NorthStar Helicopters
NorthStar Helicopters
NorthStar is a helicopter glacier trekking company, located in Juneau, Alaska. We specialize in flight seeing and guided glacier tours designed to deliver adventurous travelers extended time exploring the local glaciers that make up the Juneau Icefield. Our focus is on providing personalized tours, with safety and customer service as the top priorities.
We are located near the Juneau International Airport in the Mendenhall valley, in Juneau, Alaska.
- Location
- Alaska
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 100
- Housing
- Staff make their own housing arrangements.
- Family housing available
- No
About NorthStar Helicopters
NorthStar was founded in 1998 as a way to provide an outdoor adventure tailored to the interests and abilities of each guest, with safety as the top priority. We offer three levels of trekking experiences on the pristine glaciers of the Juneau ice field with a helicopter flightseeing tour included. In addition to our trekking tours, we offer a dog sledding tour and an airboat tour. We are seeking adventurous employees to fill a variety of positions, each of which will play an important role in creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests. Our hope is that NorthStar is an unforgettable experience for guests and employees alike.
The Employee Experience
NorthStar is a small company, spread throughout the Juneau area, from the docks of downtown Juneau, all the way to the local glaciers.
This geographic spread requires that our employees work in small team environments, at multiple locations, in coordination, to create a seamless guest experience.
NorthStar offers a fun and active work environment, both in and out of doors in one of the most pristine and incredible natural settings.
Each and every member of our team is an essential element of this operation and our guests' experience.
Ideal Candidate
Looking for energetic and outgoing applicants to join our team in a fun, fast-paced, adventurous environment. Safety is our highest priority and excellent customer service skills are a must. NorthStar provides training for all employees.
NorthStar’s season runs from mid April through mid October. Employees may be asked to make a commitment for the length of time that they will be available for employment.
Room and Board
Housing is not provided by NorthStar. However, we are happy to assist with facilitating shared housing opportunities.
Employee Perks
NorthStar provides a fun, healthy work environment with the opportunity to make money while experiencing a true Alaskan summer. Additional benefits of working at NorthStar include:
- Competitive hourly wages
- End of Season Bonus
- Employees are eligible for an end-of-season bonus, under the condition that they complete the length of time they committed to working and fulfill all duties to a standard that would make them eligible for rehire.
- Tour Opportunities
- You will also have the opportunity to participate in NorthStar tours throughout the season. As an employee in the tourism industry, you may be eligible for reduced rates and space available for complimentary participation on other local tours.
- Fun company-sponsored events throughout the season
Getting Here and Getting Around
Juneau is located in the Southeast Alaskan panhandle and is only accessible by plane or Ferry. For this reason, we highly recommend you do your research on where Juneau is geographically located and the best way for you to arrive here. If you intend on bringing a vehicle, the only way to do this is to travel on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. There are 3 main ways that most people travel to Juneau:
- 2-hour direct flight from Seattle, Washington with Alaska Airlines or Delta
- Drive through Canada and take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Skagway or Haines (this is about a 6-hour ferry ride)
- Take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Bellingham, Washington (this is about a 55-hour ferry ride)
For more information on the Alaska Marine Highway please visit: https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/index.shtml
It is the responsibility of each employee to make travel arrangements to and from Juneau. NorthStar encourages employees to bring a bicycle if they do not have a vehicle. Public transportation is available, however, limited.
For Fun
Juneau's breathtaking landscape hosts an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities including, expansive hiking trails, camping, fishing, biking, kayaking, etc.
