Second Mate

Lindblad Expeditions; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance including Medical, &c

401(k) plan with employer match

Room and board when scheduled

Travel Day Pay

Job summary

Lindblad Expeditions is seeking a licensed Second Mate to join our U.S.-flagged fleet. You will lead bridge watches, navigate challenging waters, and coordinate safety and training with a focus on guest experience. You’ll also drive Zodiacs, mentor crew, and ensure vessel safety systems are ready for expedition seas.

The role requires a USCG Mate endorsement, multiple STCW certificates, and readiness for a demanding schedule on a 6 weeks on/6 weeks off rotation aboard our vessels.

Qualifications

• Experience as Mate operating a passenger vessel, including navigation and bridge watch responsibilities.
• Experience operating port-to-port between diverse regions including Alaska and Central America.
• Strong crisis management, judgment, and customer service skills.
• Must possess multiple STCW certifications and a valid medical, passport, and security credentials.

Responsibilities

• Performs bridge navigation and deck watch; determines position using GPS, radar, and visual observations.
• Maintains navigation logs and conducts vessel handling during docking, anchoring, and maneuvering.
• Drives small boats and assists with guest/staff transfers.
• Maintains chart inventories, voyage planning spreadsheets, and training documentation.

Skills

Crisis management

Customer service

Time management

Communication skills

Voyage planning

Navigational calculations

Education

USCG Mate 500 GT Near Coastal & OICNW >500 GT

Tools

GMDSS

ECDIS

ARPA

Radar/Plotting equipment

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Second Mate with Lindblad Expeditions, you're far more than a watchstander—you're a key part of the navigational team guiding guests safely through some of the most remote and breathtaking places on Earth. From plotting the safest course through narrow coastal waterways to navigating open-sea passages, you'll combine sharp technical skill with sound judgment to keep the ship, crew, and guests moving safely toward the next great discovery. Beyond the bridge, you'll drive Zodiacs, help train and mentor crew, and ensure the vessel's navigation and safety systems are always ready for whatever the expedition brings.

This position is ideal for a licensed mariner who thrives on responsibility, enjoys the technical challenge of navigation and voyage planning, and wants their work to directly shape an unforgettable guest experience. You'll serve as a vital link on the bridge team aboard one of our U.S.-flagged vessels, where precision, safety, and calm decision-making under pressure are always top priorities. If you're ready to put your maritime license to work in some of the world's most extraordinary waters, we'd love to have you aboard.

WORK SCHEDULE

The Second Mate works approximately 12 hours per day of varied hours, on an approximately 6 weeks on/6 weeks off rotational schedule. Daily 12-hour shifts are comprised of standing two watches, administrative work, and small boat operations.

Watch Duty

• Performs bridge navigation and deck watch during specified periods; determines the ship's geographical position using all available means, including GPS, radar ranges, visual observations, and depth sounders.
• Makes necessary entries in navigation and radio logs.
• Handles the vessel, as directed by the Captain, in docking, anchoring, piloting, en route travel, close-quarters maneuvering, and open sea conditions.
• Navigates to avoid marine hazards such as reefs, outlying shoals, and shallow waters, using aids to navigation such as lights, lighthouses, and buoys.

Safety & Security

• Participates in onboard safety training, meetings, and drills as directed by the Captain, including fire, abandon ship, man overboard, flooding, and medical emergencies.
• Participates in shoreside training as required by the company.
• Relieves and/or performs gangway watch as directed by the duty schedule.
• Maintains familiarity with the ISM Code and its requirements.
• Maintains familiarity with all duties under the company's Safety Management System, including Emergency Response activities.

Small Boat Operations

• Drives inflatable boats as necessary.
• Assists with loading guests, staff, and crew in and out of inflatable boats.

Administrative

• Maintains navigation bridge supply inventories and requisitions.
• Performs chart and publication corrections, and maintains the vessel's chart inventory using U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard Notices to Mariners.
• Calculates and posts daily sunrise/sunset times and tide and current information.
• Creates the Voyage Plan waypoint spreadsheet for the Captain's review and approval, and enters voyage itinerary waypoints into GPS.
• Creates and maintains the New Hire Checklist, ensuring each Training Officer is aware of completion deadlines for employee training.
• Creates Training Completion Certificates for all shipboard training and sends them to the Seattle Office.
• Maintains electronic copies of all external and shipboard training certificates for each crew member onboard.

• Experience as Mate operating a passenger vessel, including navigation and bridge watch responsibilities, maintaining navigation/communications equipment, and performing chart corrections.
• Experience operating port-to-port between Southeast Alaska, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Gulf of California, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama (including the Panama Canal).
• Excellent crisis management skills; ability to act quickly with confidence while exercising sound judgment.
• Good customer service skills: professional demeanor, ability to use necessary levels of tact and courtesy.
• Strong time management skills; able to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Communication Skills: Must possess the ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Mathematical Skills: Able to perform voyage planning and navigational calculations.
• Minimum USCG Mate 500 GRT Near Coastaland OICNW greater than 500 GT STCW Endorsement required.
• Current First Aid/CPR/AED certification required.
• Valid TWIC card required.
• Valid US Passport required.
• Valid USCG Medical Card per STCW standards (2 years)
• STCW Advanced Firefighting (AFF) Certification required.
• STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) within last 5 years required.
• STCW Crowd Management (CM) required.
• STCW Crisis Management and Human Behavior (CMHB) required.
• STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other than Fast Rescue Boat (PSC) required.
• GMDSS License required.
• ECDIS required.
• ARPA required.
• Radar Observer (RO) endorsement required.
• Department of Transportation (DOT) Specimen Collector required.
• ECDIS Type-Specific Training provided.

Our Benefits

• Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Room and board when scheduled
• Travel Day Pay
• Travel Expenses Paid
• Travel benefits for employees and their family
• Uniforms Provided
• Training Opportunities

Employment is contingent on the following

• - In compliance with U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, 46 CFR Parts 4, 5, and 16, you will be required to undergo the following drug tests: post-offer prior to start date, random, reasonable cause, and serious marine incident per US Federal guidelines.
• - Pre-offer background check; employment is contingent upon the results of this screening.
• - Post-offer physical examination; your employment is dependent upon being determined fit for sea duty.
• - Continued employment is dependent upon consent to and passing these tests.

Lindblad Expeditions continues to highly recommend that all new hires be up to date with all vaccines prior to the first day of employment and getting boosted annually when eligible, including those vaccines that protect against COVID-19. All crew must still comply with all country-specific vaccination requirements.

Communication Skills

Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos. Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee will also be required to write and type.The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.The physical demands per position are described in the Job Analysis sheet and are available to all applicants upon request.

COMPENSATION STATEMENT

Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.

For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.

Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.