Benefits:

• Gratuities
• Employee discounts
• Free food & snacks
• Free uniforms
• Training & development
• Wellness resources

Were hiring an Eco Tour Guide to join our world class team at Sonora Resort, a luxury all-inclusive Relais & Chateaux Resort, in the unspoiled wilderness of British Columbia. Nestled in the Discovery Islands, Sonora Resort is a remote location accessed by water taxi from the town of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. This is a Seasonal position that works on site at the Resort in shift work rotations. Seeking a start date of mid-April.
Our team shares a deep appreciation for the unspoiled wilderness of British Columbia. Our opulent location is an undeniable draw for those seeking an exciting career with a side of adventure. We are completely submerged in the great outdoors with easy access to hiking trails, Florence Lake, and opportunities to get on the water to explore the Inside Passage.
Each one of our team members contributes to the guest experience at Sonora Resort. Working at Sonora means you are part of a team of passionate and trained professionals focused on providing our guests with unique experiences and cherished memories.
Sonora Resort is committed to creating an engaging and supportive work environment, with a focus on developing and promoting talent from within. We offer competitive compensation packages, exciting employee incentives and the opportunity to develop under the prestigious Relais & Chteaux banner.
Resort Life

• All staff are provided with complimentary single bedroom accommodations. Complimentary wifi, cable TV and internet calling provided in each staff room.
• Complimentary meals, snacks and beverages provided from our Staff Kitchen
• Shift work is required from April until October; comprised of 10-14 working days and 4 non-working working days, subject to change during peak season; employees are expected to be flexible in their scheduling to meet the needs of the business.
• Water taxi transportation is provided to and from Campbell River for scheduled work shifts
• Staff are required to leave the resort on their scheduled non-working days and are responsible for securing further transportation and accommodation thereafter.
• Team Amenities on site include a staff lounge, fitness facility, hot tub, outdoor staff lounge area, access to trout ponds, hiking trails and Florence lake where a canoe and stand-up paddleboards are available for staff use.
• Enjoy other great work perks such as:
  • 25% off at Sonoras Gift Shop and Island Currents Spa (Services & products)
  • Special room rate for Employees & immediate family members visiting Sonora Resort
  • Staff social events and opportunities to experience adventure tours & activities
  • An Employee & Family Assistance Program offering counseling and mental health supports.
  • Employee Referral Bonus Program
• We offer competitive wages, paid hourly, with opportunities for overtime, plus gratuities.

Position Summary
Sonoras Eco Tour guides lead a variety of tours, predominantly eco tours in our 28ft Rigid-Hull inflatable vessel. Our guides also provide transport to off-site kayaking and to Campbell River for guest arrivals and departures in our Water Taxis. Guides will also conduct boat cruises of the local area, as well as Grizzly viewing tours in conjunction with Homalco First Nations guides, guided hikes and other tours based on their knowledge and abilities. Sonoras guides prioritize safety and have excellent boat handling skills. Guides are required to clean and maintain Sonoras fleet to a very high degree of cleanliness and assist with other tasks around the resort when they are not booked on a guest activity.
Job Duties

• Safely operate Sonoras vessels including our 28ft Polaris Rigid Hull Inflatable, and 28ft water taxis. You may also be required to operate other boats depending on your knowledge and abilities.
• Sonoras guides will lead a variety of Ecological tours, Grizzly bear tours, boat cruises, guided hikes as well as providing transport to off-site kayaking locations and the town of Campbell River.
• Provide a thorough safety briefing at the beginning of each boat tour, and enforce our policies (Ex: Wearing a life jacket while traveling) throughout each trip to ensure safety of both guests and staff.
• Understand how our local tides work and operate the boat in the rapids with extreme care, while still providing an exhilarating and fun tour for the guest.
• Provide your guests with in-depth information about the local area, geography, history of the area and First Nations history both in BC and locally.
• Seek out wildlife on eco tours and be able to speak with accuracy about each species, their habits, diet, habitat and migration patterns, young, etc.
• Participate in reporting marine mammal sightings and sharing information with the Eco tourism and whale watching programs and other boats in the area.
• Maintain all of the boats in Sonoras fleet to a very high degree of cleanliness and good working order at all times. All boats on the dock should be ready to go on short notice.
• Report any maintenance issues to our Maintenance team and Marine Operations Manager.
• Work closely with the dock staff to get your guests prepared for their tours and safely on to and off of the boats. Assist the dock with other Dock related duties when you are not guiding.
• Assist our maintenance team with hauling out boats for servicing or mechanical work.
• Thoroughly clean and shut down boats at the end of the season, adhering to a detailed checklist.
• When you are not guiding, you will be required to complete other tasks around the resort as assigned by the Marine Operations Manager. This could include general grounds or lodge maintenance and cleaning, trail clearing or a variety of other tasks around the Resort property.

Qualifications

• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada and fluent in English. Second languages are an asset.
• 2 years previous experience operating boats of a similar size/style, with excellent boat handling skills including parallel docking in tight spaces, and navigating turbulent waters or strong currents.
• The following Transport Canada Commercial Vessel Operator Certificates are required, at minimum: Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP), Marine Emergency Duties A3 (MED-A3) or Small Domestic Vessel Basic Safety (SDV-BS), Radio Operators Certificate Maritime (ROC-M), Standard Marine First Aid (16 hours).
• Transport Canada Limited Masters 60 Ton or any larger Commercial Vessel operator certifications would be an asset.
• Thorough knowledge of local BC wildlife, plant life, fish and marine species, and BC First Nations, geological and post-colonial BC history. Ability to identify and speak about BC flora and fauna.
• Thorough understanding of guiding operations and customer service; experience in a live-in resort environment is preferred.
• High School Diploma required. Any additional education or experience in the Hospitality, Tourism, Marine, or Outdoor Wilderness related fields would be an asset.
• Must hold valid Class 5 Drivers License.
• Ability to work cohesively with fellow colleagues as part of a team or independently with minimum supervision.
• Effective decision making and problem-solving capabilities demonstrating sound judgement.
• Capable of physical aspects of the job: Repetitive tasks, handling heavy loads, combination of sitting, walking, standing for extended periods of time, bending, crouching, kneeling.

About Sonora Resort
Sonora Resort, a Relais & Chateux property, is located on Sonora Island in the Discovery Islands of British Columbia. It is accessible by boat or air, and 50 minutes by helicopter from Vancouver. Known as one of Canadas hidden gems, Sonora has a unique place in the world because of its secluded location, abundance of natural beauty and wildlife, with luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine. Sonora is part of the Relais & Chateux association of the worlds finest hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality. Whether you have an adventurous heart or a desire to live in a remarkable wild place such as this, you will find all kinds of career options at Sonora Resort. We encourage you to visit our website at www.sonoraresort.com