the mission you will inform the crew ashore of technical repairs which must be done during harbour time and coordinate closely with the Head of Operations. Sea-Watch 3 has two main engines and one generator (all caterpillar engines). The Sea-Watch 5 has two main engine units of Cummins engines.
Profile
-
Valid Certificate of Competence as Chief Engineer Officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery between 750kW and 3000kW (STCW A-III/3, German license OR endorsement for the German flag)
-
Expert technical / trouble shooting experience
-
Experience with Caterpillar engines or similar engine
-
Experience with Electric Arc Welding (Manual and MAG)
-
Willingness to do general maintenance work on the ship (in support of the bosun)
-
Willingness to part take in the engine room watch-plan (24h/d shift work in a permanently manned engine room)
-
Good English language skills
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom will have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Experience in using hydraulic cranes
-
Experience in maintaining/repairing hydraulic systems
2nd / 3rd Engineer
As a 2nd/3rd engineer you will be working closely together with the chief engineer on the main engines, generators, pumps and compressors. You will help out with operating the hydraulic crane as well as anchor winches. During SAR-operations you will also be taking care of other tasks like look-out, handling guests on the ship, handing out food and drinks to our guests and helping the medical staff.
Profile
-
Recent experience with large engines
-
Good knowledge and experience of standard safety equipment for ships
-
Good English language skills
-
Willingness to do general maintenance work all over the ship (in support of the bosun)
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
experience on ocean going ships
-
Completed vocational training as engine rating ship’s mechanic (integrated rating) (STCW A-III/5)
-
Certificate as engineer officer of the watch (STCW A-III/1)
-
Certificate as second engineer officer (STCW A-III/3 or A-III/3)
-
Experience with Caterpillar engines or similar engines
-
Experience in maintaining/repairing hydraulic systems
-
Experience with electric arc welding (manual and MAG)
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Experience with mooring ships and line handling
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
Ship’s Electrician / IT
As a ship electrician you will be responsible for the electrical and IT systems on the ship. While at sea you will be on standby in case of electrical problems. You support the chief, 2nd and 3rd engineer where needed. If the electrical systems are running smoothly you will be assigned to other tasks on the ship. During SAR operations you will be taking care of different tasks like: Taking part in launching the fast rescue boats, being on look-out, taking part in crowd control shifts, handling guests on the ship, preparing and handing out food and drinks to our guests and helping the medical staff.
Profile
-
Experience with (marine) electrical systems
-
Experience with IT
-
Good English language skills
-
Willingness to participate in watch keeping
-
Willingness to be part of guest handling on board
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Experience on ocean going ships
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Experience with mooring ships and line handling
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
Bosun
Applications are currently closed for the Bosun position.
As bosun, you are responsible for maintenance and minor repairs on deck (painting, oiling and greasing, checking if all the doors, flaps, hoses and pipes work properly), you will train other crew members to support you with the daily maintenance. You are pro-actively checking, controlling and maintaining. Furthermore, you will be operating the cranes on deck, mostly the two davit cranes to launch and recover the RIBs (rescue boats). Together with the RIB drivers you will be responsible for the (daily) maintenance of RIB’s. During mooring operations, you are responsible for managing other crew members (line handling) to ensure a safe and smooth operation.
During SAR operations you are supporting the other departments and you are taking part in embarking people and the guest handling on board.
Profile
-
Experience as bosun or deck hand on ocean going ships
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Experience with mooring ocean going ships
-
Ability and experience with training and managing a small team
-
Being pro-active
-
Experience with operating cranes and winches
-
Willingness to stand navigational watch
-
Willingness to take part in guest handling on board
-
Good English language skills
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Experience with RIB and outboard engine maintenance and repairs
-
Completed vocational training as deck rating ship’s mechanic (integrated rating) (STCW A-II/5)
Deck rating
Applications are currently closed for the Deck Rating (AB) position.
The Deck Rating will take responsibility for many different aspects of operating our vessels. You will work closely with the bosun and support them with maintenance work, repairing of our RIBs and line handling during mooring operations. Additionally, you will operate one of the davits and the hydraulic crane on the aft deck. You will instruct other crew members on deck according to Sea-Watch principles and guidelines. With your nautical experience you make sure that everything runs smooth and safe both during standard ship- as well as rescue operations.
