EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Founded by Andrew Jones in 1999, Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures has remained under his ownership and direction ever since, offering fully outfitted, guided multi-day kayak tours on northern Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and in the Great Bear Rainforest.

We keep our groups small. Base camp tours welcome up to 10 guests, supported by two guides and a camp assistant/cook, while expedition tours have up to eight guests and two guides. We’re proud that many of our guides return season after season, as do many of our guests.

Based in Port McNeill, Kingfisher operates in the traditional territories of the ‘Namgis, Mamalilikulla, Tlowitsis, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la, Kwakiutl, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Heiltsuk and Haida Nations.

Please complete the below form or submit your resume to employment@kingfisher.ca

Kingfisher Guide Team

Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is looking for Level 2 Guides to join our team for the 2027 season. You’ll lead our base camp kayak tours and lead or assist our expedition kayak tours. We’re looking for confident, safety-minded paddlers who love sharing the coast with guests, can put a great meal on the table at camp, and enjoy helping newer guides grow.

What you’ll do

Guiding responsibilities:

  • Lead base camp and expedition tours (your primary role)
  • Assist on other tours as needed
  • Give every guest an exceptional wilderness experience
  • Run pre-trip orientation meetings with guests
  • Teach kayaking skills and keep guests safe on the water
  • Share the natural and cultural history of the area
  • Run camp: meal preparation, on-shore activities, and maintain the safety and cleanliness of the campsite
  • Give direction and feedback to the Assistant Guides on your trips

Non-guiding responsibilities:

  • Assist with trip prep, including packing food and supplies
  • Clean, maintain, and pack away gear after each trip
  • Take part in guide training and orientation beginning in late May
  • Help with pre- and post-season work, including base camp set-up and kayak and equipment preparation

What you bring

Required:

  • SKGABC Level 2 Guide certification (equivalent certifications will be considered)
  • Advanced Wilderness First Aid (40-hour minimum, 80+-hour preferred)
  • Restricted Operator Certificate – Maritime (ROC-M)
  • Valid driver’s licence (Class 5 minimum, Class 4 unrestricted preferred)
  • Natural history interpretation skills
  • Culinary skills
  • An outgoing, personable style and the ability to engage a wide mix of guests
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • The ability to work as part of a team
  • A cell phone and plan with reliable coverage on the North Island
  • The physical fitness to lift and carry loaded kayaks and gear, and to perform on-water rescues in cold water
  • Legal eligibility to work in Canada
  • Availability from late May to early October

We can provide these if you don’t already have them:

  • Marine Naturalist Training
  • FoodSafe certification

Pay and perks

  • Starting rate of $270 per guiding day, with a minimum of 40 guiding days per season
  • $27 per hour for off-trip work
  • Free staff accommodation (a taxable benefit)
  • In house and external training on kayaking skills and company operations
  • Skill development, with opportunities for some guides to work in Level 3 waters at God’s Pocket Marine Park, Haida Gwaii, and the Great Bear Rainforest, and learn from experienced guides

Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is looking for Assistant Overnight Guides to join our team for the 2027 season. You’ll assist our base camp kayak tours and lead or assist our expedition kayak tours. We’re looking for safety-minded paddlers who love sharing the coast with guests, can put a great meal on the table at camp, and are eager to learn from some of the best guides on the coast.

What you’ll do

Guiding responsibilities:

  • Assist on base camp and expedition tours, following the direction of the lead guide
  • Give every guest an exceptional wilderness experience
  • Run pre-trip orientation meetings with guests
  • Teach kayaking skills and keep guests safe on the water
  • Share the natural and cultural history of the area
  • Run camp: meal preparation, on-shore activities, and maintain the safety and cleanliness of the campsite

Non-guiding responsibilities:

  • Assist with trip prep, including packing food and supplies
  • Clean, maintain, and pack away gear after each trip
  • Take part in guide training and orientation beginning in late May
  • Help with pre- and post-season work, including base camp set-up and kayak and equipment preparation

What you bring

Required:

  • SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide certification (equivalent certifications will be considered)
  • Advanced Wilderness First Aid (40-hour minimum, 80+-hour preferred)
  • Restricted Operator Certificate – Maritime (ROC-M)
  • Valid driver’s licence (Class 5 minimum, Class 4 unrestricted preferred)
  • Natural history interpretation skills
  • Culinary skills
  • An outgoing, personable style and the ability to engage a wide mix of guests
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • The ability to work as part of a team
  • A cell phone and plan with reliable coverage on the North Island
  • The physical fitness to lift and carry loaded kayaks and gear, and to perform on-water rescues in cold water
  • Legal eligibility to work in Canada
  • Availability from late May to early October

We can provide these if you don’t already have them:

  • Marine Naturalist Training
  • FoodSafe certification

Pay and perks

  • Starting rate of $235 per guiding day, with a minimum of 40 guiding days per season
  • $23.50 per hour for off-trip work
  • Free staff accommodation (a taxable benefit)
  • In house and external training on kayaking skills and company operations
  • The chance to learn on the water from experienced Level 2 and Level 3 guides, building your skills toward your next certification

Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures is looking for Camp Cooks to join our team for the 2027 season. Camp cooks are an integral part of our base camp kayak tours, providing memorable meals in a wilderness setting for groups of up to 10 guests. Camp cooks work at our wilderness base camps on Hanson Island. We’re looking for organized, adaptable cooks who can turn out great meals in a camp kitchen and enjoy being part of a close-knit team.

What you’ll do

Pre-tour responsibilities:

  • Plan menus around guest and guide dietary needs
  • Prep and pack food ahead of each tour

Camp responsibilities:

  • Prepare ingredients and cook meals following menus and recipes
  • Operate a range of kitchen appliances
  • Serve meals together with the guide team
  • Give every guest a warm, welcoming experience
  • Make sure all camp staff follow FoodSafe standards
  • Keep the camp kitchen clean, washing and sanitizing surfaces and dishes
  • Store and secure food
  • Help with routine cleaning around camp
  • Help load and unload supplies from water taxis
  • Other duties as assigned

What you bring

Required:

  • Previous cooking experience
  • Valid driver’s licence (Class 5 minimum, Class 4 unrestricted preferred)
  • The physical fitness to lift and carry heavy bins of food and supplies
  • The ability to work as part of a team
  • Legal eligibility to work in Canada
  • Availability from July to late September
  • Computer skills are an asset but not required

We can provide this if you don’t already have it:

  • FoodSafe certification

Pay and perks

  • Starting at $235 per day at camp
  • Starting at $23.50 per hour for off-camp work
  • Free staff accommodation (a taxable benefit)
  • Paid staff training

While we are not actively recruiting for Level 3 guides, we always accept and consider all applications.

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