Job Description

ALB Coxswain, Torbay Lifeboat Station - Temporary up to 2 years

Salary: £35,853 - £42,181 (dependent on experience)

Contract Type: Temporary: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment

Hours: Full Time

Location: Torbay, Devon, England

Location Description: This role is based at Torbay Lifeboat Station

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Closing Date: 21-06-2026

Reference: 21107

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. There is an opportunity for a Coxswain to be part of our Torbay Lifeboat Station. To be part of this team, you’ll be someone whose resilience and leadership skills are just as strong as your ability to handle a boat in adverse sea conditions.

The benefits

- Salary of £35,853 - £42,181 (dependent on experience)

- 26 days’ annual leave (plus Bank Holiday days)

- Competitive pension scheme

- Life Insurance

Your role

The Coxswain role supports the full range of volunteer crew members and role activities at the station. This role contributes to the operational assurance of the lifeboat station by providing feedback and support to the local and regional operations teams. Much of your time will be divided between ensuring the Station and the ALB Severn lifeboat and its associated equipment operate to the highest order, and training and assessment of volunteer crew to the RNLI’s competence standards.

You will need to have experience in the following areas:

- Experience of fulfilling all elements of a Coxswain role previously, or demonstrate the ability to develop skills to the required level in the near future

- Relevant maritime qualifications would complement your verifiable marine experience, either mechanically or maritime

- Demonstrable boat handling experience

- Detailed knowledge of navigation principles and IRPCS

- Knowledge and experience of the operation, maintenance and repair of marine diesels would be desirable, as would the ability and capacity to develop skills in this aspect of the role

This is a 24/7 maritime emergency response role. You’ll need to live within 10 minutes of the Lifeboat Station and will spend much of your time ready to respond to a pager and be prepared to put to sea in Command of the Lifeboat in all conditions, day or night. Since this is a sea-going appointment, you will also need to satisfy the Institution’s medical and eyesight standards.

About you

You’ll have the ability to build effective relationships with volunteers at the lifeboat station, the supporters locally and RNLI staff beyond, while acting as an ambassador for the station and the RNLI within the community.

- Excellent leadership qualities

- Evidence of working in a team environment

- Ability to motivate and maximise people’s potential

- Sound interpersonal skills

So, if you are ready for your next exciting challenge as a Coxswain and consider yourself to be someone who is a natural leader who can inspire and motivate a team of dedicated people, then please apply via the button shown.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out, dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One