Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Harbourfront Centre is an innovative non-profit cultural organization renowned for offering artistic, educational and recreational programming across a beautiful 10-acre campus at the heart of Toronto’s waterfront. With events and activities for a diverse public that enliven, educate and entertain, we welcome visitors year-round, fostering a sense of community and celebrating Canadian culture and the rich mosaic of cultures from around the world.
We are currently seeking several self-motivated and reliable Dock Attendants to support our Marine Operations for summer 2025. If you have familiarity with sailing, power boating, marina operations or commercial marine activities, believe in the importance of providing great customer service, and enjoy working outdoors in a lakeside setting on Toronto’s waterfront, we would love to hear from you!
Position Title: Dock Attendant
Department: Marine Operations
Reporting To: Marine Operations Manager and Marina Coordinators / Dock Master
Number of Vacancies: 10
Employment Type: Seasonal/Contract, with an anticipated duration from April 26 -September 1, 2025 (part time work may be available into October 2025)
Hours: Our Marine Operations runs 7 days a week. Hours of work will be based on organizational need, with rotating shifts starting as early as 9:00 a.m. to as late as midnight, inclusive of weekends and holidays
Compensation: $17.20 per hour
Location: On-site, on our waterfront campus in downtown Toronto
Duties
- Dock and undock large harbour charter and tour boats, large visiting yachts and perhaps some ships.
- Maintain cruise schedules, passenger reporting logs and records for line handling coordination, safety and berth management purposes.
- Help customers dock and undock their pleasure craft within two public marinas and on boardwalk portions of the site.
- Check-in and out all marina visitors. Assist with hotel like slip reservation bookings via Harbour Assist software and concierge services including the processing of agreements and associated payment for docking on campus.
- Collect and process slip deposits and fees for season long customers. Ensure accurate completion of marina agreement paperwork by all pleasure craft owners.
- Learn to use elements of our Harbour Assist Marina Management software including communication and payment tracking.
- Provide marina customers and site tourists with visitor information.
- Work with local marine safety (Marine Police and Marine Fire) for emergency support. Work with the Canada Border Service Agency as required. Develop knowledge of marine emergency and spill response procedures. Obtain training from our Emergency Planning staff. Work with our Safety and Security Team daily.
- Conduct daily early morning dock walks to establish the exact positions, status, security and safety of all boats in marinas.
- Assist with basic cleaning and organizing of offices, washrooms, laundry and shower areas at marinas as needed.
- Hose off the docks, collect garbage and recyclables, report maintenance concerns and maintain company equipment. Assist with the collection of floating debris such as weeds, plastic bags, bottles, cups etc. Keep the marina office area tidy and clean both in and out.
- Provide weather data and other important notices and information to boaters. Monitor and keep bulletin boards tidy and neat.
- Monitor and respond to calls on the VHF marine radiotelephone. Acquire an Industry Canada Marine VHF Radiotelephone licence by May 31st. Course training and materials will be provided.
- Facilitate rental of Toronto Music Garden Park self-guided audio tour devices (Marina Quay West only).
- Assist customers with luggage, groceries and provide a range of customer support using provided dock carts.
- Sell retail products including ice, pump-out machine tokens and ice cream products where applicable.
- Promote and support a variety of activities including our Harbourfront Sailing and Power Boating operation, canoe/ kayak schools and clubs, Disabled Sailing, Blind Sailing Canada and all passenger vessel operations etc.
- Operate a pump out service centre for boat waste management. Pump boat holding tanks out as needed. Maintain pump out machine via basic maintenance service. Training will be provided.
- Complete a daily Dock Attendant Log or staff communication and record keeping purposes.
- Abide by all Harbourfront Centre policies and procedures ( such as Health and Safety protocols, Workplace Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy and all others), as well as all requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and applicable regulations.
- Identify and report all health and safety concerns immediately to supervisor.
Requirements
- Familiarity with either sailing, power boating, marina operations or commercial marine activities. Preference will be given to candidates with extensive customer service employment in a public marina, yacht club or a marine environment with similar services.
- Organized and neat with a highly professional work ethic and appearance.
- Energetic, dynamic, outgoing, personable and polite. Enjoys dealing with the public. Friendly positive personality.
- Highly customer service oriented, must exhibit exceptional pro-active customer service skills.
- Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Comfortable working around the water. Must be able to swim well. Please submit valid swimming certificates.
- Cash handling and credit/debit card processing experience is an asset.
- Must enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Police Background check letter is required and can be obtained on-line via Toronto Police Services web site.
- Health & Safety knowledge, First Aid/CPR knowledge and watery safety knowledge are preferred.
- Boat handling / driving experience is considered an asset.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Non-Canadian applicants must have a valid employment Visa and proper documentation authorizing their ability to work in Canada for the full duration of the contract.
Our Values
At Harbourfront Centre, our values—Open, Brave, Rigorous, and Kind—reflect our commitment to inclusivity, imaginative risk-taking, excellence, and respect, ensuring enriching experiences for all.
How To Apply
Harbourfront is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply by contacting jobs@harbourfrontcentre.com by no later than February 28, 2025. Please quote Dock Attendant in the subject line of your application.
Interviews will be conducted either in person or virtually via MS Teams or Zoom mid-February to mid-March.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. Suitable accommodation will be available upon request during the hiring process.