JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Boat Coxswain – Boat Captain Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP)

PROGRAMME: Programme Operations

LOCATION: Bonthe, Pujehun and Moyamba districts

GRADE: 6 

REPORTS TO:  Area Manager with Matrix Management Line to Team Leader

CONTRACT LENGTH: 5 months

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people. In the overseas context, all posts are level 3. As part of these responsibilities, the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or because of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.  The post holder should report and respond to child protection interventions as determined by position’s responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP) aims to enhance coastal protection, climate resilience, and community adaptation through sustainable environmental interventions in Bonthe, Pujehun and Moyamba districts. Boat coxswains are essential for the safe and efficient transportation of project teams, equipment, and stakeholders to remote project sites that are mainly accessible by water.

The Boat Coxswain is responsible for the safe navigation, operation, and maintenance of the vessel. The role requires leadership, technical expertise, and a strong commitment to maritime safety, ensuring efficient transportation and the safety of all while adhering to national maritime laws and regulations.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Field Manager with Matrix Management Line to Team Leader

Number of direct reports:

Indirect or Matrix Management Reports: None

Budget Responsibilities:  None

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Safely operate and navigate project boats to transport personnel, materials, and equipment, including procedures for docking and anchoring.

• Conduct regular safety checks, inspections, and routine maintenance of boat engines and equipment, including pre-departure inspections, to ensure all systems and safety equipment are functional.
• Ensure boats are always adequately fueled, cleaned, and prepared for each journey.
• Maintain accurate boat logs and records, including trip logs, passenger manifests, and maintenance records.
• Comply strictly with Save the Children and Government of Sierra Leone safety protocols, maritime safety regulations, and environmental guidelines.
• Report immediately any safety hazards, mechanical problems, or incidents to the Save the Children Safety and Security Coordinator.
• Provide briefings on safety protocols and emergency procedures to passengers.
• Support loading and unloading operations, ensuring balance and safety and always avoid overloading of boat passengers.
• Monitor weather and water conditions to ensure safety and make necessary route adjustments if deem necessary.
• Evaluate distress situations and take early and substantial evasive action to avoid the risk of collision, grounding and fire incident onboard.

General

• Deliver high quality results in line with the terms of reference agreed in advance
• Comply with all relevant SC and SC Sierra Leone policies and procedures with respect to child protection, gender, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Any other task as designated or assigned by his/her line manager.

CORE BEHAVIOURS

We look to recruit a quality workforce who have or can grow in the following core behaviors:

Accountability:

• Holds themselves accountable to making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition: 

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener and easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid certification or license as Boat Coxswain recognised by maritime authorities in Sierra Leone.
• Minimum of 3- 5years of experience operating boats in coastal or riverine environments.
• Knowledge of local waterways in the Bonthe, Pujehun, and Moyamba districts.
• Demonstrated ability to perform basic boat maintenance and troubleshooting as well as basic mechanical knowledge of outboard and inboard engines.
• Proven record of adherence to safety regulations and emergency response capabilities

Desirable:

• Demonstrated relationships with district and national stakeholders within and outside the government
• Experience working in urban and rural settings
• Experience in safety consciousness and situational awareness.
• Responsibility and reliability
• Ability to work independently
• Strong teamwork and coordination skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in managing and/or monitoring vessels

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health & Safety policies and procedures.