EMPLOYMENT

Chef, Chef, Chef!

WCL offers an 8 day menu rotation, organized logistics and provisioning, a healthy food budget, and a well-appointed remote facility.

The culinary team takes care of all guests (32 at 100% occupancy) and all crew (~30) for an estimated <14,000 meals each operating season.  Crew are on-site for approximately 110 days and guests are on-site for 68-72 days.

Breakfast is plated, lunch is self-serve buffet for guests and a hot buffet for crew, dinner is plated.

Our chefs need to be adept at preparing and serving meats & seafoods (wild game, wild Alaskan fish).

We are looking for a good coach with an all-hands-on-deck attitude, excellent timing of service, and a taste profile that will keep everyone dreaming for the next meal.

Everyone on our culinary team cleans.  Due to our remote nature, we do not have the luxury of hiring an outside service to handle waste management or major degreasing; it’s integral that our entire team maintains the prep and cooking areas throughout each service and the entire operating season.

Salary commensurate with professional experience.

If you are interested, send your resume and letter of interest to: [email protected]

Fishing and adventure guiding which will include:

Meeting and greeting guests on their arrival morning and getting them outfitted for their adventures.

Salt water vessel operations (up to 6 guests) including fishing for salmon, halibut,  gray cod, ling cod, black cod (sablefish) and 30 species of rock fish. Demonstrable knowledge of small vessel operation (Diesel Inboard and single & twin Gas Outboard up to 35’ in length), including close quarter handling, anchoring (shore and deep water) and maintenance/cleaning (even the head) is required.

Fresh water vessels and occasional fly out operations (up to 6 guests) including salt water boat transfers to intertidal salt/fresh water fishing opportunities. Use of kayaks, canoes and inflatable whitewater rafts, outboard powered (prop and jet) boats and skiffs. Safe use of firearms and a professional knowledge of both spin cast and fly-fishing techniques is required.

Wildlife viewing and photography excursions (up to 6 guests) which may include Alaskan brown bears, eagles, humpback and killer whales, and other local wildlife are often requested by guests. A naturalist working knowledge of coastal mammals, birds and fish is preferred and an eagerness to learn is essential.

All types of guiding require that the guides actively clean and maintain all gear provided to guide and guests.  This includes, but is not limited to rods, reels, terminal tackle, foul weather gear (bibs, jackets, boots), fresh water gear (waders & boots),

Job Requirements:

• Guides are required to have an applicable U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential.  A U.S. Coast Guard Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) License is a minimum requirement.
• Guides are required to have a current American Red Cross (or equivalent) First Aid and CPR card.
• Guides are required to have a current Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC), or have had one in the past (OUPV reduced requirement)
• Guides must have good communication skills, sound work ethics, be service oriented, self-motivated, and make every effort to work with the entire team of Whaler’s Cove Lodge.
• Guides must be healthy, physically fit, maintain a clean appearance, drug-free (pre-employment drug testing and random seasonal drug testing is required by U.S.C.G. regulations).
• The ability to lift 50 lbs. and be free of any mobility limitations is required to perform the duties of this job.
• Guides must be outdoor and nature enthusiasts.

Required Experience:

Alaskan guiding experience is preferred with a sound working knowledge of vessels (both salt and fresh water), minor mechanical maintenance, vessel and guest safety equipment maintenance, vessel electronics (GPS, fish-finder, VHF, Radar), firearm familiarity and safety, fishing, fishing terminal tackle, angling methods, techniques and skills. Salt water fishing (salmon and bottom fishing), fresh water fly fishing or spin fishing knowledge is required.

We require the following minimum experience:

• Salt water fishing in Alaskan waters – 2 years
• Outdoor guiding (not boat based) – 2 to 5 years
• Fly fishing – 2 years
• All open ocean time required per MMC OUPV with Near Coast Endorsement was earned in the capacity the license represents.  In other words you need to have actively piloted a vessel, acted as a deckhand, or worked as an engineer on a vessel for all required hours to earn the license and to maintain it for renewal.

