Employment Overview
Sea Education Association (SEA) is a non-profit educational institution and an internationally recognized leader in ocean education. Founded in 1971, SEA operates top-rated academic programs offering undergraduate and high school students a range of transformational educational opportunities. SEA programs focus on critical environmental topics including climate change, coral reef conservation, ocean plastics, marine policy, and biodiversity.
SEA also hosts a wide range of customized expeditions with higher education institutions such as Wharton School of Business, Stanford University, Harvard University, and NASA, among many others. SEA also leads customized high school programs including an ocean robotics program in partnership with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, and a comprehensive oceanography and marine biology program with Proctor Academy in New Hampshire out of the SEA main campus in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
SEA is located on Cape Cod in the oceanographic research community of Woods Hole (Falmouth) and owns and operates two sailing research vessels: the SSV Corwith Cramer in the Atlantic Ocean and the SSV Robert C. Seamans in the Pacific.
SEA offers a wide range of employment opportunities on our campus, at sea, and in remote locations.
EXPLORE
Job Opportunities
Program Assistants (Summer 2026)
2026 PROGRAM ASSISTANT POSITIONS- HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS (HSPA)
Shore Based – Multiple Openings
JOB DESCRIPTION
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the High School Program Assistants plays a key role in supporting students’ academic, social and personal success in SEA’s programs. Program Assistants are part of a collaborative team focused on cultivating student engagement and community participation to help enrich the student experience throughout the program.
When a program is based ashore, on the SEA Campus located at 171 Woods Hole Road Falmouth, MA, HSPAs are under the direct guidance of the Shore-based High School Program Coordinator. HSPA will live in close proximity to the students in the SEA Student Cottages (2 HSPA’s per occupied Student Cottage for the program hired to support).
The primary areas of responsibility include but are not limited to the safety of the students in program, providing onsite health and safety supervision (not medical care), social/emotional support, accompanies students and faculty on program field trips for oversight of students, offers consultation for meal planning, provisioning and if needed guidance in some food preparation, especially if dietary accommodations are required during shore component.
Other responsibilities may include driving SEA’s 12 passenger van to transport students, prescription and non-prescription medication monitoring, evening/weekend activity planning and execution, if traveling to the ship, HSPA will travel to/from the ship with the students, and others as assigned when needed.
See program descriptions below. Shore based High School programs vary in length.
This is a full-time seasonal (defined dates provided in employment agreement), non-benefit eligible position that begins 2 weeks before students arrive and ends 1-2 days after the program concludes. For each High School Program that SEA offers, there will be 2 PAs per student cottage. Most cottages accommodate between 12 – 13 students.
MAJOR TASKS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ASSISTANTS
Safety: Creating a secure environment though supervision, situational awareness, assessing risks to prevent accidents or misconduct; understanding emergency response procedures; identifying, informing and helping to mitigate unsafe conditions; instructing and reminding as needed the safety rules, procedures and reporting process; reporting to management and documenting injuries, unsafe practices and near misses.
Community Development – Lives with the students and supervises the development of, and compliance with, community norms. Monitors and oversees the safety and welfare of students. Program Logistics- Accompanies group on some field trips, attends planning and debrief meetings, helps to facilitate details such as transportation, mealtimes, and cleaning. Academic Support – Supports program faculty as needed by assisting students outside of the classroom with assignments and helping students meet their academic goals. Assists with lab set-up, poster presentations/group discussions, and classroom organization.
Marketing & Social Media– Documents the experience for students by taking quality photographs for our marketing team and assists students with writing blog posts.
In addition, each Program Assistant will be assigned one of the following primary areas of responsibility:
Student Health/Medical Liaison
Assists Shore High School Program Coordinator with coordinating front-line intervention for student safety and medical/mental health issues on campus. Serves as a liaison to the SEA Medical Affairs Coordinator.
Steward
Assists Shore High School Program Coordinator with food service logistics such as meal planning, ordering and storing food. Prepares meals and provides oversight for students who assist with meal prep and clean up.
