Technician Boatbuilder

RNLI; Poole; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Performance related pay

Time off in lieu

Half day on Fridays

Flexible working opportunities

Competitive pension

Life assurance

Job summary

RNLI is seeking an experienced Boatbuilder for the Severn Class Lifeboat refit project at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole. This hands-on role focuses on restoring vessels to operating condition with a small team in a factory setting over a 22-week schedule.

You will follow engineering drawings, work to standardised processes, and contribute to high-quality lifeboat builds. A time-served apprenticeship or City and Guilds/NVQ level 3 is expected, with prior boat production and epoxy

Qualifications

• Must have City and Guilds / NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• Time-served apprenticeship or equivalent experience.
• Experience in boat production, marine refits and repairs; laminating and epoxy composites desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deck & Hull Fittings: install handrails, stanchions, windows, seats, side panels and patches.
• Mechanical & Component Assembly: fit fan cases, refurbish vents and flap mechanisms, bolt installation to spec.
• Finishing & Prep Work: cleaning, sanding, painting, sealant removal and application.
• GRP Work: small amounts of laminating and repair work.
• Quality Rectification: address defects reported by surveyors/quality technicians.

Skills

Attention to detail

Manual dexterity

Teamwork

Health and safety awareness

Education

City and Guilds / NVQ level 3 or BTEC

Job description

About us

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that provides, on call, a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service.Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards need a dedicated, professional, and talented team behind them.

The All-weather Lifeboat Centreisthe RNLI'sin-house, boatbuilding, repair and refit facilitylocated in Poole.

We have a full schedule of Lifeboat Refits and Builds ahead of us and are seeking an experienced Boatbuilder to join our team.

Some of the benefits

• £16.48 per hour (annual salary - £35,992dependent on experience and hours worked)
• Performance related pay scheme annually reviewed
• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Time off in lieu available
• Half day on Fridays and flexible working opportunities.
• Competitive pension scheme
• Life assurance

Your role

We are seeking a skilled Boatbuilder to join our dedicated team focused on the Severn Class Lifeboat refit project. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where your craftsmanship directly contributes to saving lives at sea.

This project is carried out mainly in a factory environment over a 22-week schedule. Working as part of a close-knit team of 10, you will collaborate to restore these vital vessels back to operational condition. The role has very limited time spent afloat and not consider sea going.This position is physically demanding and requires excellent attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and the ability to maintain high-quality standards while working in tight, restricted spaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Deck & Hull Fittings: Installing handrails, stanchions, windows, seats, side panels and soft patches, boat protection, and Bench work.
• Mechanical & Component Assembly: Fitting fan cases, refurbishing vents and flap mechanisms, and bolt installation to tightening / length specifications.
• Finishing & Prep Work: Carrying out cleaning, sanding, painting, and sealant removal and application.
• GRP Work: Undertaking small amounts of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) lamination and repair work.
• Quality Rectification: Methodically working through and clearing defects reported by surveyors and quality technicians.

Aboutyou

You must be able to work to Engineering drawings and standardised work, safely and efficiently. You will be working as a member of a multi-disciplined team ensuring that lifeboats are built or refitted on time and within budget, meeting the RNLI’s stringent quality standards.

It is essential you have relevant City and Guilds or NVQ level 3/BTEC qualifications, time served apprenticeship or equivalent experience.

Previous experience of boatproduction, marine refits, and repairs, laminating and working with epoxy composite materials, isdesirable.

Come and join us in the build of this centre of excellence and help save lives at sea!