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Summer Job Opportunities in Alaska

Denali Park Adventures and Denali Jeep are looking for Responsible, Professional, Outgoing, and Passionate employees to work with us this summer! Come join our team and get out and explore with us!

Ideal Candidate

Denali Jeep Excursions’ success is based on exceptional customer service, knowledgeable staff, and a personal, yet professional environment.

WE VALUE AND PRIORITIZE DEMONSTRATED QUALITIES:

  • Excellent communicators
  • Outstanding people skills
  • Comfortable interacting with all age groups
  • Poised and confident while engaging and entertaining
  • Display care and Attention to detail
  • Passionate about wilderness, Alaskan culture and ecology
  • Understand the value of a close-knit team
  • Clean driving record
  • Work best independently or in small groups
  • Self motivated and adventure-seekers
  • Positive outlook and abundant optimism

Our Jobs

In a small company, every role is important and valued. Our knowledgeable Tour Office staff create the positive first impression carried and built upon by our professional, friendly Guides. All positions are in front of guests, require the ability to stand/be active/talk for 8 hours a day and the disposition to be outside in all weather. Our summer season runs early May through mid-September.  Below are the positions we are currently hiring for:

DENALI PARK ADVENTURES TOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Tour Representatives provide guests with the first impression of Denali Jeep and Denali Park Adventures whether it is in person at the Tour Office, over the phone, or through an email. They don’t just naturally excel at interacting with people, they love meeting and chatting with folks from all over the world! Tour Representatives are responsible for taking online and over-the-phone bookings, answering customer inquiries, and maintaining tour schedules using an online reservation system. They greet customers, check individuals and groups in, assist with retail sales, and prepare individuals and groups for their tour. Central to the role is networking with a variety of agents, from large cruise ships to small travel agencies, and coordinating guest itineraries with other adventure companies in Denali. This position is great for people who enjoy order and routine, find humor in daily life, love to make others happy and enjoy engaging with all people.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

  • Establish a warm and friendly relationship with guests in person, on the phone, or via e-mail. You will be required to actively engage with local foot-traffic.
  • Manage reservations through an online reservation system and conduct retail sales including the management of cash, credit cards, and POS system.
  • Work with independent travel agents, cruise lines, and online booking companies to complete third-party reservations.
  • Be knowledgeable of all tours offered by Denali Park Adventures to assist customer reservations and properly answer all customer inquiries.
  • Help prepare guests for their tour by ensuring all guests meet participant requirements and tactfully handle situations where guests do not meet requirements.
  • Solve problems that invariably arise with logistics, tour coordination, large group booking, rescheduling, and customer service issues.
  • Effectively communicate with Shuttle Drivers and Tour Managers to convey reservation changes and address any additional needs of the guests.
  • Review reservations and tour manifests for accuracy.
  • Work as a team with other Tour Representatives.
  • Assist with facility upkeep and maintenance including cleaning and organizing.
  • You may be required to help transport guests to the tour launch location. This means being able to engage with people outside of the office setting.
  • The workday starts at 6:45 am and goes to 9:30 pm or later during peak season.
  • In order to stay current on the actual tour experience, routine participation on Denali Park Adventures’ tours is required.

Requirements:

  • High school degree or equivalent and at least 18 years of age.
  • Position uses company vehicles, so clean driving history and motor vehicle record is needed.
  • Strong customer service orientation.
  • Ability to establish warm and friendly relationships with guests.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Proficient computer skills and previous cash register/POS experience.
  • Always maintain professional appearance and represent the company in a positive way.
  • The ability to work well under stress and adapt quickly to changes.
  • Must be able to stand for 6 to 8 hours a day in all weather conditions.
  • Ability to work in a small group, small office setting.

Hourly wages plus sales bonuses.

DENALI PARK ADVENTURES OFFICE MANAGER

At Denali Park Adventures, great teams start with great leadership. The Tour Office Manager is responsible for encouraging and supporting the Tour Representatives towards creating a focused, friendly, task-oriented, customer service driven team. Major components of the Tour Office Manager position include direct correspondence with Travel Agents and Cruise ships to arrange the sale and scheduling of tours, oversight of finances, understanding and organization of company logistics, and involvement in management meetings. The Tour Office Manager is able to be a respectful and supportive leader, delegate tasks, structure the tour schedule with respect to whole company needs, remain calm and resolute during crisis, be responsible for the direction and team efforts of the Tour Representatives.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

