1st Mate - San Discovery

About the Company At Sanford, we take pride in our rich seafood heritage that spans over 100 years. Our dedication to the industry drives us to embrace our future with enthusiasm. We envision becoming a leader in New Zealand seafood, which we achieve through our core values of care, passion, integrity, and collaboration in all our endeavors. About the Role We invite you to join our deep-water fleet, which consists of 13 fishing vessels that operate year-round from Cape Reinga to the Ross Sea. Our deep-sea vessels can remain at sea for up to 12 weeks, where we catch, process, and package seafood on board, delivering the finest New Zealand seafood to tables around the world. As the 1st Mate aboard the San Discovery, a 64-meter trawler, you will play a vital role in supporting the Skipper, Steve Epiha, with vessel operations. Your responsibilities will include overseeing the deck crew and assisting with bridge watchkeeping, fishing, and navigation duties. The San Discovery is a stern-type deep-sea trawler capable of producing fillets (both block and shatter-pack), H&G, squid tubes, fishmeal, and fish oil. These products are processed, packaged, and labeled on the vessel, targeting species such as hoki, ling, hake, warehou, and arrow squid. This position is offered as an Independent Contractor role on a trip-on, trip-off rotation. The vessel is scheduled to arrive on August 25th; however, we are open to a later start date for the right candidate. Based in Timaru, we will cover your flights to and from the vessel for each trip. Opportunities like this are rare in our industry. Whether you are an experienced Mate seeking a new challenge or looking to advance your career, this could be the exciting next chapter you have been waiting for. About You We are looking for a proven leader with strong maritime experience. You should possess excellent communication skills, enabling you to engage effectively across all operational levels. Thriving in dynamic environments, you embrace change and support your colleagues through transitions. A strong commitment to health, safety, and well-being is essential, along with a passion for delivering high-quality New Zealand seafood. Physical fitness, mental resilience, and a good team fit are crucial attributes for this role. What We Are Looking For - Significant maritime experience with strong navigational and fishing skills, preferably within New Zealand's hoki and squid fisheries. - Mate Fishing Vessel Unlimited (MFV-U) certification. - A current Maritime Medical or the ability to obtain one. - A solid understanding of relevant New Zealand legislation, including MOSS, HSWA, the Fisheries Act and regulations, and MPI food safety requirements. - Leadership skills to manage a complex operation on a 24-hour basis with a diverse workforce. - Experience with bottom fishing operations on a vessel of this size and operational complexity. At Sanford, we offer numerous opportunities within a diverse team of over 1,500 individuals working in various roles, including in remote locations such as the waters surrounding Antarctica. Join us in our mission to deliver the highest quality seafood to tables worldwide. Please note that you must be eligible to work in New Zealand. Our recruitment process includes pre-engagement checks, including a criminal history check, drug and alcohol testing, and a medical assessment.