WCL provides:

• Vessel
• Insurance
• Fuel
• Rods
• Reels
• Downriggers
• Terminal Tackle Historically Effective in our Fishing Grounds
• On-site Mechanic
• Guest Foul Weather Gear
• Guest Fresh Water Gear
• Professional Guest Services Team:  this team guarantees guiding for at least 90% (usually 100%) of our operating season.  We host guests for 68-72 days straight depending upon bookings.  This means that guides have 68-72 days of work – with no day off (unless there is an extreme weather event).  If you’re looking to work – we got you!
• Professional Fish Processing Team: you hook ’em, gill em’, track ’em, keep them on ice, then the filet team will meet you at the docks, help you unload, and coordinate with guests on filet preferences and boxing between the group.  This allows you time to clean and sanitize the gear and vessel, service the gear for the next day, perform maintenance checks on the vessel, and report any issues immediately to ensure your vessel is safe for the next days adventures.
• Professional Culinary Team: this team ensures that you and your guests receive a hearty Alaskan breakfast, lunches on the water, and delicious wild dinners.  The only cooking a guide would do is shore-side over an open flame; the kitchen team will provide cooking kits with prior notice.
• Professional Housekeeping Team:  this team ensures that your guests are warm, comfortable, and clean for every day of their adventure.

If you would like to join our team, please send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

As a professional housekeeper, you know how important your role is in the guest experience and we know how hard you work!!  We appreciate our housekeepers.

You know what it takes!  Systematic scrubbing, stripping, soaking, sweeping, swiping, swishing, and sterilizing in a spotless fashion; it’s what you do!

Can you flip a room in 30 minutes?  Do you like fresh air and big trees and the smell of the ocean?  Our 30 ocean-front guest rooms on 5 acres are ready for your handiwork; we want housekeepers who take pride in assuring that the highest degree of quality guest care is maintained at all times.

This housekeeping position offers learning opportunities; we have had to modify our processes in order to work in our remote location.

If you would like to join our team, please send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

Ready to get some fresh air and to stay fit?   

Working on our private dock in Killisnoo Harbor, you will be an integral part of Whaler’s Cove Lodge.  In addition to filleting fish, you’ll also be cleaning, trimming, and tracking the fillets for each guest, following our processing procedures to ensure each guest takes home the fish that they caught. You’ll be on your feet, in all sorts of weather, working with a variety of hand tools including knives, banding machine, box stapler, and vacuum packagers.  You’ll be doing heavy lifting too; each of our packed and wrapped fish boxes weighs 50 lbs.

Work days are long.  Most shifts start in the afternoon and don’t stop until all fish are filleted and flash frozen.

You will be responsible for excellent customer service.  Our guests take home their fish and when it’s packaged professionally, they enjoy their catch up to 18 months later!  Our dock & fillet crew are an integral part of the guest experience.

If you would like to join our team, please send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

Whaler’s Cove Lodge server’s primary goals are to interact with guests of the dining room and lodge, provide genuine warmth and hospitality, and to deliver world class service.

Each server is responsible for maintaining assigned stations, zones, and tables in a clean and orderly manner and assures that quality food service is provided at all times. Servers are the ambassadors between the kitchen staff and the guests.

Job Requirements:

Serv Safe Certification is preferred; Alaska Food Worker’s Card is required.

5 years prior serving experience:  plated experience required; French, family style, and buffet experience appreciated.

