ECO Kayak
- Jan 11, 2023
- 4 min read

Sea Kayak Guide

Reports to: Operations Manager/Lead guide

Job Summary: Lead sea kayak tours and assist with all tour, lesson and rental operations at East Coast Outfitters (ECO). They are the front line of ECO and must serve customers by providing a quality product and service information, safety, and customer care.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Provide quality customer service while interacting with all ECO clients
Prepare for and lead all assigned sea kayak tours conducive to all ECO guide training
Provide support for all Sea Kayaking tours
Maintain customer care and professionalism throughout all tours
Maintain all ECO equipment in a clean and professional way
Assist all clients in preparing for their tour or rentals
Ensure that all tours, rentals, and/or events operate safely and are successful
Represent ECO in a way that adheres to the mission, vision and values of the business
Have knowledge of all ECO programs and products so as to provide customers with options and recommendations to best suit their needs
Assist with any other ECO events

Skills and qualifications:

Customer Service, Product Knowledge, Quality Focus, Problem Solving, Documentation Skills, Listening, Phone Skills, Resolving Conflict, Analyzing Information, Multi-tasking

Education and experience:

Working towards or possessing a Degree or Diploma in Tourism/Hospitality/ Outdoor Recreation Management or any past experience working in a customer service position.

Employee Benefits

An opportunity to work in a beautiful area with spectacular places to paddle
A great work environment.
Very competitive pay rates.
Team-based continuous learning skill development.
Subsidized further training opportunities
Special family and discounted friends’ rates.
Access to Pro-deal purchases from leading outdoor suppliers

Application Requirements

To apply for a position with East Coast Outfitters please review the following requirements. Please clearly identify the position applied for and include the following information.

A cover letter detailing why you are interested in the position
A current resume.
Contact details for at least two work references.
If you are at college or university, provide one faculty reference.
Details of relevant certifications, achievement dates and renewal dates if applicable.
Availability dates.

Employment Requirements

All positions require the following.

Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
Proficiency in English, other languages especially French & German are an asset.
The ability to work as part of a team.
Responsible, reliable, decisive, mature individuals
Good organizational skills
Familiar with the outdoor environment
Articulate and people-oriented
Ability to work with little supervision
Robust to inclement weather

Sea Kayak guide positions require the following.

Minimum: Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2 Skills or SKGABC, BCU, ACA, equivalents. Will complete in the job training if this requirement need to be meet
Appropriate First Aid certification – Minimum WRFA (3-day course- 24 hours total with overnight trip). Must include CPR & CPR-C.
Marine VHF Restricted Operators Certificate recommended
Appropriate experience for the position.
Paddle Canada Instructor certifications are an asset – as they will provide more work instructing courses
Progressively increasing depth of knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean, its flora, fauna, early history and geological features.
Appropriate personal equipment, e.g. PFD, Marine VHF, immersion clothing, etc.

Specific duties/responsibilities:

* Before ECO allows you to guide any tours on your own, you are required to shadow a minimum of three tours and then act as the lead on a minimum of three tours with a senior guide accompanying and observing. Guiding group tours with other guides is permitted to gain experience but doesn’t count towards a shadow*

When you are assigned to a tour by the Operations Manager, you will either receive confirmation verbally, by email, by text, or phone call. You are expected to be “Guide Ready” at least 30 mins prior to the tour unless otherwise notified. This means you and your boat are dressed and packed, ready for the tour.

A trip report must be filled out and left with the office prior to departure. Any food or snacks for the tour will be arranged by the Base staff but is the responsibility of the guide to ensure everything is packed and ready for trip.

When clients arrive, the base safe will ensure that waivers are filled out, but please help in this process if needed and be sure to check all waivers for health information and that all appropriate signatures are present. With assistance from the base staff, if possible, guides will gear up all clients, fit them into an appropriate kayak after considering skill level and weather. You will ensure that you have adequately prepared them (paddle talk/safety talk, how to launch from the docks. Etc.) before embarking on the tour. With assistance from base safe, if possible, you will launch the group ensuring that a least one guide is on the water before any clients are on the water.

When you arrive back, ensure all gear is rinsed, cleaned and stored away. This includes all food containers used on trip. Please ensure you instruct the clients to check in with the office before they go to settle any outstanding payments

Hours per week: 30 hours, up to 40 plus hours between June to September.

Anticipated start date: May 15, 2023 (or earlier)

Please send resume and cover letter to Adam Zita, Operations Manager

Email: adam@eastcoastoutfitters.com

About ECO:

Our Mission

East Coast Outfitters provides customers with world-class outdoor experiences in a safe and fun fashion that is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.

East Coast Outfitters strives to provide employees with a great place to work by offering an environment that is fun, challenging, promotes teamwork and mutual respect.

Our Vision

East Coast Outfitters strives to be a leader in the paddling industry, and to do it in a way that promotes safe, healthy, and sustainable outdoor endeavours and is a positive influence on the lives of our clients, our employees and the members of our community.

Our Values

Safety, Integrity, Respect, Skilled staff, Fun, Teamwork, Friendliness and Service.

ECO is the premier sea kayaking outfitter in Nova Scotia. We have the largest fleet in the Atlantic provinces and we employ the most skilled guides that are passionate and enthusiastic about sharing paddling experiences with our clients.

Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2022

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 6 months

Part-time hours: 35-40 per week

Salary: $16.00-$19.00. per hour based on experience and qualifications

Additional pay: