Careers

Open Positions

Working at Tall Ship Providence is a job unlike any other! Learn a multitude of different useful skills and knowledge about tall ships and American history that will stick with you the rest of your life. Providence is a great introduction to tall ships or living history, and an excellent place to develop your craft as an actor, sailor, or customer service worker. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us below!

Deckhand

Deckhands

Have you ever wanted to clamber aloft and hoist the sails on a historic tall ship like Edward Kenway or Captain Jack Sparrow? If so, this is most certainly the job for you. As a member of Providence’s crew, you will help operate the ship, including manning docklines, setting sails from the deck, climbing aloft to loose and furl them, and engage with guests to create unforgettable memories.

Tall Ship Providence is a visitor attraction based in Alexandria, Virginia; our focus is living history – we provide a window into life aboard Providence between 1776 and 1779 and the people who were connected to it, both aboard and ashore. Our programs provide a link to our country’s rich maritime and naval history and the American Revolution. Founded in 2017, Tall Ship Providence Foundation (TSPF) is a 501c3 education organization that owns and manages Providence.

The crew of Providence are the public faces of the Tall Ship Providence Foundation. Your words and actions should make our guests feel welcome at all times while conveying enthusiasm for colonial, naval, and maritime history.

This is a part-time seasonal position. We will be operating six days a week from April through October, with mandatory training in March and the opportunity for extended hours post-October.

What We Offer

  • Salary is $18/hour
  • Flexible hours
  • Employee discounts – 30% off anything in the gift shop, plus complimentary tickets for friends and family
  • Incentive program – gift card bonuses for employees who are mentioned in 5-star reviews
  • Paid onboarding and training
  • Exclusive Tall Ship Providence crew tee shirts, provided by TSPF and yours to keep
  • Providence is rated as a 100-ton vessel. Sea time accumulated can be applied as such to a Coast Guard Mariner Credential.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct regular ship operations, including sailing, small boat handling and maintenance.
  • Work at heights with a safety harness
  • Participate in regularly scheduled evening sails on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, occasional holidays and private charters throughout the week.
  • Bring an enthusiasm and interest in learning traditional sailing/maritime skills, and apply directly the job.
  • Memorize information and background material on Providence
  • Present information in a way that is exciting and upbeat, while engaging with guests
  • Teach guests how to set and/or take in sails
  • Ensure visitor safety and well-being at all times
  • Be polite and helpful to all visitors at all times
  • Work outside regardless of weather conditions for shifts ranging from four to nine hours per day
  • Assist with the refreshment stand during regular sails, selling beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages

Requirements

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Able to memorize information and relate it to guests
  • Patience with visitors who are hot, tired, or irritable
  • Able to move heavy items and navigate ramps, steps, and ladders
  • Reliable transportation
  • Able to pass a pre-employment drug test and enroll in a U.S.C.G. approved random drug test program.

Other desirable attributes but not required

  • Enthusiasm for colonial, revolutionary, naval, and maritime history
  • Foreign language skills
  • Any maritime experience, especially sailing
  • Mechanical/onboard systems and ship maintenance.

Work Environment

This position operates at a marina and onboard a ship, which necessitates physical requirements including but not limited to sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time, walking, lifting or carrying, pushing or pulling carts and other items, reaching overhead, at or below shoulder level, kneeling, climbing ramps or stairs, being in an outdoor environment in all weather and walking, standing or sitting on uneven or unsteady footing.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to both captain@tallshipprovidence.org and bosun@tallshipprovidence.org.

Tall Ship Providence Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcoming community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and beyond. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race or ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, living with disabilities, generation, socioeconomic class or veteran status. Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Actor-Interpreter Image

Actors / Interpreters

We are looking for enthusiastic and outgoing people to dress up in period clothing and lead guests around the ship while portraying a cast of 18th Century sailors in our Dockside Tours! Our cast of actors and interpreters are the heart and soul of Providence’s Living History Experience, and it will be up to you to create a memorable experience for our guests. If you have a passion for history and storytelling, this is the job for you!

Tall Ship Providence is a visitor attraction based in Alexandria, Virginia; our focus is living history – we provide a window into life aboard Providence between 1776 and 1779 and the people who were connected to it, both aboard and ashore. Our programs provide a link to our country’s rich maritime and naval history and the American Revolution. Founded in 2017, Tall Ship Providence Foundation (TSPF) is a 501c3 education organization that owns and manages Providence.

Historical and Character Interpreters, along with our Deckhands, are the public faces of Tall Ship Providence. Your words and actions should make our guests feel welcome at all times while conveying enthusiasm for colonial, naval, and maritime history.

This is a part-time seasonal position. We will be operating six days a week from April through October, and on weekends November-March. You may be asked to work certain holidays and evenings.