Profile
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Experience with mooring ocean going ships
-
Experience with operating hydraulic cranes
-
Ability and experience with training and managing a small team
-
Excellent decision-making skills
-
Good English language skills
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
SAR experience or previous work experience with refugees
-
Professional technical training / Experience with engine maintenance
Guest Coordinator
As a guest coordinator you organize all support for our guests while they are on board. You know the protocols and procedures of the ship and you can be the focal point for the logistic part of our guests well-being: you will train, coordinate and support other crew members. While people are embarked, you will make sure that everything runs smoothly, and you do crowd management. With guests on board, you are responsible for the deck watch shifts, food preparation and distribution, as well as briefings and preparation for arrival in Europe. You will oversee the material stocks related to guests and coordinate with our logistician ashore to arrange resupply accordingly.
Profile
Technical requirements
- Excellent English language skills
- Good (or excellent) French language skills
- Experience in training other people on crowd management issues, non violent communication and alike
- Experience with activism / humanitarian aid work with displaced people
As Teamlead of the Guest care team, you should
- be capable of prioritizing, organize and delegate tasks
- be the focal point for the rest of the crew and guests on board for the logistic part, share your plan and stick to it (stocks managements, distributions, briefings etc)
- show excellent communication (including listening!) skills
- be prepared to reflect and react under pressure and in unexpected situations
- be able to coordinate a team in stressful situations, showing strong leading qualities
- but also be able to just work together as a team
As one of the responsible persons of the wellbeing of rescued people, you should
- be capable of saying yes when it’s yes, no when it’s no, nicely but surely
- have experience or be willing to learn quickly the “how to” for the stocks/ logistic part
- be able to daily organize for, cook and distribute food and items to 200+ people
- have good knowledge of Sea-Watch principles
- be well informed about the current situation on the central Mediterranean Sea and in Italy
- have SAR experience (mandatory for GC Teamlead, but possible to apply to join as a trainee without it)
As part of the crew on board Sea-Watch, you should
- be willing to take part in maintenance work all over the ship
- be able to work and live in a diverse team of 22 to 29 other crew members, some of whom have limited nautical experience
- prove physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
- Italian language skills
- Arabic language skills
- Language skills in any other potentially relevant language (Tigrinya, Amharic, Bangla..)
- Experience of using conflict solving skills in distress situations
- Experience of work on board sea going ships
- Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
- Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
- Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
- Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
Cook
As a cook you are responsible for ordering the required food for the time on the ship (approximately two weeks for 22 (Sea-Watch 3) or 29 (Sea-Watch 5) people plus food for guests according to a fixed food plan). Furthermore, you will be responsible for planning three meals a day for the crew. You don’t have to cook every meal yourself but it will be your job to arrange and organize the help of crew members.
During SAR operations you will take care of additional tasks: Participating in launching the rescue boats, being on look-out, handling guests on the ship and together with other crew members preparing and distributing food for our guests, taking part in watch and crowd management shifts.
Profile
-
Experience with cooking for a group of 22 people or more
-
Experience with preparing a variety of diets including vegan and vegetarian meals
-
Ability to plan and order all required foods for the intended time on sea (with help of existing plans)
-
Willingness to improvise food for more than 350 guests on board if necessary
-
Willingness to be part of guest handling on board
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Good English language skills
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Food hygiene familiarisation (can be obtained short term)
Desired Skills
-
French language skills
-
Italian language skills
-
Arabic language skills
-
Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
RHIB Team Leader (RTL)
As RIB Team Leader (RTL), you will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all RIB related activities on board the ship; preparing for, planning, executing and debriefing all fast rescue boat operations during the mission.
In your role as focal point for the rescue team and RIB operations, you will be tasked with making critical decisions in a timely way in order mitigate loss of life at sea: your priority is to do the best for the most.
On board the ship, the position reports directly into the Head of Mission (HoM) and Captain, but works very closely alongside the Bridge and Deck team, and is supported by Operational Coordination Department on shore.
Tasks and responsibilities in more detail
- Operate under pressure as tactical coordinator from the Sea-Watch RIBs during a rescue, leading the execution of the operation from the water, and reporting to the HOM/Captain on the Bridge.