  • Staff Training
    • Participate in and moderate Tour Representative training.
  • Staff Management
    • Ensure that Tour Representatives are working efficiently and effectively.
    • Understand and implement company policy with office staff.
    • Create a friendly, welcoming, customer-service driven environment.
    • Be available for Tour Representatives offering support, encouragement, and constructive critique.
    • Perform periodic staff evaluations.
    • Assist General Manager with office staff moral and incentives.
  • Office Administration
    • Oversee orchestration of tour scheduling.
    • Ensure that communication with guests, partners, and booking companies is positive and effective.
    • Demonstrate responsible division of tour sales amongst tour partners.
    • Verify accuracy of transactions through careful bookkeeping practices.
    • Understand company logistics to effectively communicate with Shuttle Drivers and Tour Managers.
    • Manage special events and projects.
  • Tour Sales
    • Provide daily example of customer service driven tour sales.
    • Manage reservations through an online reservation system.
    • Be knowledgeable of all aspects of the tour to assist customers in booking tours and properly answer all customer inquiries.
    • Assist with retail sales including the management of cash, credit cards, and POS system.
    • Help prepare guests for their tour by ensuring all guests meet participant requirements and tactfully handle situations where guests do not meet requirements.
    • Solve problems that invariably arise with logistics, tour coordination, large group booking, rescheduling, and customer service issues.

Requirements:

  • Four-year College degree or an Associate’s Degree and two years relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated leadership and prior management experience.
  • Position uses company vehicles, so clean driving history and motor vehicle record is needed.
  • Strong customer service orientation.
  • Ability to establish warm and friendly relationships with guests.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Proficient computer skills and previous cash register/POS experience.
  • Always maintain professional appearance and represent the company in a positive way.
  • The ability to work well under stress and adapt quickly to changes.
  • Must be able to stand for 6 to 8 hours a day in all weather conditions.
  • Ability to work in a small group, small office setting.
  • Applicants with previous experience in customer service, sales, and/or reservations especially in the seasonal tourism field will be given priority.

Hourly wages plus sales bonuses.

DENALI HIGHWAY ADVENTURE GUIDE

For you, trekking outdoors isn’t just a weekend hobby, it’s a way of life. You hunt, you fish, you forage. You find yourself most at home in nature and are constantly inviting friends and newbies on your next adventure. You can name every tree and flower you come across and your instagram is a proud collection of the local wildlife. You find yourself daydreaming about your next hike and reminiscing about your last camping trip. Road trips are your best vacation and you have no problem driving several hours to reach a picturesque lake or a perfect retreat.

At Denali Park Adventures, you can use your skills and your passion to create the summer of a lifetime! Outdoor guides answer the call of the wild both on and off the clock. Denali is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and guests deserve to have a professional, knowledgeable guide help them navigate the Denali wilderness. There are so many ways to experience Denali but our unique challenge is to cover a massive, rugged area in limited time. We use Jeep Wranglers to comfortably transport our guests to some of the most photographic sights along the Denali Highway, including the Great One, Denali.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

  • Establish a relationship with each guest and tour group that will foster strong communication throughout the tour.
  • Understand who your guests are and their needs so that you can sympathize and provide the appropriate level of direction. Adapt to each group and be intentional about your delivery.
  • Lead a 4 hour driving tour and promote exploration at stopping points.
  • Captivate your audience by pulling facts and stories from your wealth of outdoors knowledge to engage and teach your tour group.
  • Immerse yourself in Denali and continue to learn and develop your outdoor skills.
  • Display self-discipline and cooperative team work as you guide alone or with a partner.
  • Demonstrate pride in your work and attention to detail. As a guide, you understand that your attitude sets the tone for the entire tour and that after the tour, clean up and preparations are vital for smooth, professional operations.
  • Pickup guests at their hotels prior to each tour and drop them off after tour completion.
  • Clean Jeeps and transportation vehicles after each tour and perform basic maintenance.

Required Qualifications:

  • Desire to live and enjoy a relatively remote area of Alaska for about 4.5 months.
  • Ability to drive for 4-6 hours a day, with the majority of the time spent with guests.
  • Positive attitude while working in ALL weather conditions and with all personalities.
  • Strong communication skills and even better people skills.
  • Must have a Safety First mentality rather than an “Adventure First” attitude.
  • Ability to think calmly and critically in high-stress situations.
  • Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work a mix of morning and evening tours.
  • Must be willing and able to assist in maintenance as needed.
  • Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with Passenger Endorsement.
  • Clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
  • First Aid and CPR certified.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 2-5 years experience working in customer service.
  • Experience working in seasonal tourism a major plus.
  • Familiarity with Denali National Park history, landscape and wildlife.
  • Prior visitation to Denali.