What We Offer

  • Salary is dependent on role. Starting salary is $20/hour for Sailors and $24/hour for John Paul Jones
  • Flexible hours – 10-40 hours a week depending on availability and season. Time off is easy to schedule, and extra hours are available to pick up
  • Employee discounts – 30% off anything in the gift shop, plus complimentary tickets for friends and family
  • Incentive program – gift card bonuses for employees who are mentioned in 5-star reviews
  • Paid onboarding and training
  • Potential for additional opportunities to train as a Deckhand or Retail Associate
  • A fun and friendly work environment

Responsibilities

  • Memorize scripted information as well as background material, including your own research
  • Create a fictional character for yourself or portray a real historical figure
  • Present information in a way that is exciting and upbeat, while engaging with your audience
  • Be polite and helpful to all visitors at all times
  • Ensure visitor safety and well-being at all times
  • Work outside regardless of weather conditions for shifts ranging from three to nine hours per day (including a lunch break)
  • Find a substitute for your assigned shift if a conflict arises
  • Assist visitors with retail and ticket purchases when the Retail Associate is busy or temporarily unavailable
  • Wear a colonial-style costume provided by the foundation in all weather and maintain the costume with care
  • Track your own hours and request time off using TSPF’s timekeeping software
  • Obtain reliable transportation and arrive to work on time. Employees are responsible for their own parking and related expenses if they choose to drive themselves.

Required Skills

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Acting, Improv or Historical Interpretation experience, or a strong desire to learn
  • Ability to memorize large amounts of information and present it in an engaging way
  • Ability to repeat the same information numerous times without letting it become rote
  • Ability to navigate ramps, steps, and short ladders
  • Patience with visitors who are hot, tired, or irritable

Other desirable attributes but not required

  • Enthusiasm for colonial, revolutionary, naval, and maritime history
  • Acting or improv training
  • Foreign language skills

Work Environment

This position operates at a marina, which requires physical requirements including but not limited to sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time, walking, lifting or carrying, pushing or pulling carts and other items, reaching overhead, at or below shoulder level, kneeling, climbing ramps or stairs, being in an outdoor environment in all weather and walking, standing or sitting on uneven or unsteady footing.

To apply, please send a headshot and resume, if available, to will@tallshipprovidence.org along with a cover letter. Please specify whether would like to audition as a Sailor, John Paul Jones, or both. Successful applicants will be provided with a script to present. Additional skills that could be used to entertain visitors also welcome.

Tall Ship Providence Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcoming community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and beyond. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race or ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, living with disabilities, generation, socioeconomic class or veteran status. Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Retail Associate

Retail Associates

We are always looking for friendly and outgoing people to assist in our Ticket Office & Gift Shop. Our Retail Associates are often the first face that guests see when they arrive, so you’ll have the opportunity to welcome folks to Providence and give them their first taste of the experience. Customer service and hospitality are areas where our Retail Associates excel!

Tall Ship Providence is a visitor attraction based in Alexandria, Virginia; our focus is living history – we provide a window into life aboard Providence between 1776 and 1779 and the people who were connected to it, both aboard and ashore. Our programs provide a link to our country’s rich maritime and naval history and the American Revolution. Founded in 2017, Tall Ship Providence Foundation (TSPF) is a 501c3 education organization that owns and manages Providence.

Our Retail Associates will serve as our goodwill ambassadors and often be the first people our customers talk with in person or over the phone. Friendly and outgoing candidates with strong communication skills, an understanding of customer service, and the ability to make visitors feel welcome will stand out. You will help identify client needs, present and answer questions about our products and services and recommend solutions. A positive attitude, the ability to stay calm, and a desire to promptly resolve potential customer issues will make you successful in this role.

This is a part-time seasonal position. We will be operating six days a week from April through October, and on weekends November-March. You may be asked to work certain holidays and evenings.

What We Offer

  • Starting salary is $16/hour
  • Flexible hours – 10-40 hours a week depending on availability and season. Time off is easy to schedule, and extra hours are available to pick up
  • Employee discounts – 30% off anything in the gift shop, plus complimentary tickets for friends and family
  • Tall Ship Providence tee shirts, provided by TSPF and yours to keep
  • A fun and friendly work environment

Responsibilities

  • Greet each visitor with a smile and engage them as appropriate
  • Sell tickets and merchandise using Square and PeekPro applications
  • Answer questions and provide accurate information about our tours and cruises, special events, and pricing
  • Ensure promotional racks are fully stocked, including transporting merchandise from storage to the gift shop
  • Attend a paid training session on Square and PeekPro, Providence‘s ticketing system
  • Assist with the setup and breakdown of the gift shop, Maritime Heritage Center, and Providence at the beginning and end of the day
  • Cast off docklines from the dock on days when the ship departs
  • Restock shelves and merchandise throughout the day
  • Wear a TSPF branded shirt, which will be provided at no cost
  • Answer the gift shop phone and respond to voicemails as calls come in
  • Help set up for special events as needed

Required Skills

  • Knowledge of inventory stocking procedures
  • Basic math skills
  • Excellent communication skills, in person and over the phone
  • Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment
  • Flexibility to work various shifts, weekdays and weekends, in a changing schedule
  • Flexibility to adapt to new situations as they arise

Work Environment

This position operates at a marina on a floating dock, which necessitates physical requirements including but not limited to sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time, walking, lifting or carrying, pushing or pulling carts and other items, reaching overhead, at or below shoulder level, kneeling, climbing ramps or stairs, being in an outdoor environment in all weather and walking, standing or sitting on uneven or unsteady footing.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to will@tallshipprovidence.org.

Tall Ship Providence Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcoming community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and beyond. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race or ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, living with disabilities, generation, socioeconomic class or veteran status. Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Open Positions