- Serve as the overall focal point for the RIB team, working closely alongside other department coordinators to ensure an holistic approach to mission priorities
- Run briefings, debriefings, trainings and drills in order to establish a shared mental model of how to approach a rescue, ensuring that all involved parties have a comprehensive understanding of Sea-Watch understanding of rescue theory and rescue SOPs
- Ensure comprehensive handover of all RIB related duties and roles during crew-change
Necessary for the role
- Significant (and preferably recent) search and rescue experience in the central Mediterranean;
- A clear understanding of the technical, physical and psychological complexities presented by operating in this context, with a clear understanding how to mitigate these risks;
- Experience in crowd control and strong mediation skills;
- Very familiar with how the small assets handle and operate under changing weather conditions and with evolving payloads;
- Strong and proven leadership ability under pressure and/ or in volatile settings;
- Proficient in the English language
Desired Skills
- Previous mission experience on board with a Sea-Watch vessel
- Italian/ French/ Arabic language skills
- (STCW) basic safety training, medical fitness certificate and watch-keepers license Comprehensive SAR navigation skills including Comms, Radar and Multi vessel search coordination;
- Proficiency/ experience as a RIB driver
- VHF license
- Experience with humanitarian aid work beyond sea rescue
- Experience living and working on offshore vessels
- Technical expertise
RIB Driver
As a rescue boat (RIB) driver you are, together with the bosun, responsible for the RIBs on board. This includes the maintenance of the engines, refilling fuel tanks as well as cleaning and repairing the RIBs. Additionally, you will be responsible for giving all crew members an introduction in how to control a RIB and how to do a person-over-board manoeuvre.
During SAR operations you will navigate and drive the boat and lead the RIB crew. You will have to make quick decisions and communicate with your team, the second RIB and the mother ship.
Profile
-
International Certificate of Competence: RYA Powerboat Level 2 or equivalent license
-
Experience with driving RIBs or on similar boats
-
VHF license (Short Range Certificate) and experience with radio communication
-
Basic first aid certificate
-
Ability to work under pressure
-
Experience in leading a small team
-
Very good English language skills
-
Willingness to take part in the watch-plan
-
Willingness to be part of guest handling on board of the Sea Watch 3
-
Willingness to do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Experience with the maintenance of 2 and 4 stroke engines
-
Experience with the maintenance of RIBs
-
Experience with humanitarian SAR missions
-
Sprachkenntnisse Französisch
-
French Language skills
-
Arabic Language skills
-
Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
-
Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
Medic
As part of a four-person medical team, you will look after the health of the crew and guests. Our treatment rooms are well equipped and air-conditioned. Nevertheless, many situations will require improvisation skills.
During SAR operations, at least one of the four medics is part of the rescue boat (RIB) crew to assess the medical needs of the rescued. When guests are on board, you will be responsible for triaging patients, treating emergencies and giving general advice on hygiene.
You may transfer to other vessels (e.g. merchant vessels) to treat patients or communicate with medical staff from other vessels, e.g. regarding the transfer of patients.
One of the female medics is responsible for the most vulnerable of the guests (e.g.: pregnant women, minors, rape victims, etc.).
When there are no medical duties, you participate in the general operation of the ship, such as the watch system.
The application must include the following: CV (max. 2 pages), letter of motivation (max. 1 page), period of availability.
Profile
-
Applications only open for health care nurses, paramedics, physicians.
-
Doctors need at least two years of professional experience, or professional experience through training prior to licensure.
-
Medical students need nursing/paramedic training
-
Our operations currently last approx. 5 weeks – a high degree of flexibility is therefore required.
-
Appropriate proof of medical qualification
-
C1 level in English
-
Willingness to participate in the watch system, night shifts
-
Willingness to carry out maintenance work on the vessel
-
Ability to work and live with mixed (including in terms of their professional skills) crews of 29
-
High physical and mental resilience
-
Complete vaccination status against measles and COVID-19
Desired Skills
- Experience with complicated medical emergencies (mass casualty incidents) and/or medical qualifications regarding relevant emergencies on board, for example experience with children and pregnant women, as well as obstetric emergencies
- Work experience in to low-resource settings
- Emergency medical training
- Management or leadership experience
- Knowledge of French
- Knowledge of Italian
- Knowledge of Arabic
- Experience on rescue boats
- Experience with radiotelephony procedures
- Security Awareness Certificate of Competency (STCW A-VI/6; can be acquired at short notice through an online course)
- Valid certificate of seaworthiness for other ship operations (can be acquired at short notice)
- Valid certificate of competency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
The application must include the following: CV (max. 2 pages), letter of motivation (max. 1 page), period of availability.