JEEP ASSISTANT TOUR MANAGER

As the Denali Jeep Assistant Tour Manager, you will be a point of contact between the GM and the rest of the guides. You will also be the go-to person when the GM is not around or on a day off. The other times you will be scheduled for guiding tours, and helping with guest transportation to and from the lodgings and tour launch site.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

  • All Denali Highway Adventure Guide responsibilities and accountabilities.
  • Assisting the GM with most day-to-day operations of Denali Jeep.
  • Able to manage guides.
  • Understand the tour operations and schedule.
  • Provide assistance in ordering/inventory.
  • Be able to help Denali Park Adventures mechanic with routine and daily maintenance of Jeeps, and other company vehicles as needed.
  • Be knowledgeable of the safety protocols and procedures.
  • Van/bus driving.

Required Qualifications (in addition to Denali Highway Adventure Guide qualifications):

  • Minimum 5 years working in customer service, tourism industry preferred.
  • Minimum 1 year working as a tour guide in some capacity.
  • Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with Passenger Endorsement.
  • Clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
  • Ability to work on feet for up to 10 hours a day.
  • Must have a Safety First mentality.
  • Flexibility with scheduling.
  • Ability to think calm and critically in high-stress situations.
  • Ability to maintain and project a positive attitude in all weather conditions.
  • Ability and willingness to coordinate and assist in maintenance as needed.
  • Strong, professional written and verbal communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications (in addition to Denali Highway Adventure Guide qualifications):

  • Experience managing in a fast-paced, guest service atmosphere.
  • Experience in shuttle driving.
  • General knowledge of Jeep maintenance.
  • Familiarity with Denali National Park history, landscape and wildlife.
  • Prior visitation to Denali.

Hourly pay plus tips.

ROOM AND BOARD

Denali Highway Adventure Guides are housed in a one-story building 10 miles south of the Denali National Park main entrance. The housing is complete with several bedrooms and common kitchen and living room. Housing is located at the Jeep tour launch, so the commute is short!

Denali Park Adventures Office Staff are housed dormitory-style next to Otto Lake in Healy, Alaska. Rooms are single occupancy (no roommates!). Kitchens and commons are in a separate building.

Both facilities include full restrooms, running water, on-site laundry, wireless internet, DirectTV, yard and deck with firepit, grills, and outdoor games.  Although meals are not included, kitchens have ample cooking equipment, counter space, and appliances. Food can be purchased at Three Bears Grocery in Healy. Rates for our employee housing starts at $80 per week (single occupancy) and includes all utilities. All staff living on site must sign a housing agreement.

If sharing housing with other employees doesn’t sound ideal to you, or you travel with an animal friend, you will need to look for alternative housing. Local cabin rentals (not associated with Denali Park Adventures) may be available and you will have to provide your own transportation to work.

Employee Perks

You’ve got to love the wilderness, mountains, and remote environments to get the most out of your summer in Denali. If the mountains are calling, spend time hiking in Denali National Park or go on an overnight camping trip! Drift lazily in nearby lakes or raft the Nenana River! Spend evenings around a bonfire, catch the northern lights, or dance to local music. Get out and meet folks from around the world and immerse yourself in the unique community that calls Denali home each summer.

Other local attractions offer complimentary or discounted tours to local employees such as whitewater rafting on the Nenana River, ziplining over the boreal forest, ATVing, meeting the puppies and Iditarod Champion sled dogs at the local kennel, flight seeing tours and glacier landings around Denali, helicopter tours with glacier landings, bus trips into the national park, fly fishing, etc.

Complete the entire season with Denali Jeep, fulfilling your contract, and receive an end-of-season bonus. Returning employees have priority during hiring, first pick at housing options, and other benefits.

 

 

 

GETTING HERE AND GETTING AROUND

Denali Jeep does not pay for transportation to and from the Denali area, but we will help you to plan your transportation. The easiest and most economic option is to fly into Anchorage and take either the train or shuttle bus to Denali/Healy. We will pick you up at the local train station or bus drop-off. Our employees do receive a substantial discount on fare to Denali from the Alaska Railroad and other shuttles.

We provide a regular shuttle service around the Denali area. Denali National Park runs free and fee-based shuttles throughout the park for access to camping and hiking. Several other hotels and restaurants run free and fee-based shuttles in the Denali area.

Having a personal vehicle may allow you to pursue your own outdoors interests during days off or down time.

Outside of Work

NEED MORE INFO BEFORE APPLYING?

Please check out our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HERE.