Ecotour Operator, Operations Manager

Background:

Eco Tourism, Whale Watching and Sea Kayaking on San Juan Island, Washington
state. A small privately owned, well respected company operating from this
location 7 years. We have 14 -16 staff members.

Our emphasis is on wildlife
viewing, respecting wildlife and its environment. Our goal is to expose people to
wildlife, give them a deeper understanding of what they are viewing. Our hope is
that our guests will then support wildlife and habitat in their everyday life.

Duties:

Operations Manager Duties include:
• interviewing for staff hiring, firing of staff,
  making out the schedule for kayak guides and boat personnel, train kayak guides
  for self and assisted rescue, train and test kayak guides and boat naturalist on
  their knowledge of Pacific Northwest. Every four weeks fill out an evaluation
  form for each kayak guide and each naturalist-first mate.
• Keep written records
  of miss-conduct of kayak guides and naturalist/first mates.
• Train, supervise, and
  follow up on dock person.
• Maintain kayaks in perfect condition by teaching one
  or two others to do maintenance.
• Supervise that it does get done immediately.
• Put a system in place whereby the dock person can potentially be trained as a
  guide by going as a sweep.
• Meet and greet all "special groups".
• Get the group
  orientated, signed in, organized for their tour.
• Meet weekly with owner and meet
  with boat and kayak staff as needed.
• Jump in as a desk supervisor on an as
  need basis.
• Safety officer.
• Assure that all guides, equipment and supplies are up
  to compliance, maintenance, repair and cleaning and polishing of boats and
  equipment, delegating duties and following up to be certain everything has been
  accomplished.
• Work at least one day each week on the appointment desk, one
  day as a kayak guide and one day as the first mate/naturalist.

During July and
August the operations manager will work 6 days per week.

Qualifications:

• Business background preferred,
• outgoing, people oriented, responsible, mature,
  happy, good group speaking skills,
• good sea legs,
• 21 years or older.
• College
  education preferred with a background in business, marine science or zoology, a
  working knowledge of Orca whales, marine animals and birds in the Pacific
  Northwest.
• Have an ecological ethic,
• certified in First Aid,
• able to lift 50 pounds
  comfortably, at times 80 pounds and safety conscious.
• Have retail and
  managerial experience.
• This person must be well organized, punctual, hard
  working, able to plan ahead, have the ability to be both firm and flexible.
• Be
  available April 20 - Oct 5, including Saturdays and Sundays.
• This position
  requires drug testing. and adherence to uniform standards. Non-smokers.

Rewards: Up to $15 per hour (D.O.E) plus tips. Work in a world class, outdoor
marine environment with fun, caring people, bald eagles, great blue heron and
other birds, river otter, wild mink, orca and minke whales.

Discounts on outdoor
gear and local restaurant.

Free kayak and whale watching tours on a "space
available" basis, discounts for family and friends. Make life-long friendships.

How
we pay our staff: Staff is paid, as an example, $10 per hour( $8 + $2) If the
person stays until their agreed end date, the additional $2, per every hour
worked, will be paid as a bonus. It is the policy of San Juan Safaris and San Juan
Charters to set a per hour agreement and a mutual agreed on length of
employment at the start of the employment period with each staff member.
When that agreement is fulfilled, San Juan Safaris and San Juan Charters
computes and pays a $2 per hour bonus for each hour worked as per the
contract. We have found that by paying this bonus, in this fashion, we are less
likely to lose employees during the critical times of our short season.

Closing Date: March 01, 2003
Start Date: April 15, 2003

Application Instructions:

First view our website and see if our company is one that you would
like to work for. After looking through, if you are still interested please e mail your resume to
or snail mail it to:

PO Box 2749
Friday Harbor
WA 98250.