Working With Us

2025 EMPLOYMENT WITH SPIRIT OF THE WEST

Thank you for your interest in working for Spirit of the West!

We are excited to announce that we are expanding our team and seeking new members for both seasonal and year-round positions. At Spirit of the West, we take pride in fostering an inclusive, fun, and supportive work environment that prioritizes hiring locally. We offer our employees competitive wages, health stipends, access to mental health services, pro-deals, ongoing training and certification opportunities, and many other perks. We believe that our staff works with us, not for us, and we are committed to building a team of passionate individuals who share our values.

Please note that in order to be considered for any position with us, applicants must be legally able to work in Canada, and we unfortunately cannot assist with sponsorship or visas. If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out our online application form below. We look forward to hearing from you!

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To apply for any position please:

1. Go to our online staff application form and click on the position you would like to apply for. There is a place as part of this form to upload your resume and cover letter so please be prepared to attach these documents as well as be ready to provide two references.
2. Please let us know why you think you would be a good fit with Spirit of the West Adventures
3. After completing the online application form, please feel free to reach out with an email or phone call to introduce yourself.

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OVERVIEW OF POSITIONS

Field Staff Positions

Kayak GuidE

Guide applicants must have at a minimum:

1. Assistant Overnight Guide (assistant positions) or Level 2 or Level 3 (lead positions) sea kayak guide certification from the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (or equivalent).
2. A minimum of an Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificate.
3. A VHF radio operator’s license.
4. Passion and skill for natural history interpretation, good safety judgment and inspiring and motivating leadership skills are essential “soft” skills

Kayak guides usually work in teams of two or three and can expect to be in the field for 4-13 days at a time, with our season running at least from mid-June through late September. You are responsible for leading rewarding, safe, educational and fun trips for people of many backgrounds and levels of experience. Certification and training is only the beginning, as we expect guides to be strong leaders, great cooks, knowledgeable in natural and cultural history, good teachers and communicators and handy with the typical equipment used on trips.

Preference is given to those who can commit to a full season of work. Paid staff training covers all the topics and info you’ll need to know in order to succeed on trips with us. Attendance is mandatory, and a manual and other resources are provided to all guides prior to beginning work. Pay increases are predictable and based on the number of days worked with us. We offer a competitive pay scale based on certifications held, early schedule commitment, completion of the contract and other factors, and have a system to provide funds for external training opportunities (eg. further guide certification, interpretive training, or other programs that contribute to your ability to provide excellent experiences in the field).

Basecamp Operations Assistant

This role involves working in the field at one of our remote camps for between 7-13 days at a time helping will all elements of keeping the camp clean and running smoothly, followed by some time helping clean and prepare for the next time you head out in the field. The Basecamp Operations Assistant is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the camp and facilities multiple times per day as per COVID protocols. You will also help with food preparation, dishes, keeping fires going, water system maintenance, housekeeping of tents between tours, socializing with and helping guests and other team members as needed.

This position requires:

• A valid first aid certification (preferably Wilderness First Aid)
• A drivers license (preferable BC class 4 or equivalent)
• A Food Safe certification
• The willingness to live and work remotely as part of a hardworking team. Days are long 10+ hours and shifts can be up to 13 days in length.

If you do not have any of these certifications at your time of application, please explain your plan for obtaining these required certifications.

Please note: this position does not involve any kayaking as you are required to be working in the camp when you are there. It is however a beautiful place to work even just from land.

Behind the Scenes Crew

These positions are multi-faceted! The Behind the Scenes Crew are an essential part of our organization and keep everything running smoothly. If you have ever wanted to learn about how a kayaking operation works from the inside, then being a member of our Behind the Scenes Crew is the job for you. Our Base Crew has a wide variety of experience that they bring to our team. Each season we have the following positions:

RESERVATIONS AND GUEST EXPERIENCE SPECIALIST

This position requires organizational ability, attention to detail, great people skills and being computer savvy. Our office crew are the first people guests talk to before their adventures and therefore need to be helpful and courteous. These unsung heroes help to make sure that everyone involved in the kayak trip has the right information, is in the right place at the right time with the right gear – no easy feat!

Assistant to Food Manager

This person is another essential member of our team. This position involves being the right-hand person for the food manager. This job involves food planning, preparation and packing as well as help with post-tour cleanups.

Clean up Crew

These folks are some of the most appreciated people on earth. They are responsible for cleaning all the gear, dishes, vans, kayaks etc that come back from trips. Combined with keeping our working spaces in good, neat, working order these positions are very important to our operations!

Site Manager

This person oversees the entire big picture. Helping wherever they are needed, duties range from answering phones to packing food. This person helps to keep things moving and working efficiently for the behind-the-scenes crew as well as the guides and field staff. This individual also needs to be handy often repairing bits and pieces that need a little TLC.

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Work-Trade Opportunities

We are occasionally are able to offer a trip trade for specialized skills and experience. Have you ever wanted to kayak in some of the most beautiful areas on earth alongside some great wildlife? Have a specialized skill or service that you think we may benefit from? Then contact us and make a proposal.

Skills we are interested in:

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Please contact us at 1 250 285 2121 (local & overseas) or 1 800 307 3982 (toll free) and/or email: [email protected]