Gastineau Guiding

Hiring:

Naturalist Science Guides Lead groups on interpretive natural, cultural and historical walks, hikes and whale watching tours. Guides share their expertise on all ecosystem types in the Juneau area, including the alpine, sub-alpine, rainforest and coastline. This position is responsible for offering a variety of tours, but most specialized is that of our Citizen Science Adventure. Science Guides facilitate the gathering of raw, baseline data provided to partners like NOAA, the Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Southeast and others. Educational background in sciences is preferred.

Since this tour is conducted on both land and sea, you will be on the water almost daily. A willingness to train as a naturalist and obtain Coast Guard crew certification is mandatory. Guides are also responsible for operating company vehicles (14-28 passengers)  and assisting with other tours, including our hiking and natural history tours. 

Please Note: All new hire guides are expected to have a Commercial Driving License or train for their Class C Alaskan CDL. In-house training is provided if the applicant meets age and driving record requirements. Position is paid on an hourly basis, $16-18+ DOE w/overtime.

Required  Qualifications: 

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Must have formal education or field experience in subject matter (science or photography)

• Must provide employer with a certified 5-year driving history, showing no major violations in the last 5 years and limited minor violations in last 3 years

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test 

• Must have CPR/First Aid (before April 2022)

• Must pass a DOT Medical Exam (before April 2022)

• Prefer applicants available for 4-week natural history training starting April 13, 2022

• Must value waterproof clothing and working in a rainforest

Photo guides lead small groups of 14 or less guests on tours to Juneau’s hot spots while working to improve their photography skills. Responsibilities include everything from instructing guests on how to use their equipment, to visually demonstrating photographic techniques, to explaining the geological mechanics of the Mendenhall Glacier. The position requires a solid background in photography and strong interpersonal skills. Applicants should be comfortable communicating such photo techniques as shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance and methods of compositions to all levels of experience. Developing a media slideshow for instruction on tour is mandatory. 

Since this tour is conducted on both land and sea, you will be on the water almost daily. A willingness to train as a naturalist and obtain Coast Guard crew certification is mandatory. Also responsible for operating company vehicles (14-28 passengers) and assisting to guide other tours, including hiking and natural history tours. Interpretive certification(s) available.

Please Note: All new hire guides are expected to have a Commercial Driving License or train for their Class C Alaskan CDL. In-house training is provided if applicant meets age and driving record requirements. Position is paid on an hourly basis, $16-18+ DOE w/overtime.

Required  Qualifications: 

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Must have some formal education or field experience in subject matter (science or photography)

• Must provide employer with a certified 5-year driving history, showing no major violations in the last 5 years and limited minor violations in last 3 years

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test 

• Must have CPR/First Aid (before April 2022)

• Must pass a DOT Medical Exam (before April 2022)

• Prefer applicants available for 4-week natural history training starting April 13, 2022

• Must value waterproof clothing and working in a rainforest

Work in Gastineau Guiding's bustling tour office to create and facilitate the smooth operation of the daily schedule. This fast-paced job requires knowledge of every aspect of Gastineau’s operations, including tours, guides, captains, dock reps and cruise ship contacts. Supervise the overall operations of the business as you respond to the unexpected occurrences of daily life, coordinating with all parties to make changes to the daily schedule or respond to emergencies as needed. Creating the daily tour schedule is a significant part of this job, so experience in management of employees and their scheduling needs is a plus. Daily Coordinators may also assist managers in a wide variety of projects. Applicants should have a strong analytical ability, be able to juggle tasks well, keep a cool demeanor under pressure and enjoy a job that is always changing! Bonus points if you like crafting and/or funny wigs. This position has a set weekly schedule with 5 days on/2 days off, though overtime should be expected.

Required  Qualifications: 

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Must have strong written communication skills 

• Must be a competent typist; Microsoft Office Suite experience preferred 

• Experience in an office setting is a plus

Additional Information About Gastineau Guiding:

WHO WE ARE

As Juneau’s premier guiding company, Gastineau Guiding strives to deliver Juneau’s best fully guided outdoor experiences. We offer a variety of specialty whale watching and hiking tours that bring our guests off the ships and onto the trails as they explore Juneau’s abundant natural landscape. Celebrating 25 years as a locally owned and operated company, we are not a company of scripts or unwavering planning: our guides and staff lead tours that cater to their expertise and interest. We help them achieve that passion through Juneau's most rigorous 100+ hour Naturalist Guide training program. We pride ourselves on being the team that can mix factually accurate science, photography and natural history with a whole lot of fun, all in the name of providing our guests with the Safety, Service and Sense of Wonder that has become Gastineau Guiding’s quality signature.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

All Gastineau Guiding tours are fully-guided, small group experiences, taking guests off the beaten track to places most other companies don’t go. Small groups of anywhere from 6-20 guests means more communication, more personal attention, and more time off the bus and on the trails. This is why our employees aren’t just guides, they’re naturalist interpreters. We’re looking for strong communicators who can maintain a professional attitude and appearance while sharing their knowledge and passion for photography and the natural history of Southeast Alaska. Our tours operate in all weather conditions on the trails and on the water, so the ideal candidate is also comfortable on a boat and in rain pants (hello, Temperate Rainforest home!).

Gastineau Guiding proves extensive training beginning mid-April, with seasons coming to a close in early October. Full season availability is not required but preferred.