First Mate

Department: Facilities & Maintenance - Moyie

Position Type: Seasonal

Contract Start Date: April 19, 2025

Contract End Date: October 21, 2025

Hourly Rate: $22.00

Hours: Varies

What we offer:

• Flexible work arrangements where no one day is similar
• Working in a beautiful park setting
• Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events
• Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking

Who We Are:

Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.

Job Overview:

Under the direction of the Ship Captain, the First Mate assists in the navigation and operation of Heritage Park’s passenger vessel (more than 150 GRT) Moyie, a paddle-wheeler which sails the sheltered, non-tidal waters of the Glenmore Reservoir during summer daylight hours. The position ensures scheduled passenger service on the Moyie operates in a safe and efficient manner, supervises staff, and ensures the ship is operated in accordance with all government regulations and Heritage Park Policies. As with all of the “Moyie” crew, the First Mate is also responsible for providing an engaging and positive visitor experience to all guests at Heritage Park. 

Responsibilities:

• Navigate the vessel in designated areas, ensuring a safe and efficient maritime operation and maintaining a proper look-out at all times on the bridge/wheelhouse as required under the (Canada Shipping Act) CSA 
• Maintains scheduled passenger service, adhering to designated routes and timetables 
• Assesses weather, vessel, and other conditions suspending service if passenger or vessel safety is at risk and prioritizing the well-being of all on board 
• Ensures the vessel is properly maintained, serviced, and repaired in accordance with Department of Transport standards and regulations, ensuring the vessel successfully passes inspections to guarantee compliance 
• Evaluate and provide day-to-day feedback on the employee performance of specific duties and responsibilities, escalating performance concerns to the Ship Captain 
• Assist in the selection and onboarding of seasonal staff as required 
• Ensure all pre- and post-season vessel preparations are completed to maintain operational readiness 
• Provide assistance during private functions hosted on the vessel beyond regular park hours, ensuring a high standard of service and guest satisfaction 
• Ensure all staff follow emergency procedures according to Marine Emergency Duties (MED), providing instruction and direction when needed 
• Provide guidance and support to staff in case of marine emergency, adhering to Collision Regulations 
• Liaise with the Reservoir Safety Patrol Boat by promptly reporting problem situations and specifying their location, adhering to proper emergency procedures under Marine Emergency Duties (MED) and contributing to overall safety measures on the water 
• Educate passengers on marine travel, ship operations, paddle-wheelers in Western Canada, the surrounding natural environment, as well as relevant historical information, contributing to enhanced visitor engagement with the Park 
• Demonstrate ship-related tasks and activities to visitors, providing engaging and informative insights into daily duties and operations while fostering a positive and educational experience for guests 
• Create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors with a customer-focused approach, providing courteous and friendly customer service and valuable information to enhance the overall visitor experience 
• Perform other duties as required 

Required Qualifications:

• Completion of secondary school education is required; completion of related post-secondary education in Nautical Science is preferred 
• Appropriate Transport Canada certification of competency for the “Mate” position on a passenger vessel of more than 150 GT is mandatory 
• Minimum 3 years’ related work experience is required 
• Knowledge of marine safety procedures is essential 
• Strong knowledge of rules and regulations surrounding the operation of a marine passenger vessel, including the CSA and STCW 
• Must be certified with Marine Basic First Aid (training is provided by the Park) 
• Problem identification and solving, as well as organizational skills, are required 
• Public Speaking
• Good English language proficiency is required for effective communication, both verbally and in writing, to interact with park visitors provide clear and helpful information 
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting 
• All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through a Police Information Check as a condition of employment.  

Special Clothing and Equipment:

• Appropriate costuming and safety equipment will be provided by Heritage Park; 
• Washing and maintaining Costumes in a presentable fashion will be the employees' responsibility 
• Footwear, as designated by the Heritage Park Costume Department, will be provided by the employee. 

Special Working Conditions: 

• The position will be exposed to weather extremes and will work both indoors and outdoors, and 
• This position is physically demanding, and the incumbent must have the ability to lift heavy items, stand for long periods of time and walk throughout the Park for extended periods. 

Hours of Work: 

•  The position has various scheduled hours of work, including weekends, statutory holidays, fluctuating hours and overtime as required. 

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