Executive Director, Sailing School

Our mission at the Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School is to instill a lifelong love of sailing and the water in children and adults by teaching sailing skills in a structured, safe and fun environment.

Position Overview: The Executive Director of the Sailing School must embody our mission and lead our program into the future. This person is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program, including instruction, staffing, fleet maintenance, community outreach, advertising, fundraising, and organizational administration. This role requires strong leadership, effective communication, hands-on approach, and a passion for sailing education.

RHYCSS is seeking an individual who could make a commitment of several years to the organization. We are WILLING TO TAILOR THE POSITION TO SUIT THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. In 2025 there will be overlap with the current director to enable a smooth transition.

The job consists of full-time work during the 10 weeks of the summer season and part-time work during the rest of the year. Most of the off-season responsibilities can be done remotely. Portions of tasks requiring on-site participation during the off-season can be delegated. On-site, daily participation is required during the season.

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and quantity of agreed upon responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Teaching and Curriculum Development:

• Welcome each class, ensure daily float / activity plan and safety of sail and power vessels.

• Develop and update curriculum and lesson plans, incorporating new teaching methods and learning games.

• Manage summer staff and coordinate staff meetings.

• Document program activities including photos and videos.

Staffing and Human Resources:

• Write job postings; review and interview candidates with the hiring committee.

• Select staff and administer timekeeping and payroll.

• Announce the instructor team and manage ongoing staff communication.

Fleet Maintenance:

• Plan and execute the cleaning, winterization, and maintenance of power and sail boats and trailers.

• Manage repairs, parts replacement, and fleet upgrades.

• Maintain the fleet database and ensure all registrations are up to date.

• Rig and prepare fleet and equipment for program start

Advertising and Promotion:

• Develop and coordinate advertising for programs, including brochures, newsletters, and social media.

• Write and distribute press releases and manage community outreach efforts.

Fundraising and Donations:

• Lead fundraising events and campaigns.

• Manage and promote the process for boat donations, including repair and resale.

• Acknowledge donations through receipts and thank-you letters.

Outreach and Partnerships:

• Lead outreach initiatives, including the Open House and scholarship programs.

• Collaborate with local schools and organizations for youth engagement and opportunities.

Organizational Administration:

• Prepare accomplishment and activity reports for quarterly Board of Directors meetings.

• Communicate with the Board and assist in the selection of new Director candidates.

• Maintain databases for fleet management and donor records, and review the budget.

• Weekly activity updates / needs to Board

Qualifications:

• Strong leadership and organizational skills

• Proven ability to adapt to changing priorities, conditions, and deadlines

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Background in sailing education and a passion for youth development

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Experience in fundraising, advertising, and community outreach

• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, parents, and the Board

• US Sailing Level 1 certification (Level 2 or higher US Sailing certification preferred)

• Prior experience in sailing program instruction

• Prior experience managing a team

• First Aid, CPR and SafeSport certifications

The Executive Director will play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant sailing community in Rock Hall and ensuring the success of the Sailing School’s mission.

About us: The Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a beautiful place to work and is minutes from the charming towns of Rock Hall and Chestertown. A sandy beach, quiet, protected cove and swimming pool make RHYCSS an ideal site to teach sailing. Our sailing school program has been growing steadily for the last 20 years. Students come from around the country to participate in our classes. Our growing racing team travels to CBYRA (Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association) Junior Regattas throughout the season. We have a great staff hired so far. See our website for more information about us: http://rhycsailingschool.org

Contact: Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to Connie at rhycss(at)gmail.com

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15,000.00 - $25,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 10 – 45 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• On-the-job training

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed
• Year round work

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15,000 - $25,000