Current Job Openings
- Loading and unloading helicopters on the glacier
- Providing clients with safety information and instruction on using provided mountaineering tools
- Attend trainings to improve technical mountaineering skills, hazard identification, and medical skills
- Safely selecting routes and leading clients on a guided and informative hike over varied glacial terrain
- Assisting ground staff with any tasks in support of the operation
- Current First Aid and CPR certification
- Ability to work in physically demanding conditions, including extreme weather and rough terrain
- Ability to safely guide clients on walkabout and trek tours individually and as part of a team
- Demonstrate good decision-making and conservative risk management practices
- Safety conscious with the ability to recognize and mitigate potential safety hazards
- Enjoy interacting with clients and sharing Alaska’s natural and cultural history
- Previous guiding, mountaineering, climbing, and ice climbing experience
- Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays
- Ability to work independently and as a team
- Assisting in the daily operations including answering telephones, booking tours, and gift shop retail sales all with excellent customer service skills
- Restocking and organizing gift shop and fulfilling online orders
- Creating van schedules and coordinating with drivers throughout the day
- Preparing and maintaining daily paperwork and record-keeping
- Welcoming guests and checking them in upon arrival
- Detail-oriented and multi-tasking abilities
- Organized
- Experience with POS and Google Suite
- Strong customer service and multi-tasking skills
- Office experience preferred but not required
- Ability to be flexible
- Monitoring and tracking flight operations
- Preparing flight manifests using weight and balance
- Communicating and coordinating with employees and aircraft via radio
- Tracking and recording data
- Assisting with daily paperwork
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with all departments of the operation
- Safety conscious and composed in a fast-paced environment
- Self-motivated with quick decision-making skills
- Good time management
- Leadership
- Record-keeping experience and organizational skills
- Some experience in aviation is preferred but not required
- Greeting and professional interactions with customers throughout their time at base
- Assisting clients in gearing up for their glacier tours
- Providing a thorough safety briefing and loading and unloading guests from helicopters
- Keeping all gear clean and organized
- Maintaining NorthStar base
- Safety conscious with the ability to recognize and prevent potential safety hazards
- Customer service oriented with a desire to interact with guests from around the world
- Ability to work well in a team while also taking a proactive approach to completing tasks
- Adaptability in a fast-paced and exciting work environment
- Meeting and greeting passengers at the cruise ships, checking guests in, and directing them to their transportation
- Collecting passenger information and communicating efficiently with base and cruise ship staff
- Responsible for tallying total passenger counts per ship and close out totals per ship
- Answering guests’ questions about tours and Juneau
- Communicating information from base to guests in a professional and composed manner
- Dependable, punctual, and able to work independently
- Willingness to spend all day outside in varied weather conditions
- Problem-solving skills
- Organized and responsible
- Own transportation preferred
- Transporting passengers to and from the NorthStar base in a 15- passenger van
- Welcoming and engaging with guests
- Cleaning and fueling vans
- Completing regular vehicle maintenance checks
- Professional demeanor
- Must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record
- Friendly, outgoing, with a willingness to engage with guests
- Punctual, reliable, and organized with the ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment
Glacier Guide
Commute to work by helicopter and spend your day guiding guests on customized glacier treks. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Required Qualifications:
Preference will be given to applicants who have a current Wilderness First Responder, equivalent, or a higher certificate
Desired qualities:
Starting Wage $20+ DOE
Receptionist / Retail
Interact with guests from around the world as you assist them in booking tours while providing top-notch customer service to make their experience at NorthStar unforgettable.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Desired qualities:
Starting wage $18+ DOE
Dispatch / Manifest
In assisting with flight activities, you will play a key role in the safety, fluidity, and success of NorthStar’s operation.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Desired qualities:
Starting wage $18+ DOE
Ground Crew
As an integral part of the NorthStar team, you will help guests prepare for their tour before loading them into the helicopter for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Desired qualities:
Under 18 years old starts at $16, Over 18 years old starts at $18+ DOE
Dock Representative
As the first point of contact for guests, you will act as a NorthStar ambassador to both customers and our partners on the cruise ships.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Desired qualities:
Starting wage $18+ DOE
Van Driver
Share your local knowledge with guests from around the world while transporting them to and from their exciting excursions.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Desired qualities:
Starting wage $20+ DOE
How to Apply
Click APPLY HERE to read more details and to access our application form. You'll need to download and complete the application, then return it to us via email. You can also visit our website employment page www.northstartrekking.com/employment for more information.
You can also call us at 907-790-4530
Contact Info
- Chelsea Cushing
- chelsea@northstartrekking.com
- (907) 790-4530
- www.northstartrekking.com