Student Activities Coordinator
Plans, develops, and coordinates implementation of a range of diverse extracurricular leisure and community-building free-time activities in the evenings and on weekends throughout the program.
Facilities Liaison
Assists Shore High School Program Coordinator with coordinating cottage check-in and check-out procedures, fire drills, field days, and cottage maintenance and inspections. Serves as a liaison to the SEA Facilities Coordinator.
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Ocean Studies on the Cape- Shore Based Only
This is a shore-based program on our Woods Hole campus for high school students who are looking for a basic introduction to oceanographic studies. It is a multidisciplinary, residential program. There are two different sessions in 2026: Session I: Jun 22 – Jul 9 and Session II: Jul 13 – Jul 30. The program is instructed by faculty members. The
Associate Dean of Student Affairs oversees student services and student life programming. A Shore High School Programs Coordinator provides on-site supervision to Program Assistants who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student supervision.
Anticipated employment dates: June 8-July 31
SEA Pre-College Programs- Shore Based Only
This is a shore-based program for advanced high school students who are looking to prepare for college-level academics in marine biology, oceanography, and environmental science. There are two different Oceanography sessions in 2026: Session I: Jun 22 – Jul 9 and Session II: Jul 13 – Jul 30. There is one Marine Biology session in 2026: Aug 4- Aug 21. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs oversees student services and student life programming. A Shore High School Programs Coordinator provides on-site supervision to Program Assistants who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student supervision.
Anticipated employment dates: June 8- August 22
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required:
- • *Bachelor’s degree in outdoor education, environmental science, marine biology, or a related field
- • At least one year of experience providing supervision and support for secondary and/or gap year students between the ages of 13 – 18.
- • Experience working with groups of students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities.
- • Ability to uphold a high standard of confidentiality about student records and other sensitive information.
- • Hold a current and valid Basic First Aid and CPR certification from the American Red Cross, or able to obtain one no later than the position start date
- • Experience in conflict resolution, group facilitation, and/or teaching
- • Ability to connect well with people and develop strong mentoring relationships with high school students
- • Physically prepared and emotionally well-equipped to withstand demanding work over consecutive days in an intense environment
- • Valid USA Driver’s License, with driving record clear of accidents or issued tickets
- • A willingness to drive a SEA van for transporting students
*Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree
Preferred:
- • Previous employment experience in camp, pre-college, or outdoor educational programs
- • Training in Mental Health awareness and support
- • Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training (student health/medical liaison positions)
- • Food service experience and current ServSafe Food Handler and/or Allergens trainings (steward positions)
Compensation
HSPA Salary: $420 or $520 per week (7days, 24/7) and is commensurate with experience. Housing and food are provided for HSPA when in the program.
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references to pasearch@sea.edu . Please state in the email subject the program(s) to which you are applying (Ocean Studies on the Cape and/or Pre-College Programs).
Review of applications will begin on February 18, 2026, and will continue until all positions are filled.
Why Work at SEA
At SEA, we are dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of ocean scholars, stewards, and leaders. By joining our team, you’ll play a crucial role in fostering and enhancing knowledge about the state of oceans and coastal communities. Our mission-driven environment provides opportunities to engage in long-term environmental research, collaborate with global partners, and influence public dialogue and policy. As part of SEA, you will contribute to the ongoing impact of our students, faculty, and alumni worldwide. We offer a collaborative and innovative work setting where your efforts will help shape a sustainable future for our oceans, empowering you to make a meaningful difference every day.
Staff
As a small organization, SEA offers staff the opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects and initiatives that relate to their interests and career goals. For full-time staff, SEA offers a variety of benefits including:
Faculty
SEA always welcomes visiting faculty to participate in programs and teach courses in oceanography, blue humanities, and/or environmental communication. If you are interested in applying, please reach out to aelder@sea.edu.
Crew
Working aboard SEA’s Sailing School Vessels requires our team to live in close quarters with coworkers and students. Each crew member has a bunk with a small area for their possessions, and marine heads (bathrooms) are communal. Meals are prepared by stewards and students, and are served family style. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, especially those medically necessary. Everyone on board is expected to participate in cleaning efforts. Connectivity on SEA vessels is limited, which means almost no internet access during semester programs.
