When an innkeeping position on East Brother Island in San Pablo Bay was last advertised, the listing went viral, according to reporting by SFGate.
Called a dream job by many, the position managing the five-room inn drew global media attention and an onslaught of interest from applicants. And now it’s available once again.
With a salary of $140,000 a year, housing and health benefits included, the job is a hot commodity in the Bay Area.
But top it off with the opportunity to live on a private island in the San Francisco Bay, many would call that a dream.
East Brother Island is located off Point Molate, located in the strait that separates the San Francisco and San Pablo bays.
The island’s historic light station, built in 1873, is a California Victorian that has operated as a bed-and-breakfast since 1980. Owned by a non-profit that leases the island from the Coast Guard, the inn’s purpose is to pay for the station’s upkeep and preservation.
The actual job description shows this is actually quite the undertaking. The position is actually not just for one person, it’s for two: a couple who can share the non-stop work East Brother requires.
The couple’s responsibilities would include promoting the inn, managing the day-to-day operations of the front desk and gift shop, cooking two hot meals a day for 10 guests, and all the housekeeping.
One in the couple must have a Coast Guard captain’s license to shuttle visitors to and from the island, and one needs to have "high-quality culinary experience" to justify the rates, which start at $345 per night.
The last innkeeper’s search in early 2019 led to Tiffany Danse and Tyler Waterson, who ultimately got the position.
The tiny island is three-quarters of an acre with no Wi-Fi or television, and relies on a rain harvesting system and redwood tank for running water.
And earnings are a percentage of the inn’s profits, making the two year commitment a bit of a gamble.
The inn has been closed throughout the pandemic, but will reopen in September.
The new innkeepers, who have yet to be selected, are set to start next month.
Applications are being accepted via the East Brother Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast website.
