ABOUT THE ROLE

Brownsea Castle, located on Brownsea Island, Poole, is operated as a hotel for John Lewis Partnership Partners. A short ferry trip brings you to our island getaway across beautiful Poole Harbour. Working on an island, living in a castle with red squirrels at your window sounds like a fantasy but due to the wonderful and unique Brownsea Castle this could be your reality. A rare opportunity has arisen to live on this idyllic island, your commute to work being just a few minutes walk. Surrounded by nature and beautiful scenery, you will join a wonderful island community with easy access to the mainland, operating the Partnership’s 12m jet catamaran on a scheduled service. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.00 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Working pattern - This role is based on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour. Average weekly hours 37.5 over three or four days per week

• Live in accommodation is available. 

• Salary range - The salary range for this role is set at £25,500 - £34,000

• Contract type - This is a permanent role

As Skipper you will operate a safe and professional scheduled boat service taking passengers to and from Brownsea Island daily, throughout the year.

You'll work as part of the wider hotel team delivering a great guest experience, and ensuring safe operating procedures are adhered to at all times.

You'll operate the boats with due consideration to fuel economy and to an agreed schedule. Safety is important in the role so you will need to be familiar with and meet all legislative requirements with regard to the boats and boat service.

Part of your role will be to support the hotel with the delivery of guest luggage, hotel supplies, contractors and guests between the mainland and the hotel.

You'll undertake routine maintenance and tasks associated with ensuring ongoing vessel compliance. Due to the island being owned by the National Trust you'll work alongside their operation where shared resources and support are required at times to maintain the boat service.

You'll take pleasure in providing a consistently outstanding guest experience.

                                                                      

Essential skills you’ll need:- 

• Hold or obtain an appropriate MCA qualification to operate a class V passenger vessel in category C waters (BoatMaster’s Licence).

• Good communication skills

• Excellent time-keeping

• Proven record of relevant experience

• Willingness to gain additional qualifications appropriate to the role

Desirable skills you could bring:-

• Boat and engine maintenance skills

• Experience with jets

• First Aid qualification

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Closing Date:

January 24, 2026

Pay:

£25,500.00 - £34,000.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

37.5 hours pw including early starts. late finishes, evenings and weekends. Earliest start 07:00, Latest finish time 23:15. Overnight Duty (Sleeping Shift) on a rota basis.

Job Level:

Partnership Level 9

Where You'll Be Working:

Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, Dorset, BH13 7EE

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.