Chief Cook in Gosport

Location: Operating from Gosport, but sailing around the UK and near-continent

Contract: Full Time, permanent

Salary: £28,600 gross per annum

Closing Date: 6 March 2026

Are you someone with catering experience who is looking for a unique offshore experience? The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a vibrant and growing charity, delivering life‑changing nautical adventure for young people, to give them the best possible head start in life. We also provide personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society.

About the role

We are seeking to appoint a Chief/Sole Cook to our 32 metre Flagship, the Training Ship (TS) Royalist, which operates out from Gosport, in Hampshire. The vessel undertakes 6‑day voyages around the coastal waters of the UK and near continent for up to 24 Cadets (aged from between 12‑18 years of age). Applicants should have the requisite experience and ability to cook for up to 34 embarked crew, together with the ability of managing food ordering and management of food stores. The position will work closely with the vessel’s Coxswain, to assist with Cadet administration, morale, safeguarding, welfare and discipline.

Catering experience and a working knowledge of working with young people are highly desirable requirements for the role, as well as qualifications in food hygiene and first aid. Good communication skills and a high level of emotional intelligence will also be required. Applicants should also either hold a current Seafarer Medical Certificate or be willing to obtain one. The ability to work effectively with young people as well as the permanent and relief crew members is essential.

The particular demand of seagoing employment requires the incumbent to be available for duty for prolonged periods and working hours necessarily need to be very flexible. Although overtime will not be recognised, the working and rest hours for the role will be within the confines of the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. The uncertain nature of the working hours are recognised by the holiday arrangements afforded.

Responsibilities

• To plan menus and order victualing supplies in order to provide the cadets and adult staff with a well-balanced and nutritious diet (taking into account specialist diets and allergies).
• The preparation and cooking of food.
• To have custody and control of onboard stocks of food supplies.
• To organise and run arrangements for serving of food, preparation and clearing away of dining areas, the ship’s galley and pantry. This will involve close supervision of cadets as they undertake domestic mess duties.
• Maintain appropriate records of food items (fridge temperatures, food delivery checks).
• To operate and oversee a structured deep cleaning routine for all areas that fall under the responsibility of the Chief Cook, especially the Galley, Pantry, food stores and other associated catering spaces.
• To assist in the cleaning stations below decks, in conjunction with the vessel’s Coxswain.
• To form part of the Ship’s emergency response team.
• To assist with the completion of joining/leaving paperwork for visiting personnel.
• To assist with the maintenance of cadet discipline on board.
• To look after the welfare, safeguarding and pastoral needs of the cadet crew.
• To assist with husbandry and other general maintenance tasks.

Other duties

To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, should not normally exceed those expected of an employee at that level.

104 days annual leave per annum, 84 individual days during the sailing season (this runs from 1 Mar - 30 Nov each year) and 20 working days during the winter refit period (1 Dec- 28/9 Feb).

Life assurance (4x salary) for those that join the charity’s pension scheme. Private medical insurance. Pension (employer contribution up to 10%). Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling. Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

National staff conference: All employees come together once a year to reflect on the past year and celebrate success at our offsite staff conference. This is a great opportunity to listen to employees' views, and for employees to network, share information and socialise.

For further information, please download the Recruitment Pack. If you are interested in this unique and highly rewarding Chief Cook vacancy, please apply now!

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity and inclusion really matter to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. We believe diverse minds make stronger teams. If you think differently, process information in unique ways, or have specific needs, we want to hear from you. We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to help you show your best. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre‑employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo a criminal record check.