While traveling to new places is one of the highlights of working for SEA, we also expect all crew to work in shipyard/maintenance periods in addition to sailing semester trips. We also expect that crew will participate in non-traditional programs shorter than semester trips that sometimes have missions and goals that diverge from the typical SEA program. These include leadership training for business groups, short programs for alumni and donors, high school programs, and other educational programs.
SEA hires the following positions on a rolling basis:
- Captains
- Mates/Watch Leaders
- Engineers
- Stewards (shipboard cooks)
- Marine Technicians
- Deck & Lab Hands
Please send a resume/cv and a letter detailing your experience, interest and availability to crewemployment@sea.edu.
NOTE: All crew must have the legal right to work in the U.S.
Deck Crew Employment
For applications to be considered, applicants must submit the following:
- One-page cover letter detailing the applicant’s interest, qualifications, and availability
- One-page resume, noting your USCG Mariner Credential reference number
- Contact information, email address and phone number, for 3 references (applicants will be notified before references are contacted)
- Ideal candidates for SEA’s Crew positions have USCG credentials with STCW, strong sailing skills and experience teaching at the college and high school level. Contract priority is often given to those candidates who are able to commit to working 2-3 cruises per year , though we also offer short term contracts as well.
- Positions are generally filled 6-12 months in advance of the contract period, but openings sometimes occur on short notice. The work is demanding, but exciting and rewarding for those who enjoy teaching and life at sea.
Trips are grouped together to create contracts that work for both the programmatic and operational needs of the vessels and their crew. All crew start with a short term contract which is typically a 2-3 month period on board the vessels. After that, crew can opt to work either a long term (with the approval of the Port Captain) or to continue with short term contracts. Crew members on a long term contract work at least 180 days (not continuous) in a 12 month time period, making them eligible for SEA’s health, dental, and vision benefits.
We are fortunate that SEA attracts such skilled, enthusiastic, and dynamic individuals and we strive to retain them.
Marine Technicians Employment
For applications to be considered, applicants must submit the following:
- One-page cover letter detailing the applicant’s interest, qualifications, and availability
- One-page resume
- Contact information for three references (applicants will be notified before references are contacted)
- Ideal candidates for SEA’s marine technician positions have experience teaching at the college level, experience working with oceanographic equipment on research vessels, strong sailing skills, and a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in marine science or a related field.
- Priority is often given to those candidates who are able to participate in up to three cruises per year for a year or more, have sailed on tall ships, have experience in shipboard networking, programming, and maintaining oceanographic instruments, as well as analytical chemistry and reef survey experience.
- Positions are posted at least 6-12 months in advance, but openings sometimes occur on short notice. The work is demanding, but exciting and rewarding for those who enjoy teaching and life at sea. Training as a marine technician is an excellent opportunity to learn the basic theory and sampling techniques of all the major disciplines in oceanography.
Marine Technicians are watch standers with the primary responsibility of conducting and teaching safe lab operations and deployments. Other duties include troubleshooting equipment, processing and analyzing data, mentoring students, interns, and each other, working closely with the Chief Scientist to accomplish science and learning objectives. Marine Technicians collaborate with Mates to safely operate the vessel, teach safe sail handling and basic navigation principles, lead maintenance and cleaning efforts, and be a supportive member of the shipboard community.
Trips are grouped together to create contracts that work for both the programmatic needs of the vessels and their crew. All technicians start with a short term contract which is typically a 2-3 month period on board the vessels. After that, technicians can opt to work either a long term (with the approval of the Science Program Coordinator) or to continue with short term contracts. Crew members on a long term contract work at least 180 days (not continuous) in a 12 month time period, making them eligible for SEA’s health, dental, and vision benefits.
We are fortunate that SEA attracts such skilled, enthusiastic, and dynamic scientists and we strive to retain them. Advancement opportunities exist for marine technicians as they gain experience and skills.