Naturalist/Guide
Organization: Great Bear Nature Tours
Website: http://www.greatbeartours.com
Location: Port Hardy, North Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Great Bear Nature Tours is seeking highly motivated
naturalist/guide(s) to lead
wildlife viewing tours in the Great Bear
Rainforest on the central coast of British Columbia. Our primary
species of interest is grizzly bears.
Job Description: Lead science-oriented grizzly bear viewing tours in
areas of high bear density on foot, by boat, or in vehicles with a
major emphasis on safety and natural history interpretation. A second
major assignment is to present structured natural history slide or
multi-media presentations on various aspects of this ecosystem.
Additional duties may occasionally include: working in the lodge
preparing meals, cleaning and general maintenance of lodge. Great Bear
Nature Tours provides industry competitive salaries. Period of
employment will run from early May into October with possible
lodge-sitting opportunities in November.
Minimum Position requirements:
• University degree in Biological Sciences or Natural History
Interpretation. Degree in progress may be acceptable in special
circumstances. Extensive eco-tourism guiding experience with grizzly
bears or other wildlife may be acceptable as an alternative to a
degree.
• Strong interpersonal skills, clean professional appearance and dress.
• Ability to work cheerfully and independently in a remote field
setting for long periods of time, working and living very closely with
other staff members and guests.
• Birding/wildlife identification experience/aptitude.
• Good sense of humour and a passion for wildlife and people.
• Driven to provide excellent customer service and exceed customer
expectations on a daily basis.
• Wilderness First Responder or equivalent First aid training.
Highly Desirable additional qualifications:
• Work experience or training in natural history
interpretation/science teaching.
• Experience operating and maintaining small rowboats and outboard motors.
• Previous experience working around grizzly bears
Desirable additional qualifications:
• General carpentry and maintenance skills.
• Wildlife photography expertise
• Working verbal ability in any of the following languages: German,
Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese. (In order of importance)
Additionally Successful Candidates will:
• Have a great passion for learning, wildlife, and teaching to people
of diverse social backgrounds and languages.
• Be self-starters with a strong work ethic.
• Be independent and respectful of other staff work obligations and
personal space.
• Savor life in a remote wilderness setting with limited access to
communication or traditional social life besides limited Internet use
while at the lodge.
Background:
Great Bear Nature Tours (http://www.greatbeartours.com) has been
providing, since 1999, quality wildlife viewing experiences with a
strong emphasis on natural history interpretation, minimum ecological
impact, and spending an enjoyable day in the field. We operate in
Smith Inlet approximately 50 miles north of Port Hardy, BC. We are
fortunate to work in a relatively intact ecosystem and our goal is to
share this special place with guests from all over the world in a
sustainable manner. The wildlife call this place home, we are merely
guests in their valley.
Great Bear Nature Tours is a founding member of the Commercial Bear
Viewing Association of BC (http://www.bearviewing.ca).
Realities:
• Work schedule is 10 days on at the lodge, 4 days off in “town”. Room
and board provided at the lodge.
• Port Hardy is the town, which is small by most standards, and 3
hours north of Campbell River.
• You may be expected to share a room at the Lodge.
• We work in a rainforest. It can rain daily for two weeks. You’ll
need proper clothing and attitude to keep smiling. It can also be
sunny for two weeks.
• This is a relatively small floating facility, think of living on a large
boat.
• Natural history interpretation can be very repetitive, but each day
is different and each activity must be fresh and new.
• Selected candidates will be required to read a significant reading
list and will undergo an extensive training program in the field. They
will also need to secure appropriate radio and boat licenses, etc.
Application Procedure:
Please email a cover letter and resume with 3 references. At least 2
of them should be work related and all must have both e-mail addresses
and phone contact numbers. Email materials to Tom Rivest at:
tom@greatbeartours.com
as soon as possible.
Interviews (in person only) begin the week of February 8, 2015.
Position remains open until filled. Please no phone calls, FAX, or
regular mail. All emails will be acknowledged and selected applicants
will be contacted by email and phone for interviews by phone or in
person.