Now hiring for our 2024-2025 Winter Restoration Season!  

The Sloop Clearwater sails on the Hudson River, between Albany and NYC, and works to provide innovative environmental education programs, advocacy, and celebrations designed to expand people’s experience, awareness, and stewardship of this magnificent natural resource. Clearwater spends the Winter Maintenance season docked in Kingston, NY.

If you would like to apply, please email your resume and cover letter to captains@clearwater.org with the name of the role you are applying to in the subject line.

Vaccination for COVID-19 is required. Applicants must enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds and be able to maintain a work environment that challenges gender stereotypes and is LGBTQ+-affirming. Applicants also must have experience working in, sensitivity to, and appreciation for ethnically diverse viewpoints and communication styles. 

First Mate
Seasonal, starting November 2024 – October 2025
Category: Deck: Unlicensed

Clearwater is now accepting applications for the position of First Mate for the Winter Maintenance and Spring Sailing season (Starting January 1, 2025). Experience with wooden boat maintenance and traditional rig sailing is required. Under the direction of the Captain, the First Mate will lead the winter maintenance period:

  • Manage the winter bosun and oversee maintenance projects
  • Work with the captain to assist with larger-scale maintenance projects
  • Work with shipwrights to maintain a work schedule and support them as needed
  • Manage winter maintenance trainees and foster their learning
  • Create a comprehensive work list and manage time to complete as much as possible
  • Assist in carpentry and rigging projects with the bosun
  • Schedule volunteer days and ensure they are used with maximum efficiency
During the sailing season the First Mate:
  • carries out daily operations of the vessel directing and supervising the crew in safe daily deck operations and maintenance
  • manages the crew and ship resources in the long term. This includes but is not limited to, managing supplies, safety and deck training, and days off for the crew
  • is always a model member of the Clearwater community and should serve as an example of good conduct when interacting with the public, passengers, and crew.

Compensation starts at $680/week plus room and board. During the winter season, the room is in a shared house in Kingston and during the sailing season it is onboard the sloop.

Winter Trainee
Seasonal, 4-10 week positions, Now hiring for February – March 2025.

The Clearwater is now accepting applications for the position of Winter Trainee for the 2024-2025 winter season. Under the direction of the Captain and the Winter Maintenance Coordinator trainees will assist in winter maintenance projects of this traditionally-rigged wooden sailing vessel. This is an entry-level, learning position. Ideal candidates are willing to learn and ask questions, do physical labor, and focus on the task at hand. 

Room and board are included in this position.