If you would like to join our team, please send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

We are looking for a Sous Chef who:

• Loves to cook!
• Will cooperate daily with the Head Chef and will quickly amass an in-depth familiarity with the kitchen’s operations so that they may fill in for the Head Chef when needed and assist them in leading the kitchen crew and resolving any problems that may arise on the job.
• Knows what it takes and is motivated.
• Is an optimist who seeks practical solutions.
• Has an understanding of every aspect of their trade through practice and education.
• Is willing to tackle the task of a seasonal lodge: opening, performing, wrapping up.
• Knows themselves well enough to enjoy living and working on a small island, in the middle of 17 million acres of wilderness, with 32 crew, and up to 32 guests.
• Is tenacious enough to work through all of the challenges working in a remote location brings, including limited labor force.
• Is encouraging to every person who works on their team: set the pace, establish the standard.
• Is willing to clean, including dishes.
• Is a planner. It takes two + weeks, multiple modes of transportation, and many hands to get supplies to our kitchen.  Planning starts in the fall for the next summer.
• Is willing to work with management and respect the culinary culture. The lodge has been successful for over 40 years in its unique location, in part due to standards developed by the founders, and systems developed by current ownership and management.  It takes a tremendous amount of collaboration to make this endeavor successful.

If you would like to join our team, please send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

This position is responsible for contributing to an exceptional Guest experience! From first point of contact, through the reservation process, travel, administrative processes, arrival & welcoming, friendly departures, daily activities, processed fish shipments, and gift shop sales for up to 32 Guests per day, for a 3-4 month operating season in Alaska.

Our Guest Services team members must have excellent phone etiquette, be earnest in assisting guests, be outgoing and willing to meet and greet over 600 guests each season, be organized with significant attention to detail, and be computer literate.  Experience with reservation databases preferred; an aptitude for database management required.

If you would like to join our team, send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]

This position is responsible for strong, consistent leadership of our Guide Department.

This department consists of:

• 7-8 saltwater/freshwater Guide
• All motorized vessels used for guiding.
• All non-motorized vessels used for guiding.
• Gear.

Whaler’s Cove Lodge hosts up to 32 Guests per day, for a 3-4 month operating season in Alaska.  The season begins in mid-May with 4-6 weeks of lodge set up.  Guests arrive approximately the third week of June and are on-site, 24/7, until approximately the first week of September.  Whaler’s Cove Lodge guides typically guide every day guests are on-site.  This equates to a minimum of 63 days straight of guaranteed guiding, with possibly more days depending upon special training events (for other parties) and bookings.

The Lead Guide is responsible for:

• Ensuring guide safety and subsequently guest safety.
• Feedback, coaching, and when needed specific training both before guests arrival and throughout the operating season.
• Mentoring the team to develop collaboration skills and respect for the company and all other departments.
• Daily communication with all guides to ensure they are well provisioned to provide a high-quality and enjoyable guest experience.
• Daily communication with all guides to ensure their motorized vessels are properly maintained.
• Daily communication with mechanics to ensure motorized vessels are properly maintained.
• Provide coaching between Guides and Fish Processing team, if needed.
• Monitoring the daily guide schedule in collaboration with the Guest Services Lead.
• Providing payroll information to the General Manager.
• Collaborating with the General Manager in regards to Guide tips distribution.
• Gear: ordering (March & April prior to operating season), management (inventory & distribution), maintenance (delegating to guides and assisting as needed), and repair (in-house or to vendors).  Gear includes, but it not limited to: rods, reels, terminal tackle, guest foul weather gear, guest fresh water gear, all safety gear for persons and vessels, and all parts and accessories associated with all vessels.

Experience:

• Must have held or currently hold an OUPV with Near Coastal Endorsement.
• Must have had previous experience guiding and fishing on Alaskan waters.
• Must have prior team management experience.
• Administrative experience required.
• Must have prior remote work experience.
• Naturalist experience preferred.

The WCL team utilizes multiple software platforms for organizing.  The Lead Guide must be tech savvy and familiar with calendar organization, Word, Excel, and smartphones.

Salary is commensurate with experience.  All boarding and meals will be provided at the expense of the employer while at the employer’s Alaska property.  Other benefits disclosed during interview.

If you would like to join our team, send in your Cover Letter/Letter of Interest and Resume to:  [email protected]