Head Skipper & 2IC Maritime Operations

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey. Turn your maritime experience into a leadership role on the water. Help us share Dunedin’s extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and stories with visitors from around the world. Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours is looking for an experienced maritime professional to join our team as Head Skipper & 2IC Maritime Operations. This is a full-time senior leadership position, reporting directly to the Head of Operations. You will oversee the day-to-day delivery of our maritime operations while helping lead our team of Skippers and Boat Crew. We operate a two-vessel fleet, the MV Monarch and the MV Vivienne J, offering wildlife cruises and charter experiences across Otago Harbour and beyond. Our cruises connect with our range of land-based tours exploring the Otago Peninsula, including experiences with The OPERA, Larnach Castle, and the Royal Albatross Centre. When working as Head Skipper & 2IC Maritime Operations, you’ll... Lead and support our team of Skippers and Boat Crew. Skipper wildlife cruises, charters, and other maritime experiences. Work closely with the Head of Operations to coordinate training, maintenance, and operational priorities. Ensure all maritime activities are conducted safely and in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, operating procedures, and company policies. Oversee safety systems, documentation, incident reporting, drills, audits, and ongoing compliance requirements. Train, mentor, assess, and develop Skippers and Boat Crew. Monitor vessel condition and coordinate planned and reactive maintenance. Assist with contractor relationships, servicing schedules, repairs, and maintenance records. Provide engaging commentary about local wildlife, maritime history, conservation, and the Otago Peninsula. Support the delivery of private charters, special events, and new maritime experiences. Work collaboratively with our reservations, guiding, marketing, maintenance, and management teams. To be well suited to this role you'll... Hold at minimum a current Skipper Restricted Limits ticket endorsed for vessels up to 24m (or an equivalent ring-fenced Inshore Launch Master) with a Passenger Endorsement. Understand maritime safety, compliance, maintenance, and operational risk. Have experience leading, training, or supervising a team. Be calm, practical, and confident when making decisions under pressure. Communicate clearly and respectfully with staff, guests, contractors, and external agencies. Enjoy working with people and can create a welcoming experience for visitors. Have a genuine interest in wildlife, conservation, tourism, and the Otago Peninsula. Bring a positive attitude and want to contribute to a supportive and inclusive team culture. This is a public-facing operational role, so you will need to be comfortable working with people from many different backgrounds. Maritime tourism is affected by weather, wildlife, vessel requirements, and visitor demand, so flexibility is essential. This is an opportunity to take a leading role within an established wildlife tourism operation, work closely with an experienced team, and help shape the future of our maritime experiences. About the company New Zealand Wildlife Alliance is the parent company of Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours, The OPERA – The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance, and Wingatui Glasshouses, the three of which operate as sister companies. Together with the Otago Shore & Land Trust, we are focused on conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and education on the Otago Peninsula and beyond. Our purpose as a team We value the opportunity to share the beauty of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula with our guests and understand that it is only through their patronage that we can succeed. We believe in fostering a mentally and physically safe work environment which celebrates our commonalities, as well as our differences. We understand that it is only through our combined strengths and talents that we can achieve our common objectives of conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and education. We pledge to help each other accomplish the most we can so that together we can achieve our goals and make a positive contribution to the world. Every job, big or small, is essential in helping preserve nature’s song. #J-18808-Ljbffr