Cultural Mediator
One of the primary roles of the Cultural Mediator will be as part of the rescue boat (RHIB) team. You will operate as the first contact and focal point for people on boats in distress, under the RHIB team leader coordination. As the person that establishes and maintains communication with the casualty vessel, this position holds great responsibility; it will require you to feel comfortable working under pressure, and with spending long hours on rescue boats during Search And Rescue operations.
When there are guests on board you will work together with the Guest Care team, and in particularly close collaboration with the Medical Team, Bosun and Head of Mission.
This includes assisting the Protection Officer (PO) in their role of referring people and issues relating to protection, and providing the Guest Care Coordinator with support to deliver the briefings and execute tasks related to crowd management.
As Cultural Mediator, you are a critical component of the crew; working to try and ensure the well being of those we rescue through sharing accurate and clear information. You may also be asked to help facilitate communication/ translation between the medics and their patients, or between the Captain and Head of Mission and other actors (local fishermen, so called Libyan Coast Guard), when needed.
Profile
- Excellent English language skills
- Good (or excellent) French language skills
- Good (or excellent) Arabic language skills
- Strong social skills
- Excellent communication (including listening) skills
- Be able to take initiatives, share them and carry them out
- Experience with activism / humanitarian aid work with displaced people
- Experience in cultural mediation, formal or informal, with people from diverse backgrounds
- Be able to work together, first with the RHIB team, then with the Guest Care team
- Be able to remain calm and adapt to unexpected situations, de-escalating potential conflicts
- Willingness to assist with Protection and Guest Care on board
- Willingness to translate if asked for
- Good knowledge of Sea-Watch principles
- Willingness to take part in the watch-shift-plan
- Willingness to take part in other tasks and maintenance work all over the ship
- Be able to work and live in a diverse team of 22 to 29 other crew members, some of whom have limited nautical experience
- Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
- Italian and/or German language skills
- Language skills in any other potentially relevant language e.g. Bengali, Fula, Hausa, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu…
- Experience of using conflict solving skills in distress situations
- Background education / trainings on protection issues, psycho social first aid, cultural mediation issues, crowd management, trauma, non violent communication and alike
- Experience in training other people on cultural mediation issues, crowd management, trauma, non violent communication and alike
- Experience in humanitarian protection
- Experience in Search And Rescue operations
- Experience on RHIBs
- Experience of work on board sea going ships
- Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
- Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
- Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
- Certificate of Proficiency for ‘ratings forming part of a navigational watch’ (STCW A-II/4)
Media Coordinator
As the Field Media Coordinator (FMC), you are responsible for visually documenting the work on the ship. Your materials will be published by Sea-Watch on social media, used as handouts for press releases, and potentially submitted as evidence in court. Therefore, the core of this position involves working with your camera for both photos and videos. The position also includes additional responsibilities, such as taking care of technical equipment like the GoPro cameras used by the RHIB team during SAR (Search and Rescue) operations. Furthermore, you will work as part of the overall Sea-Watch media team and will be responsible for timely communication of operational details to the team onshore.
You should have experience and be familiar with journalistic and editorial standards, both in terms of form and workflow. Additionally, you need to be able to perform well under high pressure, work quickly and efficiently, and be capable of self-reliant organization in a highly stressful work environment. Therefore, excellent communication and social skills are essential. You should also possess the ability to respect personal boundaries and be mindful of power structures, as well as demonstrate an awareness of the ethical challenges associated with this environment. We expect you to have a critical understanding of stereotypical imagery in humanitarianism and the implications of its colonial tradition, and an understanding of visual narratives.
As a member of the RHIB teams, you will operate at the forefront of our rescue operations and may even participate directly in rescue efforts. You will participate in extensive training and should be mentally and physically resilient.
Profile
- Excellent technical skills using digital DSLR- and video-cameras and industry-standard software such as Adobe Lightroom, Premiere, etc.
- Excellent communication skills with your crew members and guests on board, especially regarding consensus and boundaries.
