Employment Overview
Sea Education Association (SEA) is a non-profit educational institution and an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. Since 1971, SEA has educated undergraduate, high school and gap year students about the world’s oceans through its Boston University accredited study abroad programs. 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 is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates. SEA is committed to the development of a multicultural environment. We value input of multiple viewpoints and perspectives across the organization; our goal is to create an academic and working community that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual diversity.
EXPLORE
Job Opportunities
Summer High School Programs Coordinator
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Summer High School Programs Coordinator lives on-site in a private room and serves as the first
point of contact for students and seasonal staff while programs are in session. They assist SEA’s
academics department staff with the planning and logistical oversight of all summer high school
programs. They oversee the student services aspect of the summer programs, act as the “head resident” on campus, and assist with administrative and academic support. The two summer programs that this role supports are:
- SEASCape: Ocean Studies on the Cape
- 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. There are two
different sessions in 2025: Session I: June 26, 2023 – July 13, 2023, and Session II: July
21, 2025 – August 9, 2025. The program is instructed by faculty members, overseen
by the Director of Academic Programs, and supported by three program assistants
who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student
supervision.
- This is a shore-based program on our Woods Hole campus for high school students
- SEA Pre-College: Ocean Sciences in Woods Hole
- 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 sessions in 2025: Session I: June 26, 2023 – July 13, 2023, and Session II: July 21, 2025 – August 9, 2025. The program is instructed by faculty members, overseen by the Director of Academic Programs, and supported by three program assistants who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student supervision.
Duties of the Summer High School Programs Coordinator include, but are not limited to:
- Assist the Director of Academic Programs and Student Affairs Manager with administrative
tasks, including transportation bookings, program scheduling, organizing supplies, and planning
orientation activities before student arrivals. - Lead Program Assistant training, including delegating tasks, preparing campus spaces,
coordinating tours, inventorying supplies, and fostering a strong sense of community among
seasonal staff members. - Coordinate the food service aspect of summer programs, including developing a meal plan,
ordering food, and assisting Program Assistants with cooking and cleaning as needed. - Review student medical forms, discuss accuracy and specific concerns with students and
families, and facilitate trips to urgent care if needed. - Collaborate with staff to support student wellbeing, manage interpersonal conflicts, address
mental health concerns, and create a safe, supportive environment. - Conduct regular check-ins with Program Assistants to ensure they are providing appropriate
support to students and act as a liaison between them and other SEA staff. - Build relationships with students and foster community by attending meals, study halls, field
trips, and classes, and assist with transportation for activities. - Work with the marketing team to create social media content and assist students with blog
writing. - Perform other duties as assigned by the Academic Department
QUALIFICATIONS
- Undergraduate or Masters degree in Environmental Education, Outdoor Education, Education Administration, Social Work, Environmental Science, or related fields
- Current and relevant experience working with high school students either as a teacher, administrator, mental health provider, tutor, counselor, or trip leader. Other relevant experience will be considered.
- Experience supervising residential or academic programs for high school students, overseeing other staff/interns, managing supplies and schedules, and planning/facilitating group activities for young adults
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated history of working collaboratively in a fast-faced team environment
- Must have a valid USA driver’s license
- Preferred Certifications: First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Lifeguarding, Mental Health First Aid, CPR
This is a seasonal position (May 27 – August 19, 2025). Housing and meals are provided. The Summer High School Programs Coordinator reports to the Director of Academic Programs.
Salary starts at $3,000 per month and is commensurate with experience. SEA is an equal opportunity
employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women,
and LGBTQ+ applicants.
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information of 2 references to
[email protected]. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but preference is given to
applications submitted before March 1, 2025.
Program Assistant
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Director of Academic Programs and the Student Affairs Manager, the Program
Assistant plays a key role in supporting students’ success in SEA’s programs. S/he/they are focused on
the student experience throughout the program. Major areas of responsibility include community
development, overseeing meal preparation, front line medical supervision, mental health support,
and logistical coordination with faculty and staff. The Program Assistant lives on campus, in close
proximity to students. This is a full-time, seasonal, non-benefit eligible position that begins a few
weeks before students arrive on campus for training/preparation and ends the day after each
program closes. There are multiple vacancies for Program Assistants this summer, some of which
support the SEASCape program and some of which support the PreCollege program. See below for
program descriptions and dates.
