Vacancy – Lead Guide and Safety Manager

Auckland Sea Kayaks is looking for a lead guide and safety manager to join our team.

Who we are:

Auckland Sea Kayaks are specialists in marine-based tourism and education, and have been offering exceptional sea kayaking experiences since 2010. We’re a family owned and operated business with a philosophy of protecting, enhancing and educating manuhiri (visitors) about the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park using sea kayaking as the vehicle in which to deliver this.

Our Mission and Values:

* Auckland Sea Kayaks is an industry leader in marine-based tourism and education.

* Auckland Sea Kayaks is engaged and embedded in the local community

* Auckland Sea Kayaks helps local Aucklanders experience and learn how to care about the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

* Auckland Sea Kayaks embraces inclusivity and strives to provide opportunities to get on the water for those who otherwise not be able to.

Auckland Sea Kayaks is also the parent company of Mission Bay Watersports – one of Auckland’s longest running paddle sport centers. Operating off Mission Bay Beach, this business specializes in renting sit-on-top kayaks and paddle boards, is a Surfing New Zealand approved SUP school and has been accredited by the International Surfing Association.

Auckland Sea Kayaks has an operating area of the Waitemata Harbour, Hauraki Gulf, Manukau Harbor and throughout Northland. We offer a large variety of tours, multi-day educational kayak journeys, community paddle days and learn to sea kayak courses. Auckland Sea Kayaks is a 7 day a week organization and we require someone who is happy to have a flexible schedule.

Key Responsibilities: 

We’re in search of a highly skilled and passionate Lead Guide and Safety Manager to join Auckland Sea Kayaks. This leadership role will include training new guides, providing leadership and role modeling with regards to outdoor safety as well as managing our day to day operations. The ideal candidate will bring sea kayaking and outdoor guiding qualifications, coupled with strong leadership skills to inspire and guide our team effectively.

Staff

• Staff report into the Head Guide on a daily basis
• Head Guide is responsible for training all new starters to the standards of Auckland Sea Kayaks and in accordance with our SafetyManagement Plan (SMP) and Safe Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Hold staff accountable to the high standards that ASK set.
• Head guide must assume leadership role and responsibility on tours / events when more than 1 guide is present.
• Past experience leading a team is a bonus!

Health and Safety

• Operating ASK tours and groups to that of the Safety Management Plan (SMP)
• Running ASK to that of the Safe Operating procedures (SOP)
• Identify new hazards and ways to mitigate them
• Assisting the office with weather and safe operating limits
• Work with the staff and management to achieve our Health and Safety goal
• which is ‘Zero harm to Auckland Sea Kayaks staff, clients and visitors.’
• Be committed to accurate reporting and recording hazards, incidents and
• accidents. Ensure that other staff also complete any required reporting.
• As Head Guide, ensure all staff complete their trip reports as per ASK operating
• procedures. Follow up on any documentation that is missed.
• Lead ASK towards achieving its health and safety target of zero incidents

Administration

• Replying to emails for ASK and MBW when required
• Keeping the online booking system up to date and workable
• Taking phone calls for ASK and MBW when required
• Ensuring DoE Online Record Books are completed at the end of DoE journeys and follow up if required.
• Update with currently technology and has good computer skills

Operations

• Responsibility for running all tours to ASK standard
• Take responsibility of tours when they are operating
• Keep base to a high operating standard, ensuring office, equipment and vehicles are clean and in safe working order.

Guiding

• Guiding sea kayak tours and instructing when required
• Facilitate groups
• Desire to learn natural history of area