Santa Barbara Adventure Company

 

UPDATES: Hiring for 2025!

 

Hiring:

 
 
 

Adventure Guide


 

Roles for SBACo Adventure Guides:

  • Kayak Guide (in the Santa Barbara area and Channel Islands National Park)

  • Surf or Stand Up Paddleboard Guide

  • Outdoor Education Trail Guide

  • Program Coordinator, or camp Commissary Director Team Building

  • Challenge Course Facilitator Wine Guide (Commercial Driver’s License Class B or Class C w/ Passenger Endorsement preferred)

A majority of our staff works in a variety of roles – that is one of the biggest perks of the job!

 

Desired Skills

  • Outstanding customer service

  • Excellent communicator

  • Leadership & group management

  • Team building facilitation

  • Environmental stewardship

  • Interpretation and storytelling

  • First Aid/CPR certification (WFR preferred)

  • Commercial driver’s license


Desired Experience

  • Sea kayaking

  • Team building

  • Surf lessons

  • Stand Up Paddle board lessons

  • Wine Tours

  • Environmental education (working with youth)

  • High ropes or rock climbing

  • Hiking

  • Other commercial guiding experience

Job Responsibilities ●

  • Lead and manage a variety of trips based on prior experience, skill set, and level of training

  • Deliver effective safety briefings and introductory talks

  • Help maintain gear and equipment before, during, and after trips

  • Adhere to trip itineraries to ensure activities remain on schedule

  • Complete and maintain all necessary trip paperwork and records

  • Read, write, and understand procedures, checklists, and daily trip reports

  • Be familiar with and maintain the contents of first aid kits, provide basic first aid assistance in the field, and know SBACo emergency procedures

  • Acquire and maintain CPR/First Aid certification (or higher)

  • Arrive to work on time, in uniform, and with the appropriate materials for the duration of trips

  • Depending on your role and training level for a specific type of trip, train and evaluate other staff on policies and procedures

  • Represent SBACo in a professional manner

  • Perform other duties as assigned Schedule This is a seasonal with opportunities to transition to year-round employment based on your skill set

Our busy season typically runs from March to November. Scheduling preference is given to individuals with a flexible schedule and full-time availability for the entire season. Attendance at training for new hires is mandatory, with sessions held in the first half of March. New hires unavailable to start before spring will be considered on a rolling basis, with additional training provided as needed. Please note that staff workdays can range from 6 hours to 14 hours. For Outdoor Education trips, Channel Islands trips, and consideration as a Channel Islands guide, the ability to camp overnight in remote settings and work consecutive days is strongly preferred.

Compensation

$16.50 – $20.25 per hour (payscale may be requested by emailing hiring@sbadventureco.com) Hourly pay is based on certifications, education, and years of commercial guiding experience or relatable experience. We encourage you to review our Employment FAQ document for further details. This position is non-exempt and is subject to scheduled, and occasionally unexpected, overtime.

We offer competitive pay, tour discounts for friends and family, end of season bonuses, career and training development opportunities for personal and industry growth, seasonal company-wide celebrations, and a fun work environment. Plus, our staff gets access to industry pro deals at many amazing outdoor outfitters!

Sick Pay

Per CA law, 40 hours of accrued paid sick leave per year for qualifying reasons is provided for use after 90 days of employment.

401k

Eligible for enrollment in the company’s 401k plan with 4% match starting after 1 year of employment and 1,000 hours worked. Annual enrollment is July 1st and January 1st.

 

Additional Information About Santa Barbara Adventure Company

Santa Barbara Adventure Company (SBACo) is a dynamic and fun place to work for people who love to be outside and share our region’s natural beauty with others. As the premier adventure travel outfitter on the Central Coast since 1998, we operate four companies under one roof: (1) Santa Barbara Adventure Company, (2) Channel Islands Adventure Company, (3) Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours, and (4) Coastal Team Building. We offer a vast variety of activities in and around Santa Barbara including sea cave kayaking at Channel Islands National Park, kayak tours in Santa Barbara, wine tours in Santa Ynez Valley, customized team building events for corporate groups, outdoor education programs for school children, and more! SBACo company culture is second to none. We find strength in diversity and welcome professionals of all generations, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, and lifestyles. We care about the environment and it’s our mission to inspire a love of nature and our community by empowering all people through exceptional guided experiences.