Tour Operations Assistant

Lighthouse Excursions is a locally owned and operated tour company in Ketchikan, Alaska. We are looking for a Tour Operations Assistant to join our team for our 2025 Alaska summer cruise ship season. As a small business, we all wear a lot of hats! Our work environment is collaborative, immersive, and fun. Our seasoned crew members can vouch that a work day with us flies by, and you never know what cool wildlife you might see on any given day. 

About You 

Our ideal candidate loves a dynamic daily work environment and gaining proficiency in a wide range of skill-sets. This person should be self-driven, punctual, reliable, and the definition of a team player. While we don’t require experience in tourism or on boats to work with us, high-quality customer service skills, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and an eagerness to learn new skills are a must.

Responsibilities 

This position serves as a full-time float, covering shifts as either a Dockside Assistant, Deckhand, Dock Rep or Van Driver as needed. Responsibilities covered between all of these positions include the following:

• Answer telephones, respond to emails, and assist with dockside inquiries; 

• Maintain a strong command of the daily tour schedule and company dispatches; 

• Assist with safe guest embarkation and disembarkation of the tour vessel(s);

• Maintain retail inventory and help guests with sales in the dockside shop; 

• Keep the dockside (and/or tour vessels) clean and well-organized, including managing tour supplies;

• Demonstrate proficient line handling and knot tying during vessel docking and undocking;

• While on the tour vessel: safely prepare and serve on board snack; assist guests with spotting wildlife and answering questions; participate in regularly scheduled safety drills; passenger crowd management, or other tasks as assigned by the captain, in the event of an emergency;

• While on the cruise ship pier: assist guests with finding our tour company by utilizing appropriate signage; clear and respectful communication with guests and representatives from partner transportation companies, cruise ships, and other tour industry staff; collect tour vouchers or conduct accurate tour ticket settlement (where applicable);

• While operating the van: assist guests with safe embarkation and disembarkation of the tour van; demonstrate a proficiency with traffic laws and safe vehicle operations; provide a high-quality, customized tour narration from the pier to our mooring dock;

• Additional duties as assigned. 

Requirements

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and some overtime;

• Must be organized, detail-oriented and skilled at balancing a diverse, variable workload; 

• Must be dedicated to maintaining a kind, respectful, community-oriented work environment; 

• Must be comfortable working on board a moving tour boat and around a marine environment;

• Must be at least 25 years of age and possess a valid driver's license with a clean driving record;

• Must complete a 14-Passenger Van online safety training course prior to first Van Driver shift; 

• Must hold or be able to obtain a valid First Aid/CPR Card & Alaska Food Workers Card by first day of work;

• Must participate in a pre-employment drug screening & a random drug testing program throughout the season;

• Must be committed to following federal, state, & local health & safety requirements per industry standards;

• Must possess administrative experience, with proficiency in Microsoft Word & Excel; 

• Must be able to handle confidential company information with integrity & sensitivity;

• Must exercise excellent cash management skills;

• Must be able to safely lift up to 75 lbs;

• Must be available for full participation in our Pre-Season Company Training & any individualized training programs;

• Must be able to work our full season (mid-April to mid-October) without interruption.

Housing

We provide subsidized company housing on a first-come, first-serve basis. In a small town, word-of-mouth is often the best way to find housing, so we are happy to be the local connection to help facilitate a smooth housing experience. 

Additional Details

Hourly wage is DOE, with a minimum starting wage of $18/hr (+ tips when serving as Deckhand or Van Driver). Average hours for this position are 38-40 hrs per week, with some overtime throughout the season. Daily work schedule is variable, including weekends and some holidays. This position can expect to be scheduled 5-6 days of each work week. A $1.50 per hour worked bonus is included upon fulfilling a season contract.

Eligible for 401K benefit after approximately one full-time tour season.

About Ketchikan

We encourage all of our employees to get to know Ketchikan! We may be biased, but we think our home is one of the coolest places on the planet. Located on a remote island in Southeast Alaska, Ketchikan provides an unending supply of opportunities for outdoor adventures, both on land and sea. With a wild seascape out one door, and a mountainous rainforest out the other, you won't ever be short for a chance to connect with nature. As a fishing town, with deep roots in the commercial fishing industry, you'd also be hard pressed not to find a fishing pole in your hand, if that's something you've always dreamed about. We additionally boast a vibrant arts community, which is home to visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and actors. So if you're the artist type, you'll find any number of chances to witness (or participate in!) concerts, theater, dance, or other arts events.

Our largest economic driver is tourism. Ketchikan hosts a substantial population of seasonal employees during our summer months, which means working with us provides a great chance to connect with both new friends coming to Alaska for the first time or the locals who make this beautiful place their home year-round.