Norris Glacier Guide

Above and Beyond Alaska (ABAK) is seeking exceptional Norris Glacier Guides to join our seasonal team in Juneau, Alaska. ABAK has been facilitating outdoor adventure experiences on the ocean and ice for over 21 years and employs 40 seasonal team members from May-September.

Our guides embody Above and Beyond Alaska’s dedication to safety, customer service, and environmental conservation. New ABAK guides must be able to participate in a pre-season training program in mid/late April to learn or develop technical skills, natural history knowledge, and superior customer service strategies. 

The Norris Glacier Guide splits their time between working a week-long shift out of our remote site on Norris Lake and spending time in-town for days off and potentially guiding in other zones. They must be highly proficient in technical skills, knowledgeable about the glacial environment, and capable of working as part of a team at a remote site.

In the month of May a Norris Guide will participate in training, potentially guide in the Mendenhall zone, and may also assist in the Norris season preparation and site setup. Once the operating season is fully underway, their focus will be working extended shifts at the Norris site with periods of time in-town for days off and optional guiding in other zones. While at Norris, they will work with the Site Leader to ensure a safe, organized, and professional operation. A typical day will be spent alternating between the guide and field support role. Depending on experience, they may also fill the base coordinator role. They will be responsible for providing high quality experiences for our clients, maintaining a safe landing zone for floatplanes, and completing site maintenance tasks. They will communicate with the Site Leader regarding any site developments, suggestions or concerns.

This position is an integral part of our Norris operations team that is committed to creating a supportive and positive environment that empowers individuals, values self-direction and hard work, supports sustainable tourism, believes in mutual expectations, and promotes innovation and development. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities - include, but are not limited to:

• Work as part of a Norris operations team on a 7-8 day shift
  • Norris Guide -  facilitate guided experiences in accordance with ABAK safety protocol while providing superior customer service and providing natural and cultural history narrative 
  • Norris Field Support - evaluating lake conditions, clearing icebergs from the lake, supporting guided trips, cleaning packrafts and other equipment, and completing site maintenance tasks
  • Base Coordinator - communicate with ABAK dispatch and Alaska Seaplanes pilots, monitor weather conditions, manage guided trip challenges, maintain the flight/trip schedules
  • Work with the Site Leader to meet the high Norris operations standards - safety, trip quality, communication, cleanliness, documentation, etc.
• Support ABAKs operations in-town 0-5 days per week
  • Provide high-quality experiences as a guide for our clients in the Mendenhall operating zones
    • Complete pre and post trip tasks - prep gear, process used gear post-trip, make repairs as needed, maintain a clean workspace, fill out trip report, and assist support staff
    • Provide transportation to clients in company vans to and from downtown Juneau
    • Brief and outfit clients for assigned trips
    • Lead a safe, fun and educational wilderness experience for our clients
• Actively contribute to a collaborative team environment in the field and ABAK Base 

Qualifications must Have:

• High School Diploma
• Wilderness First Responder Certification or higher
• 1+ years glacier guiding experience or guiding in a remote site in a wilderness setting
• Experience in one or more of: glacier technical knowledge and skills, extended camping trips in a wilderness setting, packrafting, use of a boat powered by a tiller steer outboard
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to stay calm and collected while responding to emergency situations
• Ability to live and work with supervisor for 7-8 days
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and stay on feet for 8+ hours a day
• A valid driver’s license and clean driving record for the past 5 years

Preferred:

• Experience working in high volume tourism
• Knowledge of Southeast Alaska’s weather, ecosystems, wildlife and glacial environments
• Personal or work experience camping outdoors for extended periods of time (7+ days)
• Working knowledge of ABAK operating areas
• Glacier travel technical skills
  • Ability to identify and manage bare glacier hazards
  • Experience route finding on bare glacier
  • Ability to perform a crevasse rescue using both simple and compound pulley systems
• Experience: 
  • Driving and maintaining a tiller steer outboard boat
  • Experience paddling and maintaining packrafts
  • Experience working with floatplanes
  • Experience working at or managing a remote site

Start Date: Mid to late May - Beginning of September

Compensation:
Day rate of $198 - $220 per day - eligible for mid-season raise based on performance

Bonus: Guides who fulfill the terms of their employment agreement are eligible for an end-of-season performance based bonus.

Perks: 

• Competitive Pay 
• Optional 401K plan 
• End of Season Bonus
• Pro-Deal Purchasing Privileges
• Free Trips for you, your friends and family on a space-available basis
• Paid Training (Preseason, and Ongoing throughout the Season)
• Free or Discounted Trips with participating tour operators (whale watching, helicopter flights, etc.)
• Free Use of Kayaks, Paddleboards, and an array of outdoor gear
• Discounted flights with our partner, Alaska Seaplanes 
• Free fitness membership during the summer months