Center Island Caretakers - Washington State

Center Island is a small private island in San Juan County located inside Lopez Pass in the protected waters of Reads Bay on Lopez Sound.  The island is accessed by private boat, plane, or charter water taxi. The island has a short community owned runway and private docks. There are no commercial services on Center Island. 

The island contains a plat of 175 lots with approximately 120 residences used primarily as vacation homes. Lot owners are members of the Center Island Association (CIA), a non-profit homeowner’s association which owns and manages community property including the airstrip and docks, a water system, roadways, vehicles, maintenance and firefighting equipment, a community clubhouse, a maintenance shop, and a private Caretaker’s home. Center Island employs full time on-island caretakers to perform various day-to-day operation and maintenance tasks, maintain a security presence, monitor the use of CIA property, and to serve as a primary on-island contact for emergency and community needs. The caretaker positions are chartered to help manage and maintain Association-owned (common) property; not to address needs of owners/guests on private lots. Caretaker positions are “at-will” and can be terminated with or without cause by either party.   

Responsibilities assigned to the caretakers are largely focused on providing a security presence and managing day-to-day needs at the community clubhouse and dock areas. The caretaker is responsible for grass mowing operations during the growing season. The caretaker should be capable of assisting the water purveyor in operation of the RO-based water making plant on days when the purveyor is off-island. The caretaker is encouraged to complete training and pass the certification test to become a certified waterworks operator by Washington State Department of Health. 

The clubhouse facility and docks are generally a focus area for member activity. The caretakers need to be approachable and willing to assist with critical or emergency needs while on island. Day-to-day duty hours and activities are variable based on needs.

Compensation for the caretaker position will be mutually negotiated based on qualifications and experience. The caretakers are provided with a private residence located adjacent to the community clubhouse overlooking Reads Bay and the community docks. The residence has two bedrooms, one bath, a living/dining area, washer & dryer, a full kitchen, and is largely furnished.

Transportation to and from the island is by boat or airplane. Local marine taxi operations service Center Island by boat. While a monthly transportation allowance is provided by the Association, it is beneficial for island caretakers to own and operate a suitable boat or airplane to take full advantage of personal time when off duty.

Capabilities/Qualifications: 

• Good interpersonal communication skills with ability to be assertive when appropriate/needed.
• Ability to manage interruptions and complete prioritized work in a self-directed manner.
• “Handyman” skills suitable for light repair and servicing of vehicles, small engines, equipment
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Physical demands including stooping, kneeling, climbing a ladder, walking on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to handle emergency situations with a calm, yet authoritative manner.
• Willingness/ability to proactively communicate and promote member adherence to community rules.
• Comfortable living adjacent to community facilities with people coming and going. 
• Basic first aid and CPR skills are desirable.
• Basic webpage management skills including communication from the community website and management of the structure and content of the home page.
• Basic computer skills including creation and maintenance of spreadsheets. Ability to maintain records in an association cloud-based storage site.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a security presence at community facilities. Meet and great members and guests. Challenge and report the presence of “unknown” people.
• Monitor the caretaker phone and email. Respond as required.
• Pick-up and deliver packages and mail to/from the mail room. Mail room organization and oversight.
• Assist in the reading and recording of water meters twice a year (May/October)
• Collect, count, and secure all cash and checks derived from sales and equipment rentals. Report same, including receipts for all expenses and debit purchases, to the association accounting firm and Treasurer on a monthly basis. 
• Complete and report all expense reports and debit purchase logs. Report same, including receipts for all expenses and debit purchases, to the association accounting firm and Treasurer on a monthly basis. 
• Maintain and clean clubhouse, bathrooms, and laundry facilities

• Monitor member usage (report abuse)
• Monitor utilities usage (power, water)
• Bag ice and monitor ice production/sales
• Monitor laundry machine usage (to avoid septic damage)
• Clean and re-stock bathrooms, showers, and laundry room
• Clean and maintain community areas in the clubhouse
• Maintain first aid and emergency kits
• Clean and maintain mail shack
• Maintain consumables and supplies inventory
• Periodic cleaning of deck and gutters

• Manage and maintain CIA vehicles such that they are clean, serviceable, and ready to use (including fire trucks)
• Coordinate periodic third-party inspection and pumping of CIA septic systems
• Mowing of common-area grass and airstrip. Weed-eat ditches.
• Maintain community roadways/shoulders, ditches, and culverts. Clear wind-fallen trees and branches and maintain shoulder vegetation (vehicle clearance and sight path)
• Manage community brush burns in compliance with county requirements.
• Monitor and coordinate real estate agent showings

• Perform harbormaster duties including patrolling docks, maintaining record of dock use by members and guests, monitor boats during adverse weather conditions, promote safe use of docks, maintain safety equipment (ladders, fire extinguishers), maintain boat storage yard inventory and billing records.
• Monitor, maintain, and coordinate execution of required repairs for CIA community docks
• Aid in launching and retrieving boats (in emergency situations)
• Monitor appropriate usage of CIA vehicles, equipment, and collection of rental charges due.
• Help ensure that members observe burn ban restrictions (when posted).

• Assist with collection/disposal/recycling of clubhouse area trash materials.
• Maintain and repair association equipment.

 Other duties as may be required or directed by the Association Board.