- Experience in editorial workflow and the understanding of potential use cases of your material
- Creativity, a good eye for motives and the ability to adapt to unexpected circumstances
- Awareness and experience regarding the strong ethical standards of photo-journalistic work and with working in humanitarian organizations
- Experience with working in challenging situations, and in contact with human suffering
- Ability to work under high pressure to meet tight publication deadlines
- Ability to work self-reliantly and organize your needs within a big team of 30
- Excellent English language skills
- Willingness to take part in the watch-plan, in guestcare on board and in maintenance work of the ship
- Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 30 crew members in a narrow space
- Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
French language skills
-
Arabic language skills
-
German language skills
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
Please understand that applications without a portfolio or similar work samples cannot be considered. Please provide them in the application form.
Head of Mission
As the Head of Mission, you are responsible for the team on board. You are the point of contact for the crew, the organisation and other parties (NGO’s, state parties, other vessels etc). You support people in taking the responsibility for their position and you will introduce the complete crew to the mission and vision of Sea-Watch e.V. You oversee trainings, briefings and handovers during crew change. Additionally, you will make sure the crew functions as a team. You will plan the mission and discuss the plan with the whole team. You keep an eye on the limits of the crew, the ship and the rescue material. You oversee the correct implementation of SOP’s and you ensure daily briefings and debriefings when in operation.
You will make the final decisions (after listening to your team, the members of the Sea-Watch organisation and the responsible authorities of the area). You are responsible for reporting and documentation of the rescue operations, you work in close relation with the master.
Profile
-
Good knowledge of the Sea-Watch principles
-
SAR experience is essential
-
Well informed about the current situation in the SAR zone and in Italy
-
Able to coordinate different teams simultaneously especially in stressful situations
-
Preparedness to act in unexpected situations
-
Ability to prioritize, organize and delegate
-
Excellent leadership qualities
-
Basic knowledge of all positions on board of Sea-Watch 3
-
Ability and willingness to organize and manage crew trainings
-
Excellent communications skills
-
Excellent social skills
-
Excellent English language skills
-
Confident in decision taking
-
VHF license (Short Range Certificate)
-
Pleasure craft license
-
Ability to work in a mixed team of volunteers
-
Willingness to take part in the guest handling and do maintenance work all over the ship
-
Ability to work and live in a diverse team of 22 volunteers some of whom have limited nautical experience
-
Physical fitness and mental resilience
Desired Skills
-
Good German language skills
-
Good Italian language skills
-
Experience with humanitarian aid work
-
Experience on ocean going ships
-
valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (can be obtained short term)
-
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
-
valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
Protection Officer
As Protection Officer (PO) you will be part of the Guest Care team, in charge of the well-being of our guests on board. Together with the Cultural Mediator, you form the protection team; recommending and defining daily priorities based on protection needs on board. After ensuring people are safer on board our vessel, the PO becomes the focal point for our guests future. You are the person responsible for making as small as possible the gap between the life-saving rescue and the life that will then continue on land.
You work closely with the Guest Care Coordinator, Bosun, the Medic team leader and the Head of Mission, while other crew members know they should address to you for protection issues.
Protection issues will be addressed in the form of information-sharing and basic referrals to specialised actors for appropriate follow up. This hugely impacts the further care our guest will receive once disembarked, and ensures that if someone does raise a concern of some sort while on board, that is taken into account.
FAQ
I have already been in contact with Sea-Watch in the past but have never been on a mission. Should I fill in the form again?
Yes, please fill in the online form again. Some of our crewing requirements have changed over the last years mostly due to the new ship. Also we would like to know about your availability for 2018. Please just include the information that you applied previously.
Can I apply for different positions at the same time?
Yes, this is possible. Please make sure to double check that you fulfill all required skills. The crewing team will then decide on your possible position based on demand, skills, after consulting you again.
Which languages are spoken on board of Sea-Watch ships?
Our teams are diverse and usually consist of many different nationalities. Therefor all communication on board will be in English. Please make sure that you meet the language requirements which are listed in the position descriptions.
I have a physical or psychological health issue. Can I still contribute to your mission on board of our ships?
This depends very much on the individual situation. We would like to encourage you to consider this question before you apply for a position on board. Existing or previous psychological issues might restrict your ability to cope with traumatic events within a search and rescue missions. We work in an extreme environment and all our crewmembers need to be physically fit to be able to fulfill all required tasks. Please feel free to contact us in case you have a question regarding this topic!