Job Title: Chief Cook
Location: Operating from Gosport, but sailing around the UK and near:continent
Salary: GBP28,600 gross per annum
Job type: Full:time, Permanent
Closing Date: 18th January 2026.
Are you someone with catering experience who is looking for a unique offshore experience?
The Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a vibrant and growing charity, delivering life:changing nautical adventure for young people, to give them the best possible head start in life. We also provide personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society. Working with our staff, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a vision and five:year strategy to take us forward and further improve the astounding contribution already made through our work to the lives of thousands of young people and seafarers, while fully supporting our volunteers who are vital to our success.
We are currently looking for a Chief Cook to join our team.
About the role:
We are seeking to appoint a Chief/Sole Cook to our 32 metre Flagship, the Training Ship (TS) Royalist, which operates out from Gosport, in Hampshire. The vessel undertakes 6:day voyages around the coastal waters of the UK and near continent for up to 24 Cadets (aged from between 12:18 years of age). Applicants should have the requisite experience and ability to cook for up to 34 embarked crew, together with the ability of managing food ordering and management of food stores. The position will work closely with the vessels Coxswain, to assist with Cadet administration, morale, safeguarding, welfare and discipline.
Requirements:
Catering experience and a working knowledge of working with young people are highly desirable requirements for the role, as well as qualifications in food hygiene and first aid. Good communication skills and a high level of emotional intelligence will also be required.
Applicants should also either hold a current Seafarer Medical Certificate or be willing to obtain one. The ability to work effectively with young people as well as the permanent and relief crew members is essential. Ship system familiarisation, child safeguarding and any necessary sea safety course training will be given to the successful applicant.
The particular demand of seagoing employment requires the incumbent to be available for duty for prolonged periods and working hours necessarily need to be very flexible. Although overtime will not be recognised, the working and rest hours for the role will be within the confines of the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. The uncertain nature of the working hours are recognised by the holiday arrangements afforded.
Applications should consist of a completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form, both available from the website. You may submit your CV in support of your application, but the appropriate application form must be completed if you wish to be considered for these roles.
Responsibilities:
* To plan menus and order victualing supplies in order to provide the cadets and adult staff with a well:balanced and nutritious diet (taking into account specialist diets and allergies).
* The preparation and cooking of food.
* To have custody and control of onboard stocks of food supplies.
* To form part of the Ships emergency response team.
* To assist with the completion of joining/leaving paperwork for visiting personnel.
* To assist with the maintenance of cadet discipline on board.
* To look after the welfare, safeguarding and pastoral needs of the cadet crew.
* To assist with husbandry and other general maintenance tasks.
Benefits:
* 104 days annual leave per annum, 84 individual days during the sailing season (this runs from 1 Mar : 30 Nov each
* year) and 20 working days during the winter refit period (1 Dec: 28/9 Feb).
* Life assurance (4x salary) for those that join the charitys pension scheme.
* Private medical insurance.
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