The mission of SALTS is to develop the spiritual, relational, and physical potential of young people through sail training, shipboard life and associated activities in a Christian environment. Our core values are faith, integrity, and community. If you are passionate about supporting this mission and values, we want to hear from you!  Crew members directly support the mission of SALTS by providing sail and life training to the young people who climb aboard our schooners. As a crew member, you'll experience the close community that forms aboard the SALTS ships, meaningful work with young people, and plenty of opportunities to grow your skills—in both life and sailing!

Crew-employment can be full-time year-round (with paid vacation days) unless seasonal work (additional winter time off without pay) is preferred. Our sailing season runs from March through October. We generally require a commitment to remain in a crew role for the duration of our sailing season, though we are currently seeking both full-time and part-time (relief) Captains. Our trips explore the BC coast, from the Gulf Islands all the way to Haida Gwaii, and trips range from 4-10 days each depending on the time of year. During the off-season, new crew members take training courses to prepare for the upcoming seasons, while existing crew are able to use vacation time and prepare/maintain our schooners.

In the spring and fall our crew-members are typically at sea 4 nights and 5 days per week, and on shore (and off work) 3 nights and 2 days per week. There is also a paid week off at the end of June and a week off at the start of September, plus paid vacation days for use in the winter. In July/August we do 9-night voyages followed by 4-5 nights (3-4 days) off work. Our Captains receive additional time off in keeping with the high level of responsibility they hold.

We welcome applicants year-round and sometimes fill vacancies mid season. Applications for professional crew roles will be reviewed by our hiring committee as they are received, and positions are based out of our office and marina in Victoria. Not an experienced sailor? That's okay—SALTS provides all the training necessary to safely operate our ships and fulfill entry level crew roles! Experienced sailor? We've got officer roles too.

General Requirements for Professional Crew:

Though technical skills and seamanship have a high priority in most crew roles (they are not as critical for our cooks), SALTS is unique in the marine industry in that we do not require new entry-level crew members to be fully trained before being hired. We typically arrange and pay for most training courses after hiring new crew members and before the sailing season begins, although applicants with prior training are welcome as well. For a sense of the type of training entry-level crew-members receive if hired, please see this Course List.

Crew Roles:

Entry level crew roles typically start at an annual salary of $40,000 (unless the person has substantial previous experience) plus group health/dental benefits. Training course costs are also covered by SALTS. Salary can increase based on experience and responsibilities, as crew members progress to different roles. The current maximum salary for the role of Captain is $90,000 (total compensation of ~$109,000 including group/dental benefits and RRSP contributions).

To apply for professional crew positions aboard one of our ships, please submit the application form along with your resumé (which can be uploaded as part of the online form). This form is not for shoreside staff positions nor volunteer roles. Aside from confirming that your application was received, we will contact only the candidates whom we wish to follow up with or interview. Applications are received year-round and reviewed as they are received, so apply as early as possible to avoid your preferred roles filling up. Before you apply, please ensure you have read this entire page, and that you have read about "Our Mission."