What are the responsibilities and job description for the Naturalist position at Allen Marine Inc?
Summary
This position is based in Yakutat, AK. Educate passengers about the surroundings and how to maintain the natural environment specifically dedicated to wilderness and wildlife populations. Assist passengers in boarding and disembarking, provide safety and emergency orientation, and work as a team with other crew members to maintain an impeccably clean vessel.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop a 2-hour tour narration plan with the captain for each voyage. Factoring in time constraints, weather, ice conditions, wildlife sightings, etc. Must be able to be flexible in narration as the captain’s tour plans can change quickly
- Direct and assist passenger movement on and about the vessel in ocean swell
- Conduct a safety and emergency orientation and maintain safe conditions underway, assist crew/passengers in emergencies
- Work with Guest Services crew members to provide commentary and personal interaction/service with up to 150 passengers on tour
- Assist Guest Services crew members in the galley as needed. Including, but not limited to, distribution of food items as well as beverages. Employees 21 are required to obtain TAPS certification to serve alcohol
- Vessel duties include line handling while shipside in ocean swell, assisting with docking/undocking of the vessel, and mooring with cruise ships as requested by the vessel captain
- Assist other crew in maintaining vessel appearance, cleanliness, sanitation, and safety
- Must be creative and able to develop a tour narrative that speaks to glaciology, wildlife, natural and human history, and other aspects of Southeast Alaska's climate and environment
Requires public speaking ability and experience using PA systems
Special projects may be assigned as required by the captain
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be clean, well-groomed, courteous, honest, and most important, reliable
- Must be able to learn and retain pertinent background material provided to you for a presentation on a PA system to passengers
- Must be able to work as a team with other crew to present coordinated narration and a quality experience for customers
- Public speaking experience is essential. Must be able to effectively communicate goals and intentions to large and small groups
- Must be organized with the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to mingle with passengers and answer questions in a polite and professional manner
- Always present a professional and friendly attitude to guests and crew
- Must be comfortable walking about the vessel and working in ocean swell
- Valid US driver’s license and a clean driving record
- Must pass a security background check and DOT drug test
Required Certifications
Certifications required before the first day of employment include:
- CPR/First Aid certification
- Alaska Food Handler card
- TAPS certification to serve alcohol (Employees 21 must obtain)
Preferred Qualifications
- Extensive public speaking experience
- Biology and/or natural resource background
- College degree in natural resources or biology
- Experience working as a naturalist, guide, or related position
- Experience on passenger-carrying vessels
- Preferred experience line handling and working in ocean swell
Traits and Characteristics
To deliver world-class experiences guided by the following Alaska Native cultural values safely and sustainably.
Embrace Traditional Alaska Native Cultural Values that include Humility and pride, Respect for all people, including oneself, Respect for nature, Humor, Patience, Strength, and Holding each other up.
Follow & Deliver Core Values:
- Safety First: We prioritize our guests and team members' safety and well-being, ensuring secure and enjoyable experiences.
- World-Class Employment: We strive to be a world-class place of employment, valuing hard work, mentorship, a sense of ownership, and opportunities for career growth.
- World Class Guest Services: We are committed to exceeding guest expectations, delivering world-class experiences that showcase our hospitality and the beauty of Alaska.
- Collaborative Professionalism: Embracing collaboration within our organization with a professional spirit, understanding that amidst laughter and play, our dedication to excellence and integrity remains unwavering.
- Community Collaboration: Actively choosing to partner with neighbors and the community across Alaska, making a conscious effort to support local businesses and create social and economic opportunities through meaningful cooperation beyond our organization.
- Sustainability at our core: We are dedicated to sustainable operations for future generations.
- Curiosity & Innovation: We encourage a culture of curiosity and innovation, striving to be early adopters in technology and staying ahead in our commitment to continuous improvement.
- Integrity- Driven Decisions: Integrity guides every decision we make, ensuring transparency, honesty, and ethical conduct in all aspects of our operations.
- Cultural Respect & Sharing: We deeply celebrate and honor our Alaska Native heritage, fostering intergenerational connections, embracing family values, and contributing to the cultural richness of our communities.
- Must be honest, courteous, reliable and maintain a clean, well-groomed appearance
- Positive, personable, and professional demeanor
- Strong commitment to safety
- Strong conflict resolution skills and ability to work within a diverse workforce
- Strong record of being organized, dependable, and punctual
Environmental Conditions
The environmental conditions are those that an employee may be subject to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Moderate to loud noise levels, all weather conditions, ocean swell, and frequent use of required protective clothing including raingear and life preserver.
- Ability to fit through a 28-inch void hatch
- Must be comfortable working in enclosed, sometimes hot and noisy environments
- Must be comfortable working in ocean swell
Physical Demands
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Must be physically able to work a typical workday of about 10-14 hours per day, 5-7 days a week
- Ability to stand for long periods of time on steel decks with constant vibration and moderate levels of noise
- Required to enter voids/engine rooms as needed, ability to comfrotably fit through a 28-inch void hatch
- Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
- Ability to walk on uneven deck surfaces crossing from vessel to vessel
- Ability to walk about and work efficiently in ocean swell
- Alternate Sit/Stand or Walk at Will: The ability to alternate between sitting and standing is present when a worker has the flexibility to choose between sitting or standing as needed when this need cannot be accommodated by scheduled breaks and/or lunch period
- Climbing Ramps/Stairs: Ascending or descending ramps and/or stairs using feet and legs. Hands and arms may be used for balance (e.g., to hold a railing). Note: Stairs involved in commuting/getting into a building are excluded if work is always performed in one building. Stairs onto a vehicle or a piece of machinery/equipment are included
- Climbing Ladders/Ropes/Scaffolding: Ascending or descending ladders, scaffolding, ropes, poles and the like using feet/legs and/or hands/arms
- Communicating Verbally: Expressing or exchanging ideas using the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly
- Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
- Crouching: Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine
- Far Visual Acuity: Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. This is not just the ability to see a person or object, but the ability to recognize features as well
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
- This is a fast-paced and dynamic work environment with a diverse workforce
- Ability to work a flexible schedule to include weekends and holidays during the tour season
- Must adhere to Allen Marine, Inc., & Affiliated Companies the United States Coast Guard Consortium Drug & Alcohol Policies & Procedures
Supervisory Responsibilities 
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