Kayak Guide

Adventure Sitka is an exciting, relatively new company guided by leadership with over 40 years of combined experience in Alaska guest experience.  We operate tours that include sightseeing, wildlife viewing, storytelling, hospitality, and kayaking in some of the most beautiful settings Sitka has to offer. Our operating season runs early-May through late-September, with the first kayak guide training beginning in mid to late April.  We are in this business because of our love for exploring wild Alaska, and the fun we have sharing it with others. In our first three years of operation, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our guests and partners.  Adventure Sitka strives to consistently provide high quality experiences that our guests identify as the highlight of their travels.  

Essential Qualities & Qualifications

• Must have water-oriented background & skills and/or previous adventure-guiding experience.
• Must have a background or strong interest in natural & human history. 
• Must be reliable, self-motivated, honest, enthusiastic, gregarious, and love the outdoors.
• Must be willing to operate outside in variable weather conditions including rain, cold, and moderate wind.
• Must be team-oriented and have well-developed interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Must be committed to contribute to a healthy, positive, and safe working environment.
• Must have strong communication skills and enjoy story-telling and conversation.
• Must be physically fit, comfortable on the water for extended periods, able to swim, and able to lift & carry up to 100 pounds.
• Must have group organization and leadership skills.
• Must possess First Aid & CPR certification (prior to guiding with paying guests).
• Must be willing to work variable work hours, including long-days, evenings and weekends.
• Must be able to receive constructive feedback.
• Must be able to take direction and execute tasks as directed.
• Must be committed to taking initiative during unsupervised and high volume periods.
• Must recognize and fill their specific role as part of a contributor to team efficiency and morale.

Sea Kayak Guide Responsibilities

1. Set up for daily tour operations: kayak staging & gear preparation, and coordinate with the Tour Manager to confirm the day’s tour logistics.
2. Monitor weather and ocean conditions before, during, and after trips (if there are multiple trips in one day).  Work with management to make decisions based on conditions that ensure tour safety and quality.
3. Provide safety orientation for guests on our guided kayak tours.  Orientations include teaching proper fit & adjustment of equipment, good paddle technique and emergency rescue skills.  
4. With team members, coordinate efficient outfitting operations at the outfitting station.
5. Lead guide duties while on tour: ensure the safety of our guests through constant awareness of hazards and close observation of each guest’s abilities and needs.
6. Provide an educational and fun experience through delivery of informative narrative, good story-telling and appropriate conversation (adjust to suit each guest’s individual communication style). 
7. As needed, fill in as a pier representative.  This includes: greeting guests on the pier with tour signs, checking tickets, confirming guest counts, coordinating with tour manager, other guides, Captain and ship staff for tour departure, communicating with crew over radio, and escorting guests from the pier to the outfitting station.
8. During “down time”, between tours and on days that are less busy, assist with kayak & gear maintenance, site improvements, or other duties as needed. 
9. Be familiar and proficient with the logistics of both kayak tour products (Siginaka Islands Cruise & Kayak Adventure, Sitka Sound Kayak Adventure), and perform duties of guide on both throughout the course of a work week.
10. Assist other guides, shore staff and potential customers however the situation warrants.
11. In between tour departures guides must be prepared to reset kayaks on dock as well as equipment to ensure smooth transitions. 

Sea Kayak Guide / Deckhand Hybrid Responsibilities

Sea Kayak Guide / Deckhand is a potential upgrade of compensation and responsibilities, to be determined on an individual candidate basis

All Responsibilities listed above for Sea Kayak Guide,

PLUS

1. Federally (U.S. Coast Guard) required to be enrolled in a pre employment and random drug screening program.
2. Serve as the primary point of contact to guests on the crucial first leg of the Siginaka Islands tour.  This includes release forms, orientation, tour overview, organizing guests into paddle groups, answering questions, and assuring guests that they are about to have a great experience.
3. Maintain cleanliness and organization of the tour vessel on a daily basis under captain’s supervision.
4. Communicate with Captain any sort of unique guest challenges or situations that arise, coordinate with guides and Captain to come up with solutions.

Compensation & Benefits

Lead Guide ─ DOE, at least $18.00/hour, plus end-of-season $2 per hour worked contract fulfillment bonus. $300 each way travel reimbursement

While not guaranteed income, guides can generally expect to receive gratuities from guests for a job well done.

Company-arranged, seasonal housing assistance may be available to interested employees.

• Positions are seasonal full-time or part-time.  Covered by Workman’s Comp Insurance.
• Our guides have full authority to re-route or cancel tours when unsafe conditions develop. 

Note:  Preference is given to candidates available to work the entire season, without interruption.