Lead Kayak Guide - Seasonal May to end of September

We are looking for Lead kayak guides (SKGABC Level 2 or 3 or equivalent) to join the Spirit of the West Adventures Team. These individuals will play an essential and valued role on our team. This is a seasonal summer position.

Role and Responsibilities

• Kayak instruction and on-water group management in coordination with Assistant Guides.
• Maintain awareness of your surroundings and exercise conservative judgement.
• Provide rescue and first aid attention when required.
• Familiarize yourself with the local area, be continually aware of current and predicted weather conditions.
• Ensure guests are properly fitted and adjusted into boats and do safety and maintenance checks before leaving shore.
• Ensure that all gear and equipment is in good working order and make necessary repairs when required.
• Make appropriate safety decisions regarding the group activity.
• Know and follow all Food Safe Guidelines.
• Maintain a high standard of hygiene in food preparation and service areas, throughout the camp, and personally.
• Familiarize yourself with the location and operation of all safety equipment in transport vehicles and at camp.
• Follow and exemplify all current Provincial and company Health Guidelines.

Camp Management

• Maintain a responsible minimum impact camp practice.
• Communicate with the base to ensure adequate supplies and inventory are maintained.
• Repair and/or report faulty or damaged gear or equipment.
• Keep public areas clean and in presentable condition.
• Keep kayak equipment clean, tidy and well maintained.
• Assist other teammates wherever necessary.
• Help with housekeeping for guest accommodation and public areas on base camping-style tours.

Guest Experience

• Provide clients with engaging educational knowledge about the local area history, wilderness environment, marine and terrestrial flora and fauna.
• Communicate knowledge of natural and First Nations history particularly of Vancouver Island.
• Prepare, and clean up high-quality, nutritional meals for a variety of dietary requirements.
• Ensure that all areas of the camp are clean and well maintained.
• Assist guests with their introduction to their wilderness experiences, ensuring their comfort and safety on land as well as water.

Administrative

• Minimize waste and spoilage.
• Familiarize yourself with any medical conditions, food concerns or allergies.
• Address and report any maintenance issues immediately.
• Communicate relevant information to incoming Host, Guides, and Chef on the turnover day.
• Participate in the post-trip debrief.

Other

• Act as a representative of Spirit of the West Adventures in the field.
• Maintain a friendly professional demeanor at all times.
• All other reasonable tasks as requested by the Owners/Operations Manager.

Desired Attributes

Personal Qualities

• Aligns with the mission of the company to inspire, educate and empower people to connect with and protect wild spaces, places and creatures while providing top-notch, safe, fun and educational vacation experiences.
• A hard worker who takes pride in their work and works until the job is done and done well.
• Someone who can see outside of themselves and truly work as a team to accomplish goals and support each other in the process.
• Ability to communicate effectively and constructively.
• Works well with people of all ages.
• Happy to mentor teammates.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of emotional intelligence, sound judgment and discretion.
• Strong sense of integrity.
• Committed to the role, team and success of the company.
• Enjoys living and working on a remote and rural island.
• Sociable.
• Can multi-task and switch directions flexibly when required.
• Creative and attentive to details.
• Strong self-starter, able to work independently and show initiative.
• Ability to problem-solve.
• Positive attitude.
• Strong work ethic.
• Able to maintain a calm presence during stressful situations.
• Exemplary personal hygiene and presentation.
• Uses downtime effectively for personal care and maintaining work/life balance.

Hard Skills

• Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC Assistant Overnight Guide Certificate or Greater.
• Wilderness First Aid Certificate.
• VHF Marine Radio Operators Certificate.
• Risk Management Training.
• Group management skills.
• Solid kayaking and rescue skills.
• Thorough understanding of weather, currents and tides.
• Knowledge of area history, First Nations past and present, flora, fauna, and general surroundings.
• Exceptional customer service skills.
• FoodSafe Level 1 (can be obtained after hire).
• Clean Driver's license (Class 4 preferred).

Remuneration & Benefits

• Day rate ranging from $200-$370 a day depending upon experience and qualifications.
• 4% vacation pay on all wages (in lieu of paid vacation time).
• Health & Well Being Stipend of $5. 00 per day worked (as per date of hire) must provide receipts, non-accruing.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program including free, confidential counselling through Upper Island Counselling.
• Access to pro-deals on outdoor gear.
• Access to kayaks - borrow kayaks anytime (when available and after completing safety training). If you are accompanying a group of friends and we have kayaks/gear available, we may be able to loan kayaks to you and your group free of charge.
• Staff Discounts: Full-time year-round staff are able to offer a 25% discount to 2 guests to join a Spirit of the West kayaking tour regardless of the time of year with additional people receiving a 5% discount (on available BC tour dates, not applicable to international tours).

How Spirit of the West would support this role

• Paid staff training.
• Ongoing mentorship from senior staff.
• Extensive manuals to help learn and support your role.
• Access to training for ongoing professional development.
• Subscription to Upper Island Counseling to help ensure mental well-being and support.

Background Information about Spirit of the West

• Spirit of the West Adventures is based on Quadra Island, BC, a beautiful remote, rural community of approximately 3000 year-round residents. It is a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River on Vancouver Island which is a community of 35,000 residents with access to just about every service required or desired.
• Spirit of the West Adventures offers multi-day guided sea kayaking tours all over the Vancouver Island region as well as abroad in the winter month.
• We make the magic happen with the help of a seasonal team of upwards of 50 employees in our operational season and a team of between 5-8 year-round.
• We are a tight-knit team who truly care about what we do, our colleagues and our community.
• A rustic camping area is.