Cook: Professional Crew Role Full Time

For the most up to date information, please view this posting at https://salts.applytojobs.ca/ 

SALTS is now accepting applications for the paid crew position of Cook, with the role starting mid-summer 2025.

About SALTS 
The mission of SALTS is “to create a safe and inclusive environment where young people can be themselves and grow personally, spiritually, and relationally through sail training in a supportive Christian-based community.” Our core values are faith, integrity, and community. If you are passionate about supporting this mission and values, we want to hear from you! Crew members directly support the mission of SALTS by providing sail and life training to the young people who climb aboard our schooners. As a crew member, you’ll experience the close community that forms aboard the SALTS ships, meaningful work with young people, and plenty of opportunities to grow your skills—in both life and sailing!

About SALTS Professional Crew Roles 

Specific Requirements for Cook Role: 

• Cook for 30-40 people four times daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening snack) with the help of any available trainees and volunteers, provide youth mentorship and Christian spiritual care, and assist in sail training and all program activities as time allows. View detailed position profile.

General Requirements for Professional Crew: 

• The ability to work with young people, to spend time with them and respond to their spiritual needs
• Wholehearted agreement with a Christian statement of faith and ethics, which will be reviewed during the hiring process (see details of our No Discrimination policy below)
• Canadian citizenship or a current work permit for Canada
• Other specific requirements which vary by role (SALTS arranges training for new crew-members)

Not an experienced sailor? That’s okay—SALTS provides all the training necessary to safely operate our ships and fulfill entry level crew roles!
Crew-employment can be full-time year-round (with paid vacation days) unless seasonal work (additional winter time off without pay) is preferred. Positions are based out of our office and marina in Victoria. Our sailing season runs from March through October. We generally require a commitment to remain in a crew role for the duration of our sailing season, though we are currently seeking both full-time and part-time (relief) Captains. Our trips explore the BC coast, from the Gulf Islands all the way to the central coast, and trips range from 4-10 days each depending on the time of year. During the off-season, new crew members take training courses to prepare for the upcoming seasons, while existing crew are able to use vacation time and prepare/maintain our schooners.

In the spring and fall our crew-members are typically at sea 4 nights and 5 days per week, and on shore (and off work) 3 nights and 2 days per week. There is also a paid week off at the end of June and a week off at the start of September, plus paid vacation days for use in the winter. In July/August we do 9-night voyages followed by 4-5 nights (3-4 days) off work.

Beneficial, but not required: 

• Previous experience with the SALTS program as a trainee or volunteer crew member (this ensures a familiarity with our program, culture, and values, and demonstrates a high level of interest in all aspects of shipboard life)
• Musical ability – though not all crew members need to be musical, we need enough musically gifted crew members aboard each ship to lead singing (with instruments) during evening mug-up

Though technical skills and seamanship have a high priority in most crew roles (they are not as critical for our cooks), SALTS is unique in the marine industry in that we do not require new entry-level crew members to be fully trained before being hired. We typically arrange and pay for most training courses after hiring new crew members and before the sailing season begins, although applicants with prior training are welcome as well. For a sense of the type of training entry-level crew-members receive if hired, please see this Course List. 

Entry level crew roles typically start at an annual salary of $40,000 (unless the person has substantial previous experience) plus group health/dental benefits. Training course costs are also covered by SALTS. Salary can increase based on experience and responsibilities, as crew members progress to different roles. The current maximum salary for the role of Captain is $104,000 (total compensation of ~$123,000 including group/dental benefits and RRSP contributions).

To apply for professional crew positions aboard one of our ships, please submit the application form along with your resumé (which can be uploaded as part of the online form). This form is not for shoreside staff positions nor volunteer roles. Aside from confirming that your application was received, we will contact only the candidates whom we wish to follow up with or interview. Applications are received year-round and reviewed as they are received, so apply as early as possible to avoid your preferred roles filling up. Before you apply, please ensure you have read this entire page, and that you have read about “Our Mission.”

No Discrimination: 
SALTS is committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace as per its obligations under applicable human rights legislation. SALTS will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, or any other protected ground. Where a position is integral to the fulfillment of SALTS’ primary Christian spiritual purpose, SALTS requires adherence to the Christian religion. SALTS’ primary spiritual purpose is stated in our constitution: “to develop the spiritual… potential of young people…in a Christian environment” through primary means that include “to advance, teach, and model spiritual growth and beliefs associated with the Christian faith.” As such, our volunteer Board members, Executive Director, professional crew-members (who are our program leaders), and some of our staff members are Christians who hold beliefs consistent with the Apostles’ Creed. All employees must respect, value, and support the mission of the Society. Advancement of Christian faith is not the only aim of SALTS, and it is pursued in a way that is respectful, welcoming, non-coercive and non-judgmental of program participants from all walks of life and beliefs.

Compensation: 
$40,000.00 – $94,000.00