- SEASCape: Ocean Studies on the Cape
o 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 over the course of 2.5 weeks. There are two
different sessions in 2025: Session I: June 26, 2023 – July 13, 2023, and Session II: July
21, 2025 – August 9, 2025. The program is instructed by faculty members, overseen
by the Director of Academic Programs, and supported by three program assistants
who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student
supervision. - SEA Pre-College: Ocean Sciences in Woods Hole
o 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 sessions in 2025: Session I: June 26,
2023 – July 13, 2023, and Session II: July 21, 2025 – August 9, 2025. The program is instructed by faculty members, overseen by the Director of Academic Programs, and supported by three program assistants who assist with extracurricular activities, meal prep, academic support, and student supervision.
Major Tasks of the Program Assistant
- Community Development – Lives with the students and supervises the development of
community norms, and emotional/mental welfare of students. Plans extracurricular and
morale-boosting free time activities in the evenings and on weekends. - Program Logistics- Accompanies group on some field trips, attends planning and debrief
meetings, helps to facilitate details such as transportation, mealtimes, and cleaning. - Medical Supervision – Works closely with the Student Affairs Manager to provide front-line
intervention for student safety and medical/mental health issues on campus. - 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. - Food Service—Coordinates food service logistics such as ordering food, preparing meals, and
helping students to cook and clean.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in outdoor education, environmental science, marine biology, social work, or
a related field. - At least one year of experience in student support at the secondary, gap year, or
undergraduate level; experience with off-campus/residential programs preferred. - Experience working with diverse groups of students.
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality regarding student records and other
information of a confidential nature. - Wilderness First Responder or higher medical training and mental health training is
preferred. - Experience in conflict resolution, group facilitation, mentorship, and/or teaching.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect with young people
Salary starts at $2,500 per month and is commensurate with experience. Housing and food
are provided. SEA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from
people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
Preference given to applications submitted before March 1, 2025.
Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information of two references
to [email protected].
Student Affairs Manager
Major Responsibilities
- Oversees student life for SEA undergraduate and high school programs, which includes a range of responsibilities such as hiring and supervising program assistants, managing non-academic student issues such as physical and mental health concerns, and communicating with parents/home institutions/partners as needed.
- Pre-program preparation and student communication: Coordinate medical reviews, visa processing, travel plans, learning and physical accommodations requests, and field questions from students and families beginning 90 days before the program start date.
- Maintain a knowledge of best practices in study abroad/experiential programming, including health and safety protocols, risk management, and crisis response.
- Serve as a co-chair of SEA’s DEI committee; develop resources and implement policies focused on contemporary best practices in higher education related to issues of belonging, accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Supervises Program Assistants.
Qualifications
- Required; master’s in student affairs or related field strongly preferred
- Minimum of three years’ experience in student affairs in an educational setting, preferably with higher education or experiential programs.
- Must relate strongly to SEA’s mission and approach to interdisciplinary and field-based programs focused on the ocean
- Understanding of current practices in student support, success, and well-being: Title IX, LGBTQIA+, learning styles, mental health issues
- Excellent administrative and organizational skills, strong communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, and strong supervisory skills and experience.
- The ability to work under pressure and towards specific goals with a team of educational professionals.
- Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends and be on-call to address student issues when programs are in session. Occasional overnight domestic and international travel is required.
- Salary is $55,000 to $65,000, commensurate with experience.
- SEA offers a full benefits package which includes health, dental, vision and life insurances; retirement plans; Aflac; flexible spending accounts; and generous vacation/sick/personal time and holidays.
- Working on Fridays, evenings, or weekends may be required.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Questions may be sent to this email address as well. References upon request.